The Conditions of Democracy in Europe 1919-39

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.

Autorentext

DIRK BERG-SCHLOSSER is Professor of Political Science at Phillipps University in Marburg, Germany. He has taught at the Universities of Munich, Aachen, Nairobi, Augsburg, Eichstätt and Marburg. His publications include Tradition and Change in Kenya, Political Stability and Development (with Rainer Siegler) and Political Culture in Germany (with Ralf Rytlewski). JEREMY MITCHELL is Lecturer in Government, The Open University, Milton Keynes, in England and was previously Junior Research Fellow in Politics at Jesus College, Oxford. He is the co-author of Returning Key Thinkers?

Zusammenfassung
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.

Inhalt

List of Maps List of Tables List of Figures Preface; D.Berg-Schlosser & J.Mitchell Foreword; J.Linz Notes on the Contributors Introduction; ; D.Berg-Schlosser & J.Mitchell Austria: From Compromise to Authoritarianism; P.Gerlich & D.Campbell Belgium: Crisis and Compromise; G.De Meur & D.Berg-Schlosser Czechoslovakia: External Crisis and Internal Compromise; J.Bradley Estonia: Crisis and 'Pre-Emptive' Authoritarianism; T.Varrak Finland: From Conflict to Compromise; L.Karvonen France: An Ambiguous Survival?; M.Dobry Germany: From Double Crisis to National Socialism; F.Arends & G.Kümmel Greece: Political Crisis and Authoritarian Takeover; A.Zink Hungary: Crisis and Pseudo-Democratic Compromise; G.Ilonszki Ireland; Democratic Stability Without Compromise; A.Zink Italy: Early Crisis and Fascist Takeover; M.Tarchi Netherlands: Early Compromise and Democratic Stability; F.Aarebrot Poland: From Post-War Crisis to Authoritarianism; J.Holzer Portugal: Crisis and Early Authoritarian Takeover; A.C.Pinto Romania: Crisis Without Compromise; S.Fischer-Galati Spain: The Double Breakdown; W.Bernecker Sweden: The Durable Compromise; U.Lindström United Kingdom; Stability and Compromise; J.Mitchell Conclusions and Perspectives; D.Berg-Schlosser & J.Mitchell Bibliography Index