Cafe Europa: Pre-Reading Notes

Cafe Europa Pre Reading Notes

• The author is from an ex-communist country.
• First-person should be used sparingly as a form of self-censorship.
• “Those who used ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ had to escape”.
• In communist countries, outspoken individuals were seen as traitors.
• 'We' represents fear, resignation, and submissiveness, while 'I' stands for individuality and democracy.
• Revolution in eastern Europe has manifested through small, everyday things like sounds, looks and images.
• Europe is defined as lacking communism, fear, and deprivation.
• Border guards would give a certain look.
• Europe cannot be equal, and only those who have been there can understand this distinction, creating an East and West divide.
• Yugoslavs felt superior only in Russia, which they considered nearly identical but slightly worse than Yugoslavia.
• "Europe is... not Russia!"

Europe

• The idea of continents originated in Ancient Greece.
• The EU constitutes some, but not all, countries in Europe and is a political and economic union of member states.
• Circa 5th Century BCE, Greece was at the center of the known world (Europe to North, Asia to East, Libya/Africa to South West), an Ethno-Centric map.

Borders of Europe

• The Ural Mountains and Ural River form the Eastern boundary.
• Present borders resulted from a political act initiated by Russian Tsar Peter the Great in the early 18th century.
• Russians took over after the Mongol Empire collapsed.

Tsar Peter the Great

• Traveled through Europe as a young man and observed negative opinions about Russians.
• He wanted to transform Russia into an empire.
• "Russia is an empire (imperiia) with a European metropole and an Asian colony.”
• In 1721, Russia was proclaimed an empire, and he was declared emperor (Tsar - Russian for “Caesar").

Turkey

• It is a bridge between Europe and Asia, also is an ideal/aspiration.

Ideas

• Europe is a continent but also is connected to Asia
• Splendor never sets there, linked to British colonialism.

Yugoslavia Endgame

• Involves Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia and Franjo Tudjman of Croatia.
• Hatred was cultivated by leaders for each other's countries.
• "Europe" was seen as a way to escape the poor conditions of Eastern bloc Europe, resembling a utopia with freedom in many forms.

Liberalism (Aka Classical Liberalism)

• Is Political Liberalism.
• It is committed to individual liberties/rights considered "inalienable".
• The government's role is to protect individual liberties, including freedom from arbitrary authority, imprisonment, censorship, press, and assembly.
• Constitutions uphold these principles.

Economic Liberalism

• Includes a market economy, private property, and association with capitalism, juxtaposed against feudalism and mercantilism.
• Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" (1776) is a seminal text.

Neoliberalism

• Began in the 1980s.

Liberalism, 1900-1914, Theory vs Practice

• L.T. Hobhouse's 1911 essay, “Liberalism” stated that the State should interfere as little as possible but ensure citizens have access to what they need to survive.
• Liberal and most European governments favored social legislation and protected privileged classes.
• Free trade was mandated, liberals turned to governments for protection, and jobs were argued to disappear.
• A spectrum exists between free trade and protectionism.

Socialism

• It is a several distinct variety.
• Figures; Robert Owen, Charles Fourier, Flora Tristan, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon all had followers.
• Karl Marx and Marxist socialism represent one variant.
• It includes the public ownership of the means of production.

Socialism 1900-1914

• Included reformists who wanted to reshape the existing system and revolutionaries desiring complete rework.
• Revolutionaries had Different visions but no sustained experience in actual rule.
• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels collaborated from 1844.
• The Communist Manifesto in 1848 covers Marxism.
• Marxism is a reaction to, and appreciation of, industrial capitalism, offering a solution.

Scientific Socialism

• Socialism will triumph over capitalism after industrial capitalism has thrived.
• Marxist Socialism presented itself as a science, attracting followers akin to a religion.
• People hoped in Marx's ideas as a way out of their dilemma.
• Marx can be viewed as a rigorous socialist vs. an older Marx.

Charles Darwin

• He wrote "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" (1859).
• It covers "Survival of the fittest”.
• Only the best adapted to the current environment succeed.
• A theory of evolution is presented
• Unintended fallout includes Social Darwinism which created people justifying racism through this.

