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EIT Week 3- The Working-Class Challenge in Europe pre-1914 (Germany and…
EIT Week 3- The Working-Class Challenge in Europe pre-1914
Europe's elite facing external challenges- nationalism, 'racial degeneration', depopulation, working-class become more organised, assertive and international
1900-1914- dramatic gains in working-class membership of organisations- trade unions largest and most varied membership
Britain- largest trade union movement in world- 4 million members by 1914- first country to go through industrial revolution
Germany- SPD (Socialist Democratic Party)- over 1million members- secured 4 million votes in 1912 election- proclaimed itself to be Marxist
France- French Socialist Party formed at end of the century- tripled its membership by 1914 and secured over 1 million votes in elections- served in series of left-wing governments
Britain- Labour Party support grew- Liberalists and Conservatives dominated- debate over political vs industrial action (syndicalism)- 'great labour unrest'
Waves of strikes across Europe, especially 1910-1914- accompanied by riots and disorder- 11 million days lost to strikes- troops brought in to bring order- British workers shot and killed
France- CGT attempted to launch general strike after a wave of shootings
Russia- where unrest provides the most serious disorder- 1905 and creation of the Soviets- put down with violent repression- has important consequences
Overall- violence and disorder associated with class conflict becoming increasingly common
Some historians argue that key cause is medium-term social and economic changes- 2nd Industrial Revolution- industries require more mechanisation and more skilled workers- this 'labour aristocracy' become more militant to protect their jobs and way of life
Expansion of semi-skilled workers breaks barriers between labour aristocracy and workforce
2nd Industrial Revolution affected employers- increased competition led them to exploit workers further
Welfare provision often seen as a result of working-class actions leading to concessions- shouldn't see employers/state as reluctant participants
Germany and Britain leading welfare reform- German states explicitly produced welfare provision to win working-class support- British large-scale reform came with Liberal reform from 1906 e.g. unemployment benefits, old-age pensions
Electoral benefits- state of nations fears- genuine support for welfare provision- Labour oppose reform- prefer full employment and better wages- containing working-class unrest
Welfare not aimed at poorest- aimed at influential/dangerous regular skilled workforce- effect- no prospect (except maybe in Russia) of establishment being overturned by socialists- Labour/socialist movements still characterised by internal divisions
Hierarchy of power in Europe- monarch's power backed up by a landed elite and interconnected aristocratic society- Church legitimises the existing structure- who has a say in political structure is limited
Aristocracy- a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule'- incredibly wealthy- lived in country homes off the rental incomes their vast estates produced
Political Oligarchy- controlling political power- provide military and religious leadership
Gradual expansion of political nation- right to vote- Parliamentarianism- development of political parties- change in personnel- political reforms
Rights of Man- every man is equal- inspired belief of rule in law, citizenship, republicanism and nationalism
Rise of Nationalism- strong identification of groups of individuals with a nation- manifested through formation of political states
Liberalism- creating more liberal nation- laissez faire politics
Socialism/Marxism- idea centred on challenging traditional picture of power in Europe
Industrialisation and Urbanisation-less reliance on landed elite- creation of new industries- leads to creation of new class- revolution in communication, transport and education needed- rural to urban migration rapid and on mass scale- massive boom in population
landed elite still dominate- limited devolution of power- political nation remain restricted, especially in terms of franchise- total absence of women
By 1914- socialist parties, trade unions and strike activity presented same tone of moderation- socialists gained power in local government + put through improvements for w-c schools and neighbourhoods-
P. Stearns, 'European Society in Upheaval: Social History since 1800