Conditions in which Authoritarian states emerged Flashcards
Economic Conditions in Nazi Germany
- Lynch –> Mao’s China and Hitler’s Germany, economic suffering –> populus to be polarised and won over.
- 1924 Dawes Plan and 1929 Youngs Plan which loaned an estimated $2 billion
- 1929 Wall Street Crash led to these loans being recalled, collapse of banks and the German export market (from £630 million to £280 million).
- 1929-32; unemployment rises by 300% from 2 million to 6 million
- Hitler and the Nazi Party were able to appeal to the German people by promising to restore the country’s economic stability and strength.
- They scapegoated various groups, including Jews, communists, and liberals, blaming them for Germany’s problems and portraying themselves as the only party capable of restoring order and prosperity. Hitler promised to create jobs, rebuild infrastructure, and restore national pride and greatness.
Comparisons Economic Hitler and Mao
Germany was dealing with the aftermath of war and trying to pay off significant debts, while China was facing challenges related to its lack of industrialization and modernization.
Economic Conditions in China
- Lynch economic suffering –> Mao to win the peasants
- Over 80% living in poverty amidst rife hyperinflation caused by increased GMD expenditure on the war effort
- Whereas 18 Yuan traded for a $ in December 1941, by 1945, it was 1,222 Yuan to the dollar.
Criticism of China economic conditions
-However, Sih argues that the role of economic factors was exaggerated in China.
He cites the Nanjing Decade (1927-37) saw major economic reform with the introduction of the Central Bank of China in 1924 and a new currency on printed notes was implemented.
-As such, the impact of war must be regarded to a greater extent as it was only the onset of the Second Sino-Japanese War and later the Chinese Civil War that culminated in hyperinflation.
Thus, Sih perspective more convincing
Germany criticisms in economic conditions not a crit
1928 2.6% of total votes
GD –> 1930 they had garnered 18.3% in September 1930
37.4% in July 1932.
Social Division Comparison
-Selden maintains that it was rather social division that made a shift toward extremism more possible and thus the emergence of two authoritarian states
Evidence for Social Division
GERMANY
Post-war Germany was volatile with political division as both the left-wing and right-wing attempted to take power with the 1919 Spartacist Uprising and 1920 Kapp Putsch respectively. This was followed by intensive street fighting among paramilitaries including Hitler’s own SA, resulting in political polarisation and a desire for law and order – which the NSDAP could provide.
CHINA
Landlords –> only 10% of the population – rent almost 70% of the land whilst demanding that peasants gave 50-80% of their crop yield as rent
Evaluation of Social Division
- However, Carsten argues that the 1920s in Germany was characterised by political stability, where “prosperity was restored” under the “Gold Era” led by Stresemann; this era saw the introduction of highly popular social welfare programmes like the 1927 Unemployment Insurance Law, thus suggesting social division was not rife and it was rather economic factors that saw to radicalise the population. As such, Carsten’s view more convincing than Selden.
- In contrast, social division was undisputedly prevalent in China, with rural-urban divides also serving to anger the peasantry; reform within the Nanjing Decade was primarily focused on urban hubs like Shanghai with 47% of all expenditure on the army and thus, resentment grew from the peasantry who longed for land ownership and improved welfare policy.
- Therefore, social division ultimately greater in China with both rural-urban and economic inequalities rife. Considering Germany, Selden’s argument is limited as social division maintains a lesser weight than economic factors in Germany as the Stresemann Era was characterised by stability and rather the GD polarised politics
Impact of War Opening Statement
Thurlow and Fairbank maintain it was rather the impact of war that provided the conditions for which a new regime could emerge.
Impact of War in Germany
-The Treaty of Versailles forced £6.6 billion in reparations with 13% loss of territory and 12% of population, creating widespread resentment for the post-war treaty that Hitler utilised as part of his campaign against the Weimar or so called ‘November Criminals’.
Impact of War in China
-Similarly, GMD control over China was severely weakened given the Sino-Japanese War 1937-45 with civilian atrocities at Nanjing being committed and misjudged ‘Scorched Earth’ policies where the NRA flooded the Yellow River causing 500,000 deaths.
This would weaken popular support for the regime, cultivating conditions for Mao to win over the peasantry.
Criticisms of Impact of War
- However, in Germany, the Young Plan in 1929 had relieved 20% of reparations and provisions were made to reduce Allied troops in the Rhineland every 5 years.
Yet, ultimately contempt for the war settlement still existed whilst Hitler had little support in government and thus, we must look to the event where he was able to gain support: the Great Depression.
- In great contrast, Fairbank argues it was truly the Chinese Civil War that enabled the emergence of Mao’s China.
The war saw Mao’s PLA force the retreat of the GMD to Taiwan and their conquest of Northern China saw Mao proclaim the PRC on 1st October 1949 in Beijing.
Evaluation of Impact of War
- Therefore, it was to a much greater extent significant in China and considering other factors, it was most important in China.
In contrast, the impact of war had been felt for 15 years before Hitler arised to power, and thus his ascent must be attributed to economic factors which polarised the people.
Therefore, Fairbank’s perspective is convincing whilst, Thurlow’s is limited.
Flow of the Essay
SEEMS TO BE ARGUING FOR CHINA’S WARS BEING MOST SIGNIFICANT
WHEREAS FOR GERMANY IT WAS ECONOMIC
ECONOMIC: LYNCH EMPHASISE POOR CONDITIONS
EVALUATE: SIH SHOWS THE CONDITIONS IN CHINA WERE NOT ALL THAT BAD THEREFORE, CHINA LESS OF AN ECONOMIC FACTOR AND MORE IMPACT OF WAR WHILST GER ECONOMIC
SOCIAL DIVISION: GER NOT THAT BAD WHEREAS CHINA BAD
REITERATES THE IDEA THAT GER WAS ECONOMIC CHINA SOCIAL
IMPACT OF WAR: GER NO BUT CHINA YEAH