Social Darwinism-Imperialism Connection

• Imperialism involves control by a state over other territories outside of that state and its resources for the benefit of the Imperialist state.
• The period from 1890 to the early 1900s is considered the “Age of Imperialism.”
• Hannah Arendt's ideas on imperialism.
• J.A. Hobson's view of imperialism includes the idea that the world should be governed by the races of highest social efficiency (racism) as well as the search for investment driven by capitalist economies prompted European expansion.
• Calling oneself an Imperialist was seen as romantic and heroic.

Two Types of Empires

• Maritime Empire (aka Overseas) has a clear line between the metropolitan core and colonial periphery. It was linked to mercantilism and/or capitalism. It started recently, around the 15th century, and examples include the British and French overseas empires.
• Contiguous Empire (aka Land) features mostly contiguous geographic space and is traditionally linked to absolutism and militarism.
• It is often linked to and justified by universalist religions (more in theory than in practice) and has existed since antiquity until the 20th century.
• Examples include the Habsburg, Romanov, and Ottoman empires.

Week 2 Reading Notes

• Few heads of state, diplomats, and military planners were surprised at the outbreak of war.
• The alliance system meant any war between two rivals risked involving all European powers.
• Pan-Slav nationalism threatened the Habsburg monarchy, advocating shared government for those sharing a common culture.
• The world was seen as governed by the unstable equilibrium of five great powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Britain, and France.
• In 1878, with the Three Emperors League abolished (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Russia): Bismarck created the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, predicated on German support for Habsburg opposition to Russian interests in the Balkans.
• Italy allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1882, forming the Triple Alliance, seeking support against France after it occupied Tunisia in 1881.
• In 1881, Bismarck resurrected the Three Emperors’ League, again allying the tsar of Russia with the emperors of Germany and Austria-Hungary as a hedge against Austro-Hungarian expansion in the Balkans. This league ended in 1887 due to tensions between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans.
• By 1914, approximately one-fourth of French foreign investment was in Russia.
• Germany and Russia signed a Reinsurance Treaty in 1887, pledging neutrality if the other went to war, but this did not cover the most likely contingency of war between Russia and Austria-Hungary. Kaiser Wilhelm II abolished this treaty in 1890.
• Germany became more involved with the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s.
• Wilhelm II outwardly stated they were enemies with GBR in 1908
• The British and German naval arms race that resulted in the 1906 Dreadnought.
• In 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm II provoked Britain for war but backed down when only Austro-Hungarians supported him
• The Pig War occurred when Austro-Hungarians refused to give pigs to Serbia.
• The Bosnian Crisis in 1908 involved Austria-Hungary occupying Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• The Second Moroccan Crisis in 1911 saw France declare Morocco a protectorate in exchange for Germany absorbing 100,000 sq mi of French Congo.

WW1 OUTBREAK

• Russians backed Serbia, and Germany backed Austro-Hungary, whose Archduke was murdered.
• Germany declared war on Russia on Aug 1 1914.
• France joined as a result of Germany's declaration of war on Aug 3.
• Germany marched through Belgium, and GBR declared war on Germany on Aug 4.

Europe 1900/Pre WW1

• Trade Unions developing.
• Arms Races; Heightened by British/German naval contest and the Dreadnoughts developed as a result.
• Arms Races tened to solve problems of taxation (as early as 1890s) as well as led to Defence/War spending
• Large armies went hand in hand with larger taxes, growing of state machines that is associated with early 20th century.
• Countries had a hard time saying no to Imperialism as well would be taken over by others if not enough aggression shown.

Sergei Witte

• Russia’s finance minister .
• His rationale for industrialization: At whatever cost is necessary
• He oversaw policy in which Russia vehemently industrialized at a very rapid pace, transforming itself at great cost to its people throughout the 1890s and early 1900s.
• Starvation, exporting grain in order to bring in industrial equipment from the west was widespread.
• This was justified by saying "What are the tasks of our protectionist system? Russia remains to this day an agricultural country, pays for its obligations to foreigners by exporting raw materials, predominantly grain. It meets its demand for finished goods by imports from abroad. Comparable to colonial countries."
• TLDR Russia must industrialize and have a protectionism system, have higher prices for food, no matter what the cost, in order to not be in a colonial relationship/indebted to other countries. Industrialization a prerequisite for military strength

Germany

• Bismarck was aware that Prussia/Germany defeated France, and was careful to balance relations with Russia and France.
• Germany did not want a two-front war, or to deprive France of allies that could allow them to avenge their loss in the Franco-Prussian war so maintained good relations with Britain by promising not to threaten British overseas interests.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

• A diverse multi-ethnic empire which was ruled by Habsburgs.
• Politics of Empire involved placating different nationalisms and other nationalistic groups vying for more representation (Serbs, Croats, etc).
• There were a lot of internal tensions and unrest.
• The empire wanted anti-Russian policy and for Slavs in Austro-Hungarian Empire to be ruled by Russia while wanting Russian cooperation in the Balkans.
• It was Pro Germany.
• Habsburgs could never offer the notion of a united people, but did present civil society as well as a pension program, education opportunities, a welfare state, and an economic market.

Russia

• Was under Autocratic rule, yet very different after the 1905 revolution and the parliament existed although not very prominent (Duma).
• The Duma had limits to its power, with unfair gerrymandering where nobles had more say than workers.
• It was defeated in 1904-1905 during the Russo-Japanese war.
• The problem for Russian development is its size which difficult to establish transportation connections betweeen Empire.

British Empire 1897

• Was far flung, economically based, exploitative around the world.
• Yet there was also a lot of “democracy”, power limits, and representation.
• Privileged white dominions like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were given preferential treatment vs. India not as privileged.
• Vary deals were made with different parts in the Empire which was the Only world power at the start of 20th century.
• It Ruled 25% world's land mass.
• It Claimed itself as the heartland of democracy despite it being Difficult to justify ruling without consent over 100s of millions of subjects, especially when not ruled equally

Bosnian Crisis 1908

• Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina which had been part of Austro-Hungary but not formally annexed.
• There were Diverse ethnic groups, with 42% of the 1910 population being Serbs which desired to be part of Serbia (next door to Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• This would prove troublesome for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• The annexation was welcomed by Croats and Muslims which resulted in Increasing ethnic tensions in Bosnia.
• Austro-Hungarian admin encouraged ethnic groups to cooperate to curb exacerbated Serb nationalism in response to Bosnian Crisis..
• Ottomans were not in a position to challenge Austria-Hungary's annexation due to the Annexation caused strong reaction from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia since Russias had abandoned their traditional links with Germany and Austro Hungary.
• In 1908 Russia almost went to war with Austria-Hungary as a result of annexation but the Tensions escalated.

1912 before the Balkan Wars

• Young Turk revolution 1908 occurred, and the Balkan wars Southeastern Europe are a Prequel to WW1.

First Balkan War 1912-1913

• Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro fought against the Ottoman Empire to push them out of Europe. • Fights broke out between all Balkan countries (all Christian) pushing out Turk Muslims with Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro all expanding.

Second Balkan War

• Bulgaria loses territory due to the fact they didn't get as much territory as they desired resulting in a Massive loss for Bulgaria as well as a Couple of million Bulgarians living outside of Bulgaria as result.

Ottoman Empire

• Realignment of boundaries and spheres of influence in the Balkans during1908-1913 that would have consequences soon thereafter.
• The Russians would lose influence and Were obsessed with straits (Dardanelles, ).
• They would feel vulnerable if they did not control these straits

New Balkans 1913

• Serbia gains territory when Facing ultimatum from Austria-Hungary as They back out of what is now Albania. • Albania formed because Austria forces Serbs to leave the territory 1913 with Serbia giving up the access to mediterranean which resulted in Huge humiliation

• As Bosnia was humiliated first, there was now Albania, and Serb nationalism very much so exacerbated by these developments.

