The Conditions of Democracy in Europe, 1919-39: The Systematic Case Studies (Advances in Political Science)

Why did democracy survive in some European countries between the wars while fascism or authoritarianism emerged elsewhere? This innovative study approaches this question through the comparative analysis of the inter-war experience of 18 countries within a common comprehensive analytical framework. It combines structure- and actor-related aspects to provide detailed historical accounts of each case which serve as background information for the systematic testing of major theories of fascism and democracy. Between 1918 And 1945 There Were Many Changes In European Politics - Old Empires Disappeared And New Independent Political Systems Emerged. Over The Same Period Most Countries Faced Similar Problems - The World Economic Crisis And The Rise Of New Ideologies And New Political Movements. But The Political Effects Of These Varied, And This Study Looks At The Following Key Questions: Why Did Democracy Survive In Some Countries But Not In Others? How Were Some Political Institutions Able To Contain Or Manage The Crises They Faced But Others Collapsed Or Underwent Radical Transformation? This Book Outlines A New Approach To This Problem Through The Systematic Analysis Of Eighteen Polities Within A Common Analytical Framework. What Is Innovative Is The Weight Given To Economic, Social And Cultural Factors In Explaining The Survival Of Democracy And The Origins Of Fascism As Well As The Systematic Incorporation Of A Range Of Political Factors.--jacket. Introduction / Dirk Berg-schlosser And Jeremy Mitchell -- Austria: From Compromise To Authoritarianism /peter Gerlich And David Campbell -- Belgium: Crisis And Compromise / Gisele De Meur And Dirk Berg-schlosser -- Czechoslovakia: External Crises And Internal Compromise / John Bradley -- Estonia: Crises And Pre-emptive Authoritarianism / Toomas Varak -- Finland: From Conflict To Compromise / Lauri Karvonen -- France: An Ambiguous Survival / Michel Dobry -- Germany: From Double Crisis To National Socialism / Folko Arends And Gerhard Kummel -- Greece: Political Crises And Authoritarian Takeover / Allan Zink -- Hungary: Crises And Pseudo- Democratic Compromise / Gabriella Ilonszki -- Ireland: Democratic Stability Without Compromise / Allan Zink -- Italy: Early Crisis And Fascist Takeover / Marco Tarchi -- Netherlands: Early Compromise And Democratic Stability / Frank Aerebrot -- Poland: From Post-war Crisis To Authoritarianism / Jerazy Holzer -- Portugal: Crises And Early Authoritarian Takeover / Antonio Costa Pinto -- Romania: Crises Without Compromise / Stephen Fischer-galati -- Spain: The Double Breakdown / Walther Bernecker -- Sweden: The Durable Compromise / Ulf Lindstrom -- United Kingdom: Stability And Compromise / Jeremy Mitchell -- Conclusions And Perspectives / Dirk Berg-schlosser And Jeremy Mitchell. Edited By Dirk Berg-schlosser And Jeremy Mitchell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 466-495) And Index. Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 List of Maps......Page 9 List of Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Foreword by Juan Linz......Page 13 Notes on the Contributors......Page 15 1 Introduction......Page 18 2 Austria: From Compromise to Authoritarianism......Page 57 3 Belgium: Crisis and Compromise......Page 76 4 Czechoslovakia: External Crises and Internal Compromise......Page 102 5 Estonia: Crises and ‘Pre-Emptive’ Authoritarianism......Page 123 6 Finland: From Conflict to Compromise......Page 146 7 France: An Ambiguous Survival......Page 174 8 Germany: From Double Crisis to National Socialism......Page 201 9 Greece: Political Crises and Authoritarian Takeover......Page 230 10 Hungary: Crises and Pseudo-Democratic Compromise......Page 259 11 Ireland: Democratic Stability without Compromise......Page 280 12 Italy: Early Crisis and Fascist Takeover......Page 311 13 Netherlands: Early Compromise and Democratic Stability......Page 338 14 Poland: From Post-War Crisis to Authoritarianism......Page 352 15 Portugal: Crises and Early Authoritarian Takeover......Page 371 16 Romania: Crises without Compromise......Page 398 17 Spain: The Double Breakdown......Page 413 18. Sweden: The Durable Compromise......Page 443 19. United Kingdom: Stability and Compromise......Page 466 20 Conclusions and Perspectives......Page 481 Bibliography......Page 483 Index......Page 513 Why did democracy survive in some European countries between the wars while fascism or authoritarianism emerged elsewhere? This innovative study approaches this question through the comparative analysis of the inter-war experience of eighteen countries within a common comprehensive analytical framework. It combines (social and economic) structure- and (political) actor-related aspects to provide detailed historical accounts of each case which serve as background information for the systematic testing of major theories of fascism and democracy. Why did democracy survive in some European countries between the wars, while fascism or authoritarianism emerged elsewhere? This study approaches the question through the comparative analysis of the inter-war experience of 18 countries