The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914-1991

672 Pages·1994·11.88 MB·english

by  Eric Hobsbawm

Alsboy Hobsbawm
Eric
THEA GEO FR EVOLUTI1O7N8 9-1848
THEA GEO FC APIT1A8L4 8-1875
THEA GEO FE MPIR1E8 75-1914
AGE EXTREMES
OF
THE SHORT TWENTIETH CENTURY
1914-1991
Erico bHs bawm
AnA bacuBso ok
Firpsutb lisihnGe rde aBtr itabiyMn i chaJeo lse p1h9 94
Thiesd itipounb lisbhyeA db acu1s9 95
Copyri©g hEtr iHco bsbaw1m9 94
Them orarli gohftt heau thhoarsb eeans serted.
Allr ighrtess ervNeod p.a rotft hipsu blicamtaiybo en
reproduscteodr,e da r eitnr iseyvsatleo mrt, r ansmiitnta enyd ,
foromr bayn ym eanwsi thotuhtep rioprer missiinwo rni tionfg
thep ublisnhoerbr e,o therwciisrec ulianat neydf oromf b inding
or coovtehret rh atnh aitnw hicihti sp ublisahnedwd i thoau t
simicloanrd itiinocnl udtihnicgso nditbieoinni gm posoendt he
subsequpeunrtc haser.
A CIPc atalorgeuceo frodtr h ibso oki sa vailfarboltmeh e
BritLisihb rary.
ISBN0 3 491 06711
Printaenddb ounidn G reaBtr itabiyCn l ayLst dS,tI ves plc
Abacus
A Divisoifo n
LittBlreo,w na ndC ompan(yU K)
BrettenHhoaums e
LancasPtlearc e
LondoWnC 2E 7EN
Contents
Ilulstrnast io ••
Vll
Prfaecaen d Awclkgenedoments •
IX
ThCee ntuAry B:i dr'Esye V iwe
I
PART ONTEH:E AGOEF C ATASTROPHE
I. TheA geo fT otaWla r 21
2. TheW orlRde volution 54
3. Inttoh eE conomAibcy ss 85
4. TheF alolfL iberalism 109
5. AgaintshtCoe mmon Enemy 142
6. TheA rt1s9 1-445 178
7. Endo fE mpires 199
PARTT WO:T HE GOLDENA GE
8. ColdW ar 225
9. TheG oldeYne ars 257
10.T heS ociRaelv oluti1o9n4 5-1990 287
11.C ultuRreavlo lution 320
12.T heT hirWdo rld 344
13.' ReaSlo cialism' 372
PARTT HREE:T HE LANDSLIDE
14.T heC risDiesca des 403
15.T hirWdo rladn dR evolution 433
16.E ndo fS ocialism 461
17.T heA vant-garDdiee sT-heA rtAsf te1r9 50 500
18.S orceraenrdAs p prenticTehse- NatuSrcaile nces 522
19.T owardtsh eM illennium 558
Rfeerences 587
FurtRheeadri ng
610
Index
615
I
1/ustrations
(RogVeiorll et)
1.T heA rchduFkrea nFze rdinaannddh iwsi fe
(Popfpoetro)
2.C anadisaonl diaemrosn sgh eclrla te1r9s1,8
(RogVeiorl /et)
3.W arc emeteCrhya,l ons-sur-Marne
(HulDteount sch)
4.R ussisaonl di1e9r1s7,
(HulDteount sch)
5.T heO ctobreerv olutiLoenn:i n
c. (DavKidi nCgo llenc)t io
6.M ayD aypo ster,1 920
(HulDteount sch)
7.A Germabna nknoftoert wenmtiyl limoanr ks
(IcCoomnm unications)
8.T heW all crasohf1 929
(HulDteount sch)
9.B rituinsehm ploiynet dh e1 930s
(HulDteount sch)
10.A dolHfidearn dB eniMtuos solini
(HulDteount sch)
11.I talian Fmaasrccihsiptnasgs M tu ssolini
(RobHearrdti Pnigc tLuirber ary)
12.N azria laltyN uremberg
(HulDteount sch)
