Typically the gains in living standards and political rights of Europeans are presented as flowing from the good graces of industrial capitalism. In reality, as this book proves, it was the massive, militant struggle of millions of average persons who forced concessions such as the welfare state and free elections to Parliament. Without understanding the revolutionary vision and the pressure it placed on European rulers, it is difficult to understand contemporary society.
This book covers aspects of Marx's life and theoretical arguments in his works. It explores the Industrial Revolution through the lens of Marx's view of socialism as a way of framing the industrial system and its impact on workers.
Introduction: What German Revolution? 1. Industrialisation and the Rise of the
German Working Class, 1871-1914 2. Growth of Radical Belief within the German
Common People 3. War, Suffering, Resistance Amidst the German Population 4.
The Road to the November Revolution 5. The Kaiser Goes, the Generals Remain:
November 1918-January 1919 6. Provocation, Confusion, Revolt and Repression:
The Days of January 1919 7. Women in the World War and November Revolution,
1914-1919 8. Death Agony of the Revolution till 1923 9. Legacy of the German
Revolution and its International Impact Conclusion
"Das Europa der Neuzeit" beleuchtet die Geschichte des Kontinents durch die Taten einfacher Leute und die politischen Revolutionen von unten. Pelz fokussiert auf die Rolle von Frauen, Gewerkschaften und Studierenden, um eine alternative Sicht auf die europäische Geschichte zu präsentieren und aktuellen populistischen Strömungen entgegenzuwirken.
The origin of capitalism and modern industrialism--and, not unrelated, the birthplace of Marxism--modern Europe provided the perfect conditions for a great number of political revolutions. From the monarchical terror of the Middle Ages to the mangled Europe of the twenty-first century, A People's History of Modern Europe tracks the history of the continent through the deeds of those whom mainstream history tries to forget. Along the way, William A. Pelz examines the German peasant wars of Thomas M ntzer, the bourgeoisie revolutions of the eighteenth century, the rise of the industrial worker in England, the turbulent journey of the Russian Soviets, the role of the European working class throughout the Cold War, and the revolutionary students in 1968. He then brings his story to the present day, where we continue to fight to forge an alternative to a heartless and often barbaric economic system. As Germany and Greece argue over who owes what, with the very idea of Europe crumbling around them, Pelz's accessible, provocative history could not be timelier. Sure to resonate with fans of books like Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, this people's history sweeps away the tired platitudes of the privileged and provides an opportunity to understand the story of Europe from the ground up.
Wilhelm Liebknecht is little known today outside his native Germany. Yet, in the late 19th century, Liebknecht was renowned throughout the industrialized world as a champion of working people and a prime mover in the German Social Democratic Party. His speeches and pamphlets were translated into numerous languages and helped inspire generations of militant workers and socialist activists. This volume brings together a sampling of Liebknecht's major writings; essays on Liebknecht by colleagues and observers of the times; and a chronology, glossary, and other aids designed to facilitate a better understanding of the period and Liebknecht's impact.
