The Interwar Period Socialism in one country? Balance sheet Balance sheet

Midterm exam, Tuesday, Feb. 17 th Part I. Indentify and give the significance of five (5) of the following: 4% each, 20% Locarno pacts Locarno pacts Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Part II. Briefly comment on the validity of four (4) of the following statements, 10% each, 40% The Russian Revolution was the inevitable result of changes in class structure in Tsarist Russia. The Russian Revolution was the inevitable result of changes in class structure in Tsarist Russia. Part III. Essay, 1 question out of 2, 40%

Studying for the midterm Go over class notes and presentation outlines Go over class notes and presentation outlines Think of questions which might be asked Think of questions which might be asked Go back through readings, trying to answer them Go back through readings, trying to answer them

The Interwar Period in Context An unsettled & uncertain period An unsettled & uncertain period Tremendous energy unleashed Tremendous energy unleashed Modernism in art and architectureModernism in art and architecture Citizens’ rights extended, regimes democratizedCitizens’ rights extended, regimes democratized New political forms emerge:New political forms emerge: Fascism, Nazism, Soviet Communism Fascism, Nazism, Soviet Communism An age of anxiety? An age of anxiety?

Experimentation in Art & Design

De Stijl & Bauhaus

Democratization Universal manhood or universal suffrage in most countries Universal manhood or universal suffrage in most countries New political democracies established New political democracies established Extension of public housing, public health, Extension of public housing, public health, Some welfare state measuresSome welfare state measures Mass media (radio & film) connect people, provide a new intimacy Mass media (radio & film) connect people, provide a new intimacy Make people listeners or viewers – potential observersMake people listeners or viewers – potential observers

Older democracies Britain & France stabilize in 1920s despite threats of revolution UK Irish question: Irish question: ‘ resolved’? ‘ resolved’? or put out of mind? or put out of mind? Integration of the working class Integration of the working class Labour comes to power in minority governments ( , )Labour comes to power in minority governments ( , ) General strike failsGeneral strike fails France: growing stalemate between right & left

The 1929 crash October 1929: NY Stock market crashes October 1929: NY Stock market crashes Immediate knock-on effects Immediate knock-on effects ‘Scramble for liquidity’‘Scramble for liquidity’ Bankruptcies, bank failuresBankruptcies, bank failures Creditanstalt (1931) > runs on other banks, firms, pressures on gov’ts dependent on credit Creditanstalt (1931) > runs on other banks, firms, pressures on gov’ts dependent on credit Rising unemploymentRising unemployment Falling demand reinforces downward spiralFalling demand reinforces downward spiral US responds by raising tariffs, calling loansUS responds by raising tariffs, calling loans Impact spreads rapidly to Europe: Impact spreads rapidly to Europe: Germany’s ability to pay reparations depends on US loans….Germany’s ability to pay reparations depends on US loans…. Contraction of world tradeContraction of world trade

1930s Most governments respond by Most governments respond by Balancing budgetsBalancing budgets Instituting import quotas, protective tariffsInstituting import quotas, protective tariffs Little sense of how to manage business cycle or halt the declineLittle sense of how to manage business cycle or halt the decline Reluctance of most governments to inject stimulus: Reluctance of most governments to inject stimulus: Exceptions: Exceptions: United StatesUnited States SwedenSweden Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

Democracies v. dictatorship Support grows for extremist parties, right or left Support grows for extremist parties, right or left Communists, Fascists, NazisCommunists, Fascists, Nazis France: polarized democracy survives, France: polarized democracy survives, with an increasingly strong anti-democratic rightwith an increasingly strong anti-democratic right But problems on southern tier, successor states: But problems on southern tier, successor states: PortugalPortugal Spain: collapse of 2 nd RepublicSpain: collapse of 2 nd Republic Austria: civil war in 1934…Austria: civil war in 1934… HungaryHungary Poland….Poland…. Liberal democracy in question Liberal democracy in question Not clear to everyone that liberal democracy is desirableNot clear to everyone that liberal democracy is desirable Alternate models available:Alternate models available: Admiration, flirtation with fascism in intellectual circles Admiration, flirtation with fascism in intellectual circles For others, Communism is the solution For others, Communism is the solution

Back to the USSR Problem: Problem: what do you do next when you have made an unlikely revolution?what do you do next when you have made an unlikely revolution? Lenin’s solution: the New Economic Policy (NEP) Lenin’s solution: the New Economic Policy (NEP) Stalin & Stalinism Stalin & Stalinism

Marx’s theory of revolution Revolution as the product of class struggle Revolution as the product of class struggle State is the instrument of the ruling class State is the instrument of the ruling class Revolution will occur at the highest phases of capitalism: Revolution will occur at the highest phases of capitalism: Proletariat seizes control of the stateProletariat seizes control of the state Establishes socialism: state ownership of the means of productionEstablishes socialism: state ownership of the means of production Creates the conditions for communism & the withering away of the stateCreates the conditions for communism & the withering away of the state

Lenin’s modification Revolution can take place in a backward country in which the “objective conditions” are not right can take place in a backward country in which the “objective conditions” are not right can be brought about by a small conspiratorial organization – a vanguard party can be brought about by a small conspiratorial organization – a vanguard party can serve as a catalyst for revolution elsewhere can serve as a catalyst for revolution elsewhere

Putting theory into practice Bolsheviks seize power in Oct Bolsheviks seize power in Oct Multiple problems: Multiple problems: Establishing controlEstablishing control What to do about the war?What to do about the war? How to proceed with the revolution?How to proceed with the revolution?

