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The Rise of Totalitarianism

The Rise of Totalitarianism. World War I and the Russian Revolution triggered off a Global Civil War At issue: crisis and transformation of the global system A long series of intense political struggles within states and between states. Main groups of actors:

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The Rise of Totalitarianism

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  1. The Rise of Totalitarianism

  2. World War I and the Russian Revolution triggered off a Global Civil War • At issue: crisis and transformation of the global system • A long series of intense political struggles within states and between states. Main groups of actors: • political forces seeking revolutionary changes, oriented towards socialism (the Global Left), • forces aiming to destroy the Global Left and save capitalism through abolishing liberal democracy (the Global Right), and • forces seeking to save capitalism through social and political reforms which would undercut the Global Left (the Global Centre)

  3. The Global Left: • The Soviet Union, regarded as the base of world revolution; • A network of communist parties organized in the Comintern; • National liberation movements in the Global South, seeking the overthrow of Western empires – and regarding the USSR as a key ally

  4. The Global Right • Various right-wing forces, shattered by World War I and the Russian Revolution • On the defensive, trying to adapt to the new situation • Conservatives adrift • The rise of Radical Right – fascism • Combining nationalist, militarist, socialist and antidemocratic ideas • The new word: “totalitarianism” (Mussolini) • Fascism allows the Right to go on the offensive • But until the 1930s, the offensives are of local, not global, significance

  5. Mussolini addresses a Fascist Party crowd, 1934: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOv-Ncs7vQk Compare the style with that of former Moscow Mayor Luzhkov, 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e2R8yjkzmQ&feature=related

  6. The Global Center • Liberals, reform-minded socialists, labour and other social movements struggling for democratization and social reforms • The 1920s as a period of uncertainty • Emergence of a liberal world order instead of a world revolution? • Stabilization of global capitalism, revival of globalized markets • Disarmament, League of Nations • Peaceful coexistence between the West and the Soviet Union

  7. 1929 • The start of the Great Depression • Capitalism shattered, class conflicts on the rise everywhere • Revival of the ideas of world revolution • The Global Left goes on the offensive • Radicalization of right-wing forces • Political polarization • Retreat of liberal democracy • In international relations – growing anarchy, return to traditional power politics

  8. USSR and Germany • Cooperation in the 1920s: realpolitik practiced by the two “rogue states” • But also: open Soviet support of German Communists • 1929 • In the Soviet Union, NEP is replaced by forced industrialization and a drive to full-fledged totalitarianism • In Germany, the Great Depression undermines democracy and sets the state for Nazi takeover In both cases: a crisis and a heavy statist response to the failures of the market economy • The rise of Stalin: General Secretary since 1923, concentration of power in the 1920s, the growth of personality cult in the 1930s • The rise of Hitler: leadership of the Nazis since 1923, increasing political influence in the 1920s, appointment as Reichskanzler in 1933

  9. 2 forms of totalitarianism – fascism and Stalinism

  10. Similarities • Total subjugation of society to the state • State control of the economy, suppression or heavy regulation of market forces • Abolition of political and civil liberties • The party-state symbiosis • Cult of the Leader • Mass political terror and repression, key role of secret police • Militarization of society, preparation for war • New culture of war

  11. Differences • Germany: • to prevent a revolution • to overcome the Depression • to reverse the results of WWI • racism as the core of Nazi ideology • USSR: • to preserve Communist Party rule • to defend the country from hostile environment • to foster world revolution • class struggle as the core of Soviet ideology

  12. 1931-32: Japanese troops occupy Manchuria, China

  13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktJU2IZQr4M&feature=related

  14. Nazi Germany in colour: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ozF4zndGbg&feature=fvw

  15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM79_7XYbcA&feature=PlayList&p=56A35DF81331BC20&index=13http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM79_7XYbcA&feature=PlayList&p=56A35DF81331BC20&index=13

  16. January 20, 1933: Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated as US President: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLU2fJpsmVo&feature=related

  17. From Roosevelt’s inaugural address, January 20, 1933: • “Rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods have failed through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and have abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men. True they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money. Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored confidence....The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit”.

  18. Roosevelt decides to recognize the USSR • Motives: geopolitical • Containing Germany and Japan • Sends a signal in October 1933, Soviet Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov arrives in Washington for talks • 3 issues: • Russian debt from WWI • Suppression of religious and legal rights in USSR • Soviet aid to American Communists • A “gentleman’s agreement” is reached • Nov. 1933: diplomatic relations are restored

  19. WDs The geopolitical triangle: Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan), USSR, Western democracies (WDs) Axis USSR

  20. Germany’s expansion, 1933-39

  21. Fascism and Communism as sworn enemies • Both sides tried to win allies • Hitler: I am crushing communism and protecting Western civilization (ideological). It was in his interest to downplay geopolitics • Stalin: I am trying to stop Hitler’s aggression (geopolitical). It was in his interest to downplay ideology • Both succeeded to some extent: • Hitler managed to overthrow the Versailles constraints, rebuild Germany’s military power, and expand German borders • Stalin gained US recognition and a degree of respectability in the West with his advocacy of “collective security” agreements against fascist powers

  22. Stalin’s first choice: • Policies of collective security (alliance with democracies to stop Hitler) After the failure of this option - • A non-aggression pact with Hitler to stay out of the coming war and extend Soviet borders westward

  23. The Spanish Civil War Can democracy be sacrificed to defeat the Left? Foreign intervention on both sides Splits between forces of the Left, blunders of the Left Victory of the Right, abetted by liberals

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