13.A narchmiislti itniB aa rcel1o9n3a6,
(HultDoenu t)s ch
14.A dolHfitlienro ccupiPeadr is
(Popfopteor)
15.U S 'FlyiFnogr tresses'B erraliidn
(RobHearrtd) i ng
16.T heb attolfKeu rsk1,9 43
(HulDteount sch)
17.L ondobnu rnin1g9,4 0
(HulDteount sch)
18.D resdbeunrn ed1,9 45
(ReFxe atures)
19H.i roshiamtfae trh ea tomb omb1,9 45
(ReFxea tures)
20.J osiBpr oz,M arshTailt o
(mIperiaWla rM useum)
21.A Britwiasrhti mpoes ter
(RobHearrtd Piincg tLuirber ary)
22.A lgie1r9s6,1
(ReFxe atures)
23.P remiIenrd iGraan dhi
(ReFxet aures)
24.A US cruimsies sile
(Poeprpfoto)
25.A silfoor S oviSeStm issiles
(Poepfrpoto)
26.T heB erlWianl l
(Maugmn)
27.F ideCla strroe'bsea lr myi nS antCal ara
(HulDteount sch)
28.I nsurrectiionEn laS railesv ador
(HulDteount sch)
29.A ntVii-etnWaamr d emonstraLtoinodno,n
(HulDteounct hs)
30.I ra1n9,7 9
(ReFxea tures)
31.M ichaSeelr geyeGvoircbha chev
(HunlD teoutsch)
32.T heB erlWianl flal l1s9,8 9
(BBPCh ogtroapLhiibcr ary)
33.S talrienm oviendP rague
(Comstock)
34.A gricurlattleu rraciintn hgeL ipivnag llCehyi,n a
(SciPehontcLoei brary)
35.E lectmriocnr ogroafap b ha cterium
(RobHearrtd ing)
36.C hinepseea sanptl oughing
(Maugmn)
37.T urkiismhm igrcaonutp ilneW est Berlin
(HulDteount sch)
38.W est Indiaanrsr iviinLn ogn doinn t he1 950s
(GideMoenn deeltfwNork)
39.A fricaa tt hee ndo ft hec entury
(RobHearrtd ing)
40. AhmedabaIdn,d ia
(RobHearrtd ing)
41.C hicagoU,S A
(ReFxet aures)
42.R ushh ouirn S hinjuTkouk,y o
(Comstock)
43.R ailyaArudg,s buGregr,m any
44. (Mgnaum)
Motorwacayrss,a ndpo llutiionHn o ustoTne,x as
(HultDoenu tsch)
45.T hef irmsoto nl andi1n9g6,9
(FPGfRHoabredritn g)
46.A 1930csa nneArmya,r ilTleox,a s
(ReFxe atures)
47.D ungenensusc lepaorw esrt ation
(Maugmn)
48.D eindustriailnNi osrattEhin ognl anMdi,d dlesbrough
(RobHearrtd ing)
49.T her erfigerator
(RobHearrtd ing)
50.T het elevisseito n
(ReFxea tures)
51.T hes upermarket
(RobHearrdti ng)
52.T hep ortatbalpee -casseptltaey er
(Poeprpfoto)
53.N evilClhea mberlfaiisnh ing
(HulDteount sch)
54.E arMlo untbatotfBe unr ma
(HulDteount sch)
55.L eni1n9,1 7
56.G andhoin t hew ayt on egotiwaitteh Btrhiet igsohv ernment
(ReFxe atures)
(FPIGn ternatioHnaarld/iRnogb)e rt
57.S talin
(HunlD teoutsch)
58H.i tlebri'rst hpdaarya d1e9,3 9
(©1 99T4h eA nyd Warhol
59.' ChairmMaano 'b yA ndyW arhol
Foundaftorit ohVneiu saAlr tIsn,Pc h.to oB:r idegmaAnr Lti brary)
(Magnum)
60.T hec orposfeA yatolKlhaohm eilnyii nigns tate
61.G eorgGer ossza vagtehseG ermarnu licnlga ss
(HulDteount sch)
62.B ritiwsohr kemrasr cohn L ondon
(Maugmn)
63.A ntVii-etnWaamr d emonstraBteirokne,lC eaylo,irn fia
64.
