Nationalism and Marxism in Eastern Europe
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7974465 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Robert Zuzowski (The University of Melbourne, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 71-80 |
| Publication date | 2006-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Politikon (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0258-9346 • E-ISSN: 1470-1014 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02589340600618107 |
| OpenAlex | W2024952825 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 9 |
This paper analyses the impact of nationalism on communism in Eastern Europe. It argues that the communist idea, by itself, is too narrow, weak and ambiguous to succeed in real life. Left to itself, communism cannot generate a vigorous, effective political system. But, coupled with the simple, encompassing idea of nationalism, comprehensible and convincing to everybody, communism can become an efficacious political force for a while. On the other hand, when nationalism clashes with communism, political tension results that weakens and/or destroys the latter ideology. In fact, communism has to deny its own nature in order to become an efficacious political movement. It resembles a bottle with a false label: the contents differ from that which the label proclaims. The impact of nationalism upon communism has been twofold, depending on circumstances. It can bolster communism among independent nationals, as in Soviet Russia and—for over a generation—in part of Eastern Europe. Or, nationalism can weaken communism in dependent countries, as among the non-independent nationalities of the Soviet Union and—once Soviet military protection was withdrawn—in the eastern bloc states. Nationalism clearly has the capability to either stabilise or destabilise communist polities
Communism · Communist state · Ideology · Nationalism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Eastern European Communism and Reforms · Law · Post-Communist Economic and Political Transition · Soviet and Russian History
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,06 |
| Citation span | 2009 - 2009 (1) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |