Society, Politics & Thought in the Late 1800’s Part II
History M01B – Krister Swanson – Moorpark College
Labor Trends in late
1800s
•more unskilled jobs, esp. in transportation and building
•less artisans and highly skilled workers
•After 1848
workers look to new institutions for change and representation…
Labor Politics &
Unions
•Unions:
collective bargaining for economic gain, not political at first
•Unions repressed
in mid 1800s, 1871- unions legal in GB, 1884- legal in France
•early 1900’s- many strikes- trying to keep pay up with
inflation
•1910 large union
membership
Labor Impacts
Democracy
•1890: Russia only
true Monarchy left
•broader franchise means you can’t ignore workers
•political parties organize new electorate & represent
their interests
•This presents opportunity
for socialists, they underestimate WC nationalism
•The Big ?: WC improvement
through revolution or reform?
First International
•founded in 1864- collection of politically radical elements
from all over Europe
•Marx supports
calls for reform, really wants Revolution
•violence of Commune hurts radical cause, by 1873- they’re
done
•they make Marxism main brand of soc. (rev.)
Labor Politics Around
Europe
•1906- Labour Party
rises (WC alternative to Con. & Lib.), support unions, not socialists
•Fabian Society (GB Soc.) supported municipal
collectivism (gov’t control of utilities, Health Care)
•After reforms of 1909 - GB becomes leader of
government taking care of social probs – End of Fabianism
•German SPD - revolutionaries who try to pass
pro-WC legislation
•SPD grows in popularity despite repression by
Bismarck
•Bismarck tries to make state alternative to
Socialism
More Labor Politics
•1889- 2nd
International - unity between soc. parties & unions
•1890’s
Revisionists (Bernstein) claim Marx won’t happen: standard of living is up,
ownership thru stock, extended franchise
•therefore must revise Marx and seize opportunism
(participation in non-soc. Gov’ts)
•SPD winds up
pursuing Bern’s goals, becomes almost mainstream by WWI
Russian Industrialism
•75 yrs. behind,
Alex III & Nick II push rapid industrialism
•Sergei Witte plans it (tariffs, taxes, gold std.)
•Based on heavy
industries (RR, coal, iron, textiles)
Industry Brings
Problems
•Profit goes to
foreign capitalists
•small working class
•development doesn’t improve lives
•inefficient farming, rural pop. doubles
New political parties form:
•Social Revs (old populists) opposed
industry, wanted communal life
•Cadets(CDS)from zemstvos, want Parliament
•and...
Lenin & Social
Democrats
•no change thru institutions, must have REV!
•admired early German SPD, but didn’t want to accommodate
like GSPD
•Professional
revolutionaries use workers & farmers
•1903- London
Congress of RSPD, Lenin fashions small majority (Bolsheviks) vs. Mensheviks
•Bolsheviks form
own party in 1912, seize power in 1917 (WWI)
Revolution of 1905
•Russo-Japan War
makes Gov’t look bad, Industrialization’s not working
•workers massacred in march on Winter Palace è
Uprisings throughout Russia
•Oct.- Soviets
(worker counsels) control St. Pete
•Nicholas II
issues October Manifesto (promises Cons. gov’t)
Aftermath
•1906- Duma (assembly) elected then dismissed, same with 2nd,
3rd Duma elected under narrower franchise (Duma-Duma-Duma leaves all disappointed)
•Stolypin is Nick II’s advisor, he
squashes anti-gov’t sentiment
•Land Reform- believes
farmers more productive working for selves
•eventually aced, Rasputin on rise
Nietzsche Attacks
Reason
•critical of Xianity, democracy,
etc. (they lead to mediocrity)
•“God is Dead”
(materialism & unmotivated Xians)
•instinct & ecstasy are positive
•heroic strength goes beyond reason (not mediocrity but ubermensch)
•morality prevents fulfillment
•Wants a new moral
order: pride & strength
Freud &
Psychoanalysis
•desire to see underside of human behavior
•childhood experiences è neuroses
•Libido(sex drive) evident from start, your dreams expose
your unconscious desires
•Unconscious mind
affects conscious behavior
•id (instincts)+superego (outer pressures) moderated by ego
•excessive repression will cause disorders, some repression
OK
More Psychoanalysis
•Jung: inherited
memories+ experiences = personality
(religion & mysticism OK)
•Jung is more
romantic, Freud is more rational
•F & J will
have a profound impact on modern intellectual life
Max Weber
•contrast to Marx -
non-economic factors have big impact
•Explores role of Xianity in development of capitalism, etc.
•rationalism & bureaucratization are major developments,
people need role in society
•Weber’s peers
claim collective group plays larger role than the individual
•group behavior’s non-rational
Race Theories
•prejudice back to explorers
•scientists classify by race, believe race explains history
& character (Darwin)
Examples:
•Gobineau- Aryans degenerated
•Chamber.-improve thru genetics
•L&L- Jews
dangerous to Germany
•Racism è
aggressive Nationalism
Anti-Semitism & Zionism
•civil equality, still popular discrimination (assoc. with
banking, believe it’s in the blood, etc.)
•Dreyfus & Lueger (Xian Party) è Zionism
•Led by Herzl, desire own state & chance for liberal ideals