UGC 112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Revolutionary Socialism, Class Conflict, Charismatic Authority
19 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Mass politics: competing visions for building modern states. Authoritarianism and mass mobilization: all of the postwar dictatorships, whether on the right or the left, were forged in opposition to liberal democracies and they claimed to create dynamic yet orderly societies with charismatic and powerful leaders. They treated the masses as an army that needed to be commanded to create orderly societies, rebuild economies an restore order. Charismatic leaders gained support by embracing public welfare programs. The dictators promised to deliver modernity without enduring its costs- class divisions, unemployment, and the like. The soviet union and socialism: the bolshevik seizure of power in russia delivered the most dramatic blow against liberal capitalism. Stalin built a new social and political order by defining soviet or revolutionary socialism. Stalin"s socialism would have economic planning, full employment and outlaw in opposition to capitalism. Building a non-capitalist society required class war which started with village communes becoming collective farms selling produce at state prices.
