THE CONSERVATVE MODERNIZERS IN EUROPE

  1. Some Common Characteristics.
    1. Removed from overseas trade-routes meant that traditional/culturally-conservative society survived, e.g. Centennia, ca. 1550
    2. Political patterns
    3. Traditional social structure
    4. Little or no impact of feudalism--- significance?
    5. No concept of political nation. e.g., Centennia, ca. 1550, e.g Germany, Austrian Empire, Russia.
    6. By definition -- strive to conserve old political-social structure while at the same time modernizing.
    7. They all failed. See Readings, p. 14.
  2. The evolution of the German Empire.
    1. The Prussianization of "the Germanies."
      1. Prussia before the Teutonic Knights. Click here for a map.
      2. The Teutonic Knights and East Prussia.Click here for a map.
        1. Obrigkeit Readings, p. 15, first part of first full paragraph through the bold-underlined text.
        2. Fuehrerprinzip
      3. Secularization by 1523: knights into Jünker. Click here for a map.
      4. Personal union with Brandenburg after 1618
      5. Surrender of feudal rights after 1661. See Readings, second part of the first full paragraph on p. 15.
      6. Jünker into quasi-capitalists after 1700.
      7. Prussia "merges into Germany. "
        1. Vienna Settlement. Click here for a map showing the extent of Brandenburg-Prussia after 1815.
        2. Zollverein after 1834.

          c. The liberal, national Revolutions of 1848.

          d. See Readings, p. 15, last paragraph.Failure of the Frankfurt Parliament to forge a liberal, nation-state. See Centennia, 1850

        1. Bismarck's wars of national unification 1864-1871. See Centennia.
          1. Denmark and Austria.
          2. German nationalism mobilized for war against France in the summer of 1870.
        2. Ceremonial declaration of the Second Reich by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 18. January 1871 in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles.

         

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    2. The Second Reich: --- an ideal example of conservative modernization.
      1. Most liberals happily jettisoned their principles to embrace the new nation-state. Click here and read the analysis of a cartoon which llustrates that Germany was a conservative, rather than a liberal modernizer--- i.e. survival of the traditional social-political class system. .
      2. Constitution of 1871--- the illusion of a parliamentary monarchy.
        1. The issue of ministerial responsibility ----
        2. Universal manhood suffrage, the Reichstag and divine-right monarchy.
      3. Social-political structure. See F-R, pgs. 43-44.
      4. The Economy: "Organized capitalism." The bourgeoisie and conservative modernization. See Readings, 16, top and F-R., pg. 43, bot. left and top right.
      5. The Social-welfare state. For a graphic illustrating the system introduced by Bismarck to wean workers away from Marxism, click here. See Readings, 16-bottom, F-R, 45 left-top.
      6. Quality of Life? See F-R, 41-43
      7. How does this modern "authoritarian mass-society" differ from the modern "pluralistic mass-societies" of the West? Consider the four factors of modernization discussed in Readings, p. 5.
  3. The Russian Empire
    1. The Russian tradition
      1. Define Official Nationality. See Readings, 17
      2. Twin sources of authoritarianism: See Readings , 24, 26-27.
        1. The Byzantine Tradition: Caesaropapism
        2. The Mongol Tradition.
    2. Premature attempt at conservative modernization under Peter the Great, 1696-1725.
      1. Click on Peter to see a cartoon of the drastic measures he went to force his conservative nobility into modernization.

      2. Stagnation after Peter 1725-1856---- growing backwardness relative to the modernizing societies of the West.
    1. Conservative Modernization: Alexander II-Nicholas II - 1856-1914
      1. Structure of Society: 90+ % agrarian, 85% of whom were serfs --No bourgeoisie, dominance of aristocracy
      2. Impact of Crimean War 1853-1856
        1. Serf reform. Readings, 17.
        2. Industrialization. Identify the characteristics as itemized in Readings, p. 5.
          1. See Readings, 17, also F-R, 85-86.
          2. Conditions of industrial modernization.
      3. In the Shadow of the Winter Palace: The Revolutionary Movement 1825-1905.
        1. From Decembrists to Populists.
        2. From Populists to Communists: 1881-1903
          1. Formation of the Marxist Social Democratic Party, 1898 ---
          2. Second Congress, London, 1903 --- Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
        3. Formation of Social Revolutionaries, 1901
  4. How is Russia different from Germany and how are both different from the liberally modernizing West?
    1. Similarities based on the four factors (Readings, p. 5) decisive in determining what kind of modernization occured.
    2. Differences: May explain why some conservative modernizers ended up with fascist-style and others with communist-style totalitarianisms in the 20th century.
      1. Enlightenment and its consequences.
      2. Timing and consequences of the end of serfdom
      3. The results of modernization by the eve of World War I
      4. The stance of the bourgeoisie.
      5. The nature of the ultimate "revolution."

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