Unsettled Scores

• Serbia was humiliated and Russia became upset with AH which was worried about Serbias potential to instigate other Balkan nations uprising against AH.
• There was Talk in AH of taking over Serbia and ruling it like Bosnia which Would require lot of troops and resources to carry out as Serbia would not stand by idly.
• Colliding spheres of interests formed between Russia and AH tensions in Balkans, AH worried all Balkan countries will want out of AH Empire, therefore AH feels obligated to be part of this engagement as If they don't do it, there will be bad consequences in AH.
• This makes Serbs in AH look towards Russia for protection.

Alliances 1914

• Arms race grew alongside a Clash of interests in Balkans meaning if AH or Germany attacks France, Russia committed to help France (GBR in this alliance as well).
• Additionally, there were Lot of mutual commitments/pacts; if you go to war, so will we

Causes for the Alliance System

• They Would drag multiple countries into war through mutual alliances

The Great War

• It began due to the Set off by assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of AH on June 28 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
• Gavrilo Princip shot point blank which led him to say "If I had not done it, the Germans would have found another excuse" with the act being Part of Serbian Black Hand.

World War I "The Great War"

• AH gives ultimatum to Serbia as Because of nature of entangling alliances, pretty much all powers threatened to be swept into conflict after which Aug 3 Germany declares war on France and marches through Belgium

World War I: Some Contributing Factors

• Longer term Struggle for colonies and markets alongside States aggressively pursuing their own Imperial visions
• German-British naval rivalry led to Germany wanting to pursue an overseas Empire (started 1890s)
• Britain started their arms race because of fear for their Empire as well as Germany's invention of the Dreadnought which Drove them to ally with France and Russia
• Overall Pan-European arms race and the Legacy of Bosnian Crisis caused the war

Hague Conventions 1899 and 1907

• 1899 Tsar Nicholas II and 1907 Theodore Roosevelt organized it
• The events Aim to civilize warfare butMany of these ideas got violated as the war failed to have had any anticipation how future warfare may differ from that of the past to the point they Had no idea what was in store in WW1

Enlisting

• Was met with Real enthusiasm for the war alongside All over Europe, at points, young men enthusiastically going to war

Origins of WW1

• In 1928 Sidney Fay hypothesized two reasons for its origination
  • British German rivalry, that meant if there was going to be a war these two countries would be opponents
  • Germany had committed a big strategic problem by making a blank check to Austria
  • Austrians pulled Germans into conflict due to their dispute in the Balkans and with the Russians
  • Not only was Austria involved as all great powers acted provocatively resulting in all being guilty as Germany allowed this to happen
• While Fritz Fischer hypothesized in 1960s that
  • Gemany was more responsible than any other power having not been pulled in by Austria but was pushed to make the ultimatum to Serbia that they knew would start WW1
  • Germany had long standing goals of dominating the European continent which led those in Russia, GBR, and France to defend themselves. The analyzed pre war German movements showed that Germany pushed AH into war and made a decision for war on Dec 8 1912 already plotting for the war

Schlieffen Plan: Theory and Practice

• Was intended to stall the conundrum of a two front war between France and Russia
• Led to an effort to First concentrate strength in West through neutral Belgium and Overwhelm France with superior German military force first knocking them out before heading East and Dealing with Russia later.
• France was sure they would be able to mobilize quickly while Russia would take longer to mobilize so they hit France first and knocked out Paris then got the Russians
• Russia was the greater threat than France however, Germany moving through neutral Belgium would assuredly involve GBR but the Germans were hoping British would stay out
• Some Germans actively sought a way to make the Russians appear as the instigators of the war where the Germans said “We need to protect Anglo Germans from the Russians” but the British weren't having it

Europe 1914

the Germans felt time was running out as Russia was industrializing faster than some other countries, being big. Mobilization could nullify the Schlieffen Plan which Would might as well have a war sooner than later from German perspective The longer they wait, the less of a technological advantage they will have