Oaimst ow orlcdo nquest
(Mganum)
65.A ftetrh eG ulWfa r,1 991
66. (ReFxea tures)
Homeless
(ReFxet aures)
67.W aititnogv otienS outAhfr ica
(Poeprpfoto)
68.S arajeeivgoh yteya rastf e1r9 14
(Copyhroigldheatrri sen dicianit teadl ics)
Prfeacea nAdc knloeewdmgents
Nobodcya nw ritteh eh istoorfty h et wenticeetnht ulriyk e otfha anty
otheerr ai,fo nlbye caunsoeb ody wcrainta eb ouhti so rh erl ieftimaes
one c(aann mdu stw)r itaeb ouat p eriokdn owno nlfyro m outsiadte ,
seconodrt hird-hfarnodms, o urcoefst hep erioordt hew orkosf l ater
historMiya nosw.nl ieftimceo inciwdietsmh o sotf t hep eriwoidt whh ich
thibsoo k dealasn,df orm osto fi tf,ro m earltye en-taogt eh ep resenIt ,
havbee enco nscioofup su blic atfhfaaitist r ossa ,y I havea ccumulated
viewasn dp rejudaibcoeusit ta sa c ontemporraatrhyte hra ans a s cholar.
Thiis so ner easwohny u ndemry proefssiohnaatal sa h istorIia avno ided
workinogn theer as inc1e9 14f orm osto fm y careetrh,o ugnho t
refraifnrionmwg r itianbgo uitti no thecarp aciti'Mesy.p erioads't ,h ey
sayi nt het radiest, h en ineteecnetnht uIrt yh.i nki sni otw p ossitbol e
seet he ShTowretn tieCtehn tufrroym 191t4o t he eonftd h eS ovieerta
ins omeh istorpiecraslp ecbtuitvI ec ,o met o wiitt hotuhtek nowledge of
the scholliatrelrya lteuatr leo,n oef a lblu ta tinsyp rinokfla er chive
sourcwehsi,c hhi storoifat nhset wenticeetnht uorfyw ,h omt heriesa n
enormonuusm behra,v aec cumulated.
Iti s, cooufr suet,t erilmyp ossifbolrae n ys ingpleer sotnok nowt he
historiogorfat phhepy r esecnetn tureyv,e nt haitn a nys ingmlaej or
languaagse,l, e tus s ayt,h eh istoroifac nl assainctali quoirto yf t he
ByzantEimnpei rken owwsh ath asb eewnr itteann dia nb outth osleo ng
perioNdesv.e rthemlye oswsn, knowliesdc gaes uaanld p atcheyv enby
thes tandaorfdh si storeircuadli tiinto hnef ieolfdc ontempohriasrtyo ry.
The mostI haveb eena blteo d o ist od ipi nttoh el iteraotfu re
particutlhaorrnlyy acnodn troveqruteesdt i-osnasy t,h eh istoorfty h e
ColdW aro rt haotf t he1 930-sf are nougtho s atyi msyfseltfh atth e
viewesx pressientd h ibsoo k aret enabilne tlhieg hotf s pecialist
researOcfh c.o ursIe c,a nnohta ves ucceedeTdh.e rem ustb e any
numbero f questioonns w hichI displiagyn oranacse w ella s
controvevriseiwasl.
Prfaecaend A clmoJPdkg ts
x
emen
Thisbo ok,t herefroesrteos,n c uriouusnleyv efno undatioInnas d.d i­
tiont ot hew idea ndm iscellaneroeuasd ionfga goodm anyy ears,
supplemebnytw ehda tr eadiwnagsn ryt og ivlee ctucoruer seosn
ecessa
twentieth-cenhtiusrtyot roty h eg raduastteu deonftt sh eN ew Schoolf or
SociaRlesea rch,I havder awonn t hea ccumulatkendo wledmgeem,o ries
ando pinioonfss o meonweh oh asl ivetdh routghhe S horTtw entieth
Centuraysw, h att hes ociaaln thropolocaglilsa t 'sp articiopbasnetr ver',
ors implaysa no pen-eyetrda velloerrw ,h atm y ancestors would have
kibzerb,i t
callead inq uitae l ootf co untriesT.h eh istorviacalluo efs uch
experiednoesce sn otd ependo n bepirnegs eonntg reahti stoorcicacs ions,
orh aviknngo wonr e ven mperto minehnits tory-moarsk tearst esmAsen .
a matterf aocfmt y, e xperieansace n o ccasiojnoaulrn aleinsqtu iriinntgo
thiosr t hacotu ntry,ch iefilnL ya tiAnm ericah,a sb een thaitn terviews
witphr esideonrto st hedre cision-maarkuees rusa lulnyr ewardfiontrgh ,e
obvioruesa stohna mtos t of whapteo psluseