European Communism: 1848-1991 (European History in Perspective)

Communism has had a profound impact on Europe from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. In theory, it promised equality and freedom for all. In practice, it spawned inegalitarian, authoritarian and, in some instances, monstrous regimes in East Europe. Ronald Kowalski re-examines the history of European Communism, from its theoretical origins in the work of Marx and Engels until the collapse of the Soviet Union, and explains why it failed to come to power in West Europe. The course of modern European history has been influenced greatly by the challenge of Communism. In theory it promised equality and freedom for all. In practice it spawned inegalitarian, authoritarian and, in some instances, monstrous regimes in the former Soviet Union and East Europe. This study re-examines the history of European Communism from its theoretical origins in the work of Marx and Engels in the mid-nineteenth century until the dramatic collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ronald Kowalski reappraises Marx's thinking and points out that his intellectual legacy was open to a variety of interpretations often at odds with his own views. Kowalski also questions Lenin's professed Marxist credentials and the extent to which his additions to Marxist theory were central to the key issue in the history of Communism: why did the egalitarian and libertarian dreams raised by the Russian Revolution degenerate into Stalinist authoritarianism and terror? Furthermore, why did Communism fail in West Europe while it was able to come to power in East Europe? Concluding with an analysis of the revolutions that swept away the Communist regimes in East Europe and two years later in the Soviet Union itself, this is an essential introduction to the history of a political force that dominated parts of Europe until the end of the twentieth century.

About the Author:
Ronald Kowalski is Senior Lecturer in Contemporary European History at the University of Worcester

The course of modern European History has been influenced greatly by the challenge of Communism. In theory it promised equality and freedom for all. In practice it spawned inegalitarian, authoritarian and, in some instances, monstrous regimes in the former Soviet Union and East Europe. This study re-examines the history of European Communism from its theoretical origins in the work of Marx and Engels in the mid-nineteenth century until the dramatic collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ronald Kowalski reappraises Marx's thinking and points out that his intellectual legacy was open to a variety of interpretations often at odds with his own views. Kowalski also questions Lenin's professed Marxist credentials and the extent to which his additions to Marxist theory were central to the key issue in the history of Communism: why did the egalitarian and libertarian dreams raised by the Russian Revolution degenerate into Stalinist authoritarianism and terror? Furthermore, why did Communism fail in West Europe while it was able to come to power in East Europe? Concluding with an analysis of the revolutions which swept away the Communist regimes in East Europe and two years later in the Soviet Union itself, this is an essential introduction to the history of a political force that dominated parts of Europe until the end of the twentieth century. "The First World War has left its imprint on British society and the popular imagination to an extent almost unparalleled in modern history. Its legacy of mass death, mechanized slaughter, propaganda, and disillusionment swept away long-standing romanticized images of warfare, and continues to haunt the modern consciousness." "Focusing on the lives of ordinary Britons, George Robb's engaging new study seeks to comprehend what it meant for an entire society to undergo the tremendous shocks and demands of total war; how it attempted to make sense of the conflict, explain it to others, and deal with the war's legacies."--Jacket Communism has had a profound impact on Europe from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. In theory, it promised equality and freedom for all. In practice, it spawned inegalitarian, authoritarian and, in some instances, monstrous regimes in East Europe. The auorth re-examines the history of European Communism, from its theoretical origins in the work of Marx and Engels until the collapse of the Soviet Union, and explains why it failed to come to power in West Europe Communism has had a profound impact on Europe, starting from the mid-nineteenth century. This book examines the history of European Communism, from its theoretical origins in the work of Marx and Engels, until the collapse of the Soviet Union, and explains why it failed to come to power in West Europe With the Second World War came the end of the Nazi domination of Europe and Japanese aggression in the Asia Pacific. However, this created two superpowers and the Cold War. This study looks at the causes of this and of its consequences In this concise yet comprehensive study, Brendan Simms shows why Prussia had emerged as the dominant German state by the middle of the 19th century