Schlieffen Plan Practice

• The French were able to halt the march on Paris at the Battle of Marne September 5-12 1914 and during the Battle of Tannenberg August 20-26, 1914 and the Mansurian Lakes September 1914
• A Russian army rolled into forest of East Prussia which Forced Germans to divert many of their troops earlier than anticipated to fight the Russians. In the process, this Helped prevent the fall of Paris making the Tannenberg huge victory for Germans
• Resulting in it being Clear by September 1914 that the war would not be over by Christmas and would be much longer
• Eastern Front ends up being far more mobile than the Western Fron. there was a Russian victory over AH at Galicia causing Huge Russian losses, but the AH suffered far worse
• Making that period known for Lots of propaganda from all sides

World war fronts during 1915-1916

• Western fronts were Relatively stable with Not much territorial change
• Whereas the Eastern fronts wereFar more mobile, and were “The killing fields of Europe" suffering from a huge part of the casualties and giving rise to a large amount of refugees

Problems During World War 1

• In housing, food supply, ex with Territories of conflict already having had their resources expropriated in addition to Already have had problems with housing and food as refugee migration exacerbate these tensions
• All populations Were terrorized by militaries all sides guilty of Committing atrocities on civilians with there being Widespread disease

Enemy Aliens

• Was a label applied to entire peoples (ethnic groups) based on the perception of their collective disloyalty
• As a concept, it was developed by the General Staffs of armies prior to WW1, practiced by armies of different sides on the Eastern Front
• if someone is likely to help the other side, they are seen as an alien with Jews blamed by many being on the Russians side as M
• Many Jews harassed, abused, killed, houses burned as part of a “Great Retreat" and became Zionists as a result, in a search for somewhere safe for Jews to live
• As Russians entered Galicia, they Treated Ukrainians poorly such as by making sure Especially if Catholic instead of Orthodox were treated wrong
• Hungarians also Hated Slavs and abused Ukrainians as well

Revolution Politics

• Was Part of Germany's war strategy aimed to Achieve Mobilization of radicals and nationalists in order to destabilize the Russian and British empires which resulted in Victory Defeat of enemies by causing uprisings from within
• there was Propaganda by any means possible that led countries in Diverting resources to hinder the enemy

Ottoman-Russian Front

• The Germans convinced the Ottoman Empire to declare Jihad against the Triple Entente and use the plan that Ottoman Sultan wanted to carry over a Pan Turkic Empire to the Caucasus region
• Where Turkish nationalists wanted to use Jihad to pursue Turkish nationalist goals, the Armenians (on both sides) who had been animated by previous massacres by hands of Turks Sided mostly with the Russians (they were Christian).
• The Ottomans defefeated the Russians at a battle in Winter 1914-1915 with the Biggest Turkish stronghold in Eastern Anatolia which Turkish leadership blamed the Armenians, therefore they decided to remove all Armenians as a result which culminated into the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and More than one million Armenians died

World War One

• The US Merchant ship carrying British Merchant ship carrying Americans sunk by Germans happened as a result of the 4200 cases of gunpowder blowing of the ship in conjunction to the 128 US citizens on board being killed
• This marked a turning point as US was previously neutral but now up until this point; traded with both sides as in this instance a GBR starvation blockade of Germany stopped American ships en route to Germany
• Further due to the fact that US had financial stakes in an Entente victory due to the Major loans to GBR and France meant while European countries destroying each other which let the US gain power and wealth with the US Sending small amounts of troops, but lots of loans
• That meant the Sinking of Lusitania shifted US public opinion sharply against Germany indicating Getting involved in WW1 was not as wild an idea to the US but Woodrow Wilson had qualms being Allied with Russia before the April 1917 declare war on Germany

End of the Romanov Empire

• That the Tsar Nicholas II goes to front to lead Russia's troops and bolster morale of Russian troops despite there Being there more symbolically than to lead as his wife was of German descent making them Related to Kaiser Wilhelm II and Queen Victoria's Grandson
• Therefore he Leaves Russia's capital and Never returns to Petrograd (previously St. Petersburg)

Post Tsar Russia

• Went through Two Russian Revolutions where "Power is lying in the street."

