Safe for Democracy: The Anglo-American Response to Revolution, 1913-1923

by Lloyd C. Gardner

This ground-breaking book probes the way that two capitalist superpowers, Great Britain and the United States, responded to the momentous challenge of revolution that emerged during the early years of this century. Focusing on two key figures--Woodrow Wilson and David Lloyd George--the book explores the collective impact on the Western democracies of the revolutions that swept Mexico in 1910, China in 1911, and, especially, Russia in 1917.

Genres: History

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Llyod Gardner builds on the fundamental insight provided by William A. Williams in his consideration of the Anglo-American response to revolution under Wilson and Llyod George. These two statesmen were committed to the principles of economic Liberalism, but with the significant difference that Llyod George was constrained by the politics of Imperial England. Wilson, by contrast, sought to remake the world in America's image. The British desire to preserve their empire and America's efforts to subvert British imperial preference in the name of the Open Door, made the two men "mismatched" allies from the outset.

Responding to the legitimate grievances of the peoples of Mexico, China, and Russia, Wilson sought to direct revolution away from radical demands and into the paths of Liberal capitalism. Wilson sought thereby to avoid the counter-revolutionary reaction which inevitably follows on the heels of radical revolution. When revolutions proved unwilling to yield to his direction, particularly in the case of the Russian revolution, Wilson responded with incomprehension. The Bolsheviks had to be German agents, for instance, if they refused his guidance. Gardner makes a point of emphasizing Wilson's attempt to maintain control of the revolutions which he confronted.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gardner makes a compelling case that the Mexican revolution in 1910, the Chinese revolution in 1911, and the Russian revolution in 1917, had a decisive influence on the American and British reactions to the world situation surrounding the First World War. For some reason he mostly passes over the Easter Rising in 1916 in Ireland, but otherwise this is a fascinating book.