History - Theme 1: The Fragilisation of Democracy, Totalitarianism and WWII (1929 - 1945)

Overview

• Woodrow Wilson's World Order: collective security through cooperation.
• Post-WWI Economic Rankings: US 1st, UK 2nd, France 3rd.

Chapter 1: The Impact of the Crisis of 1929

Causes of the Great Depression (GD)

• Stock Market Crash (SMC): wealth loss for 3% of Americans.
• Economic conditions: unsustainable consumer credit, weak agricultural sector, slow growth in car manufacturing and residential construction.
• Bank Failures: small banks lacked reserves, leading to a panic.
• Government Response:
  • Restrictive fiscal policies vs. expenditure expansion (Keynesian approach).

Spread of GD & Economic Nationalism

• Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act (1930): US raised tariffs, leading to global trade decline.
• London Economic Conference (1933): failed due to lack of compromise among nations.

Gold Standard

• UK leaves GS (1931), followed by other countries.
• US leaves GS (1933).

Manchurian Crisis (1931)

• Failure of LON: inability to confront Japan.

US Neutrality Acts (1935-37)

• Ensured US non-involvement in conflicts.

Chapter 2: Totalitarian Regimes

Causes for Rise of Totalitarianism

• Treaty of Versailles, economic & social crises, political instability.

Democracy in Retreat

• Failure of LON: Manchurian Crisis, Abyssinian Crisis.
• Appeasement Policies: UK & France prioritizing self-interest.
• Isolationism: US neutrality and non-interventionism.

Totalitarian Regimes

• Fascism in Italy: Mussolini's rise due to political instability.
• Nazism in Germany: Hitler's rise fueled by economic distress and nationalism.
• Communism in the USSR: Stalin's regime and repressive policies.
• Militarism in Japan: expansionism as a solution to economic problems.

Appeasement

• Reasons for Appeasement: ToV seen as unfair, overestimated Hitler's strength, public opinion against war.
• Criticisms: Allowed Germany to grow unchecked, undermined democratic powers.

Chapter 3: World War Two

Nazi Ideology and Rationale

• New Order (NEO): geopolitical strategy, racialist doctrine, expansionism.

Implementation of NEO

• Occupations and Invasions: blitzkrieg strategy, subjugation of Western Europe.
• Economic and Racial Policies: exploitation, forced labor, genocide (Final Solution).

Legacy of WWII

• Impact on Post-War Politics: reconstruction efforts, denazification.
• Significance of NEO: ideological and geopolitical shifts during and post-WWII.

Questions for Consideration

• Significance of economic policy in NEO.
• Impact of USSR invasion on NEO.
• Racial policy's significance in NEO.

These notes summarize the key points from the lecture on the fragilisation of democracy, totalitarianism, and WWII (1929-1945), focusing on economic, political, and ideological aspects of the era.