Clash of Ideologies in Europe 1900-2000 Notes

Introduction

  • The unit explores the clash of ideologies in Europe from 1900 to 2000, focusing on the interactions between Communist Russia and Western governments.
  • Key aspects include the foreign policies, motives, methods, and impact of these interactions, assessed through significant historical developments.
  • The period is examined in five sections, assessing change and continuity in these nations' approaches.

Section 1: Revolutionary Russia and Opposition from Western Governments (1917-1933)

A. Foreign Policies of Soviet Russia and Western Governments (1917-1924)
Lenin's Foreign Policy (1917-1924)
  • Aims and Motives
    • Key goals changed between survival and exporting revolution.
    • 1. Spread Communism in Europe:
    • Lenin aimed to spark global revolutions, believing Russia's success would inspire others.
    • Founded the Comintern in 1919; early attempts to aid revolutions in Hungary and Germany failed.
    • The Russo-Polish War (1920) tested these ambitions, with defeat shifting focus from exportation to coexistence.
    • 2. Economic Considerations:
    • The dire economic situation led to agreements with Britain and Germany for trade, including the Treaty of Rapallo (1922).
    • Signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) to secure peace despite harsh terms, prioritizing survival over ideological conflicts.
    • 3. International Recognition:
    • Recognition through treaties (e.g., 1921 with Britain).
    • Diplomatically isolated initially, with attempts at normalizing relations to secure economic stability.
    • 4. Security Concerns:
    • Surrounded by hostility, the Bolsheviks prioritized security through treaties and military preparedness.
B. Western Governments and the Soviet Union (1917-1924)
  • Western attitudes evolved from aggression to seeking accommodation post-Civil War.
  • Motives:
    • Fear of Bolshevism, concern for trade impacts, and political stability drove varied responses, notably the failed allied intervention in the Civil War.
C. Western Policies (1924-1933)
  • Post-Lenin, Stalin's policies shifted focus towards consolidating gains rather than exporting revolution.
  • 1. Ideological Conflict:
    • Trotsky's