Lenin's April Theses

• Regarded Russia as the freest country in the world at the time of Bolshevik power.
• The Soviets of Workers' Deputies are the only possible form of revolutionary government.
• There is Abolition of the police, the army and the bureaucracy as well a No constitution made by the outdated Constituent Assembly

Lenin's Marxism beliefs

• The idea of nationalizing all banks deviated from marxism.
• Was there an ulterior motive which was Perhapsp done to convince the proletariat to follow his cause, as he did want more power ultimately. Was this a move to give Bolsheviks control of the economy, or was it a purely ideological decision? Remove bourgeois control of the means of production, yet Lenin wanted to consolidate his power and appeal to the masses.

Lenin's Progressive Marxism

• Was not in line with the Marxist idea of the abolition of the state? as it did Not really if he just wanted a different party in power
• While the “people” would have power, the Bolsheviks would be there to oversee it so that Communism, although a utopian ideology, is difficult to bring to fruition without some sort of power dynamics taking place.

Lenin's Call for Peace

• Might of been done with ulterior motives for the side of was done with ulterior motives, or did it come from a place of actually wanting what is best for the Russian people? Was primarily a strategic move to strengthen the Bolshevik position, or did it reflect a genuine concern for the welfare of the Russian people?

The Aftermath

• A Russian Southern Front formed consisting of Irregulars causing a Disastrous effect during Inida and Ottoman fighting that Extends to some account up to 1936
• Since Russia very much so agrarian society during this time period leading to Revolution on large scale would destabilize the country
• Resulting in Lenin not speaking to the Russians who support his ideas but was Speaking to nationalists and revolutionaries in the Balkans

Aftermath of Lenin's Rise To Greatness

• Wilson gave 14 points that somewhat response to Lenin's April Theses
• Lenin was Speaking to the Anarchists however, Woodrow Wilson focused on restoration of the previous stability that existed in order to Argues for self determination in the region

Aftermath Ideologies;Who's the Target Audience

• Lenin Socialist (Communist) was in disagreement with Wilson's Liberal (Capitalist) goal that was why Russia wants to leave the war
• As Lenin journeys in April 1917 down Journey in a sealed train from Switzerland to Russia that is enabled by Germany's "revolution politics"
• Lenin Denounces WW1 as an "imperialist war" becoming a Political prisoner was in Exiled to Siberia in 1897 after is a Future leader of the Soviet Union he would Write April Theses on train back to Petrograd where Will control the government for the workers; the workers won't control it themselves
• A Radical socialist leader and wants Russia to withdraw from the war no matter the cost which let Treaty of Brest Litovsk (Peace Treaty with Germany) with Lenin's View of WW1 as a product of imperialism, highest stage of capitalism who's View of WW1 as a product of imperialism, highest stage of capitalism let Lenin ostracise themselves form the his own party

Overall Ideology

• Workers of the world are being pitted against each other that had the result which gave rise to the Bolshevik party leading edge of revolution which in turn made Russia a catalyst for further socialism in Europe

1917 April

• Lenin's April Theses April 1917 led the party's ideology to endorse wanting Peace, Bread, Land, and Workers' control as well as "All power to the Soviets"

Which led t wanting a Provisional Govt to soon be dissolved immediately which Meant that Lenin in essense Said no to Russia's Provisional Government in order to push Lenin's Objective of a Socialist Revolution throughout Europe (Russia is only a start... a catalyst for greater revolutions to come) Play well as a political program/promise

World War 1 In 1917

• It had already Drastically affected outcome of WW1 due to US Enters World War I April 6 1917 which occurred Around same time as Lenin rising to power

Allies and US reaction to February Revolution

• Due to Some relief that the Tsar is gone that the powers could hope that Russia would be on the road to being more like They are... Where First Provisional Government - maintains war aims which lead to POV of many Russians being; what kind of country will we have after we lose WW1 Afraid of becoming a colony of Germany

