Liberalism, Fascism, Or Social Democracy - Social Classes and the Political Origins of Regimes in Interwar Europe

Zusatztext `Luebbert's book is an impressive example of comparative political inquiry. He juxtaposes a large number of cases without giving up the aim of close historical analysis. The ability to achieve this is a rare gift ... The argument is presented with great clarity. The book is an important contribution to the discussion about the conditions for survival and breakdown of liberal democracy in inter-war Europe.'Political Studies Klappentext This work provides a sweeping historical analysis of the political development of Western Europe in the late nineteenth and twentieth century. The author argues that the evolution of most European nations into liberal democracies! social democracies or fascist regimes was attributable to a discrete set of social and class alliances within individual nations. In Britain! France! and Switzerland! countries with a unified middle class! liberal forces established political hegemony before the First World War. In countries with a strong! cohesive working class and a fractured middle class! Luebbert points out! a liberal solution was impossible. In Norway! Sweden! Denmark! and Czechoslovakia! political coalitions of social democrats and 'family peasantry' emerged as a result of the First World War! resulting in social democracies. In Spain! Italy! and Germany! on the other hand! the urban middle class united with a peasantry hostile to socialism to facilitate the rise of fascism. Zusammenfassung This work provides a sweeping historical analysis of the political development of Western Europe in the late nineteenth and twentieth century. The author argues that the evolution of most European nations into liberal democracies, social democracies or fascist regimes was attributable to a discrete set of social and class alliances within individual nations.In Britain, France, and Switzerland, countries with a unified middle class, liberal forces established political hegemony before the First World War. In countries with a strong, cohesive working class and a fractured middle class, Luebbert points out, a liberal solution was impossible. In Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Czechoslovakia, political coalitions of social democrats and `family peasantry' emerged as a result of the First World War, resulting in social democracies. In Spain, Italy, and Germany, on the other hand, the urban middle class united with a peasantry hostile to socialism to facilitate the rise of fascism....

Product details

• Authors: Gregory M. Luebbert, Gregory M. (Department of Political Scie Luebbert, Luebbert Gregory M.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 25.07.1991
• EAN: 9780195066104
• ISBN: 978-0-19-506610-4
• No. of pages: 428
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, Europe, European History, 20th Century, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Archaeology, HISTORY / Europe / Western, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Politics & government, Political science & theory, c 1500 onwards to present day, Archaeology, Politics and government, Western Europe, Political science and theory, History and Archaeology, Modern Period, C 1500 Onwards, Western Continental Europe