‘Solutions’ Sue for peace Sue for peace Fight civil war Fight civil war Suspend Constituent Assembly, elected in 1918 Suspend Constituent Assembly, elected in 1918 Implement ‘war communism,’ seizing food, material needed for war effort Implement ‘war communism,’ seizing food, material needed for war effort Consolidate power in 1920 Consolidate power in 1920

The revolutionary project Problem: What do you do when revolution elsewhere fails to materialize as expected? What do you do when revolution elsewhere fails to materialize as expected?Options: Continue to promote world revolution? Continue to promote world revolution? Build socialism in one country? Build socialism in one country? Consolidate your position? Consolidate your position?

Lenin’s interim solution: New Economic Policy (NEP) Advocated by Bukharin Advocated by Bukharin “one step backward, two steps forward” “one step backward, two steps forward” temporary reversion to capitalism to get the economy going again ( )temporary reversion to capitalism to get the economy going again ( ) Private ownership permittedPrivate ownership permitted Ultimate direction determined by Lenin’s impairment (1922), death (1924) and Stalin’s succession to power Ultimate direction determined by Lenin’s impairment (1922), death (1924) and Stalin’s succession to power

Stalin’s succession Stalin Stalin A lesser figure in Bolshevik hierarchyA lesser figure in Bolshevik hierarchy However, as general secretary of the Communist Party, well placedHowever, as general secretary of the Communist Party, well placed Uses control of the administrative apparatus to advance supportersUses control of the administrative apparatus to advance supporters 1925: Moves against left (Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev) in defense of NEP 1925: Moves against left (Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev) in defense of NEP : Moves against Bukharin & moderates, promoting ‘Socialism in one country’ : Moves against Bukharin & moderates, promoting ‘Socialism in one country’

Stalin’s policies Use of party & state apparatus, terror, Use of party & state apparatus, terror, to industrialize USSRto industrialize USSR plan the economy – via five year plansplan the economy – via five year plans lay the conditions for socialism and communismlay the conditions for socialism and communism Justification Justification bourgeoisie in Russia had failed to industrialize the country and establish the conditions for socialismbourgeoisie in Russia had failed to industrialize the country and establish the conditions for socialism therefore the party & state must do it insteadtherefore the party & state must do it instead Process required “forced saving” from peasantry Process required “forced saving” from peasantry attacks on kulaksattacks on kulaks

Leninism v. Stalinism Democratic centralism (Lenin) presumes that party has a voice Democratic centralism (Lenin) presumes that party has a voice Discussion permitted until decision madeDiscussion permitted until decision made Then everyone adheresThen everyone adheres Under Stalin, party persists, but increasingly under attack Under Stalin, party persists, but increasingly under attack Purges, show trials, used to eliminate potential rivals, including Bukharin, other members of Lenin’s politboroPurges, show trials, used to eliminate potential rivals, including Bukharin, other members of Lenin’s politboro Stalinism: more centralism rather than democratic centralismStalinism: more centralism rather than democratic centralism

Consequences Agriculture collectivized, opponents liquidated Agriculture collectivized, opponents liquidated Russia industrialized, but at tremendous human cost Russia industrialized, but at tremendous human cost Decline in individual consumption Decline in individual consumption USSR substantially isolated from other countries USSR substantially isolated from other countries Until mid-1930s, beacon for someUntil mid-1930s, beacon for some Afterward, “The god that failed”Afterward, “The god that failed”

Soviet Communism & Nazism compared: Totalitarian or nearly totalitarian Each, by extension of party & state, reduces private space Each, by extension of party & state, reduces private space Elevation of leaders Elevation of leaders Use of propaganda Use of propaganda Marginalization & demonization of selected groups:Marginalization & demonization of selected groups: Jews, Slavs, Gypsies Jews, Slavs, Gypsies Kulaks, capitalists Kulaks, capitalists Recourse to terror, anomic violence Recourse to terror, anomic violence Moscow trials, purgesMoscow trials, purges KristallnachtKristallnacht SA & SS activitiesSA & SS activities

Balance sheet Liberal democracy survives in Liberal democracy survives in BritainBritain France (until 1940)France (until 1940) Low CountriesLow Countries Scandinavia (including Finland)Scandinavia (including Finland) Czechoslovakia (until 1938)Czechoslovakia (until 1938) Under siege in Spain (Civil War ) Under siege in Spain (Civil War ) By mid 1930s, a world not very safe for democracy By mid 1930s, a world not very safe for democracy

Midterm exam, Tuesday, Feb. 17 th Part I. Indentify and give the significance of five (5) of the following: 4% each, 20% Locarno pacts Locarno pacts Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Part II. Briefly comment on the validity of four (4) of the following statements, 10% each, 40% The Russian Revolution was the inevitable result of changes in class structure in Tsarist Russia. The Russian Revolution was the inevitable result of changes in class structure in Tsarist Russia. Part III. Essay, 1 question out of 2, 40%