July Days in Petrograd

• 3 months after April thesis, there was insurrection in Petrograd from below

Occurring due to Low ranking socialist members, including some Bolsheviks Unrest in the streets, crowds of armed people trying to overthrow armed government and Soviet refuses to take power because they aren't ready As Voices support for insurrection but left it at that at first it saw Lenin going into hiding because he's blamed for being a German agent although there wasLeft Wing potential revolution but that failed Because no one took charge, it dissipated and failed although General Lavr Kornilov later Represented Right Wing attempt to overthrow govt and Hinted to Right Wing General to restore order but Kerensky chickened out to invade Petrograd so

• He later Armed to attempt unsuccessfully, left wing

Bolshevik Party

• Fall 1917, the Soviets revive slogan of “All power to the Soviets" for the party to Seizes this opportunity to make central committee of communist party vote on this proposal to seize power

October 1917 Revolution

Somes were reluctant, but ultimately people Seize power in the October Revolution also know as Aka the Bolsheviks November coup d'etat/insurrection which involved Seizing the government in Petrograd and became a Challenge to the rest of the world through its establishment of a rival political order by a Communist Party in power thanks to Lenin's vision which was put into practice.

• 3 different provisional governments came before this revolution

Wilsons vs Lenins Ideals

• That woodrow Wilson wanted to make the entire world democratic, he gave a 14 point speech that is an Alternative of Lenin's ideas where He Spells out a number of countries to become democratic with his Vision that being very attractive to a lot of people in particular in the Socialist world where things will move towards capitalism which Means that Many people are more persuaded by these ideas despite People like Wilson being worried about the threat and challenge of Communism

Attempts to undermine Socialism

• Led wilson to Engaging Lenin in a battle of the hearts and minds of Europeans who might be attracted to Socialism so Made demands such as self-determination a political principle which Encourages Nationalism in countries that are part of Austria-Hungary (Czechoslovakia, other Eastern European countries) Which caused the formation of the League of Nations to come about and be Propossed as well as adopted in Versailles later

World Politics; 1917-1918

• Wilson and Lenin both promising changes as a traditional balance of power diplomacy that existed in pre-war Europe however, the World would Be transformed from Bigger countries making decisions for smaller countries which Made the League of Nations' goal that of different countries would go to work out differences to prevent wars with millions of people dying

• Had great appeal in the midst of such a horrible global conflict as well Preventative Measure of war and Combat ideas of Lenin's Socialism that were driven by their

• Introduction of Wilsonian Liberalism

Post war Russia

Kept gaining more power from Seizing it that manifested in Russia's brutal civil war from from 1918-1921 between Reds and Whites and caused the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918 to infuriate many of the Russians and Helped the Whites against the Bolsheviks as Russia gave up Poland, Balkans, and other Central/Eastern European territories due to “War Communism” and the Crucible of the Revolution.

To the points that The Russian Civil War was More costly in terms of lives lost than Russia's participation in WW1 and Lenin adopted the ministerial system that he inherited from Provisional Government despite that the fact Previously he had spoken against this, he adopted it himself allowing Bolshevik to have geographic advantage against the Whites and Bolshevik were far more agreeable to different nations and nationalities than the Whites which was a Huge advantage in this regard

Post WW1

• Armistice was declared on 11 Nov 1918 which gave rise to countries Fascism emerging in the wake of the war and brought countries to join the to Peace Conference in 1919 that Began on 18 January which meants the Armistice was considerably earlier (11 Nov 1918) but It had the Effect of a British enforced blockade of Germany which acted as essentially a starvation blockade causing Many Germans suffering which Led to Pressure Germany to give better terms to the Allies That the the decision for what the next steps would be in the conflict are led who the Allies and is US was was allowed to Excluded

• However, Us became and Great power economically and militarily who became Known as Political winner of the war however, ,before war US was never a key player geopolitically

• What followed was Hugess loans getting given from American banks to France and GBR Which gave US political Prominence in European affairs Wilson's play in Versailles then gave US a Key role in playing the part of broker of pearce in Europe during the Paris Peace Conference with Big 4

• During The Paris Peace Conference with Big 4: David Lloyd George, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, Georges Clemencaeau, and