Rejecting Liberalism

1. Rejecting Liberalism Chapter 5

2. We’ve already looked at responses to classical liberalism (Classical conservatism, Marxism, socialism, and welfare capitalism). Now we will look at ideologies that completely rejected liberalism in favour of totalitarian systems of government.

3. Why did totalitarianism emerge? Communism and Fascism were the two most influential ideologies to reject liberalism and both used totalitarian forms of government. Totalitarianism means complete control of the government over the public and private lives of its citizens. “Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” -Benito Mussolini

4. The nature of totalitarian regimes Totalitarian regimes are responding to what they see as dangerous and destabilizing changes. They consider the existing society in need of a complete transformation. These transformations may be...

5. radical reactionary • As in the USSR • The change desired is a move toward the far left side of the economic spectrum and a complete rejection of political and economic traditions of the past • As in Nazi Germany • The change desired is a move toward an idealized past and an acceptance of economic inequality (accepting the belief that some people are naturally better than others.)

6. Political Freedom United States Anarchy Canada Economic Control Economic Freedom USSR Totalitarianism Nazi Germany Refer to page 168 of your text Political Control

7. Totalitarianism Like most ideologies, totalitarian regimes provide an account of the past, and explanation of the present, and a vision for the future. However, the extensive use of propaganda, coercive power, and communications technologies ensure the totalitarian governments maintain strict control over their citizens.

8. Totalitarian Control Extensive local, regional, and national organization Youth, professional, cultural, and athletic groups (often forced participation) A secret police using terror Indoctrination through education The censorship of the media Redirecting popular discontent (using scapegoats)

9. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Tsar Nicholas II The Russian Revolution vs

10. Russian Revolution

11. 1905 Rehearsal Bloody Sunday Anniversary Poster Tsarist government won’t accept liberal ideologies 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese war leads to hardships and embarrassing defeat Liberal and radical groups press for change January 22, 1905, workers gather to peacefully protest economic hardships Tsar’s troops fire on the crowd

12. Bloody Sunday (1905)

13. Outcome Demands for reforms General strike paralyzes country in October Army is occupied with Russo-Japanese war Government falters Nicholas II promises civil liberties, a popularly elected Duma (parliament), legalization of unions Troops return, repression restores the old order by 1907

14. Countdown to Revolution 1914 World War One begins August 1915, Nicolas II leaves to supervise WWI troops personally People blame the Tsar for heavy losses from the war

15. Nicholas II Congratulating Soldiers

16. Countdown to Revolution Rasputin has a “hold” on the royal family Tsarina Alexandra comes under the sway of Rasputin (who claims to be able to heal her son) Even aristocratic supporters rebel at his access to the royal families, influence on policies

17. 1917 Revolution Begins Cities face severe hardships due to WWI Women strike in March 1917, demand an end to high prices and the rule of Nicholas II Troops reluctant to fire on the crowd because of the presence of women Government falls March 12 – 1st Provisional Government organized, Nicholas II abdicates

18. Russian Revolution – Part II

19. Provisional Government (March-May) Initial plan is for a modern constitutional parliamentary democracy, politicians from the upper classes Must share power with workers’ groups (soviets), which want socialist self-rule Government continues unpopular involvement in WWI Neither group can control the peasants, who hoard food, seize land, make shortages worse

20. Provisional Government (May-November) Alexander Kerensky Initial leaders resign, moderate socialists (led by Kerensky) head the new government Bolshevik minority agitates for radical change Kerensky stays in WWI, throws Bolsheviks in prison or forces them to flee

21. Russian Revolution – Part III

22. Petrograd Street Fighting (1917)

23. Lenin Sweeps Away Workers’ Enemies Nov. Revolution Threat of military coup forced Kerensky to release Bolsheviks to defend the capital Provisional government discredited Demonstrations on Nov. 6/7 cause Kerensky to flee Lenin takes control to “defend” the state

24. Bolsheviks Fulfill Promises (1918) March – Sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, despite harsh terms Russia loses Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, and Georgia Much of the population no longer in Russia, ¾ of iron, 9/10 of Russia’s coal Begin to give power to the workers

25. Russian and German Diplomats at Brest-Litovsk

26. Civil War Begins 1918-1920, Civil War between Whites (aristocracy, supported by Allied Powers) and Reds (anticapitalist Bolshevik government) Reds see betrayal everywhere and try to spread revolution to Central Europe (where post-war instability makes it possible)

27. Red Army Soldier brandishing a sword over White Generals (1920)

28. Consolidation of the Russian Revolution: The USSR

29. Revolutionary Social Changes Abolish private property, nationalize factories, legalize universal suffrage Attempt to centralize agricultural production (seize grain to feed army and workforce)- War Communism Not successful: industrial production at 13% of pre-WWI levels Famine strikes, peasants revolt, workers strike, sailors mutiny

30. NEP (1921) NEP (New Economic Plan) attempts to solve the problems with its “compromise with capitalism) Small amounts of private ownership are allowed Peasants manage and sell their own crops Other countries become less threatened by Bolshevism and recognize Russia (except USA, which doesn’t recognize the USSR until 1933)

31. New Political Structures Communist Party becomes formalized (and all candidates must belong to the CPSU) Cheka (secret police, precursor to KGB) New structures promote totalitarian state, brutally suppress opposition.

32. Then Lenin made his biggest mistake... he died

34. Lenin’s Tomb

36. Yes, that’s really him

37. Struggle for Power post-Lenin Joseph Stalin Lenin dies in 1924 – who is his heir? Most assume Trotsky (brilliant leader of the Red Army) Stalin posed as Lenin’s heir, led movement to deify Lenin Stalin brings new people into the Party Stalin uses control over Central Committee to seize power in 1928

38. Clip from: The Rise & Fall of The Soviet Union, Part 1 Approximately 8 mins