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The Global Revolution: A History of International Communism 1917-1991
The Global Revolution. A History of International Communism 1917-1991 establishes a relationship between the history of communism and the main processes of globalization in the past century. Drawing on a wealth of archival sources, Silvio Pons analyses the multifaceted and contradictory
relationship between the Soviet Union and the international communist movement, to show how communism played a major part in the formation of our modern world.
The volume presents the argument that during the age of wars from 1914 to 1945, the establishment of the Soviet state in Russia and the birth of the communist movement had an enormous impact because of their promise of world revolution and international civil war. Such perspective appeared even more
plausible in the aftermath of the Second World War and of revolution in China, which paved the way for the expansion of communism in the post-colonial world. Communism challenged the West in the Cold War - by means of anti-capitalist modernization and anti-imperialist mobilization - showing itself
to be a powerful factor in the politicization of global trends. However, the international legitimacy of communism declined rapidly in the post-war era. Soviet power exposed its inability to exercise hegemony, as distinct from domination. The consequences of Sovietization in Europe and the break
between the Soviet Union and China were the primary reasons for the decline of communist influence and appeal. Since communism lost its political credibility and cultural cohesion, its global project had failed. The ground was prepared for the devastating impact of Western globalization on communist
regimes in Europe and the Soviet Union.
relationship between the Soviet Union and the international communist movement, to show how communism played a major part in the formation of our modern world.
The volume presents the argument that during the age of wars from 1914 to 1945, the establishment of the Soviet state in Russia and the birth of the communist movement had an enormous impact because of their promise of world revolution and international civil war. Such perspective appeared even more
plausible in the aftermath of the Second World War and of revolution in China, which paved the way for the expansion of communism in the post-colonial world. Communism challenged the West in the Cold War - by means of anti-capitalist modernization and anti-imperialist mobilization - showing itself
to be a powerful factor in the politicization of global trends. However, the international legitimacy of communism declined rapidly in the post-war era. Soviet power exposed its inability to exercise hegemony, as distinct from domination. The consequences of Sovietization in Europe and the break
between the Soviet Union and China were the primary reasons for the decline of communist influence and appeal. Since communism lost its political credibility and cultural cohesion, its global project had failed. The ground was prepared for the devastating impact of Western globalization on communist
regimes in Europe and the Soviet Union.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 4, 2020
Ottima e lucida a analisi storica della nascita, consolidamento e finale disfacimento dell'impero sovietico e delle sue ramificazioni (geo)politiche sul movimento comunista internazionale. È un testo che verte più sull'approccio storiografico dell'analisi delle azioni degli stati comunisti (con naturale focus sull'URSS) che sul movimento internazionale, che comunque non è trascurato. Consigliato vivamente
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November 25, 2024No rating, but this is a pretty dense, information wise, and a pretty decent starting point for studying the International communism movement (regardless of some,,, questionable bibliographical sources and hyperbolic affirmations which, in my opinion, are unfit for such academic writing).
May 2, 2025
Un signor lavoro storiografico
April 11, 2017
Good but very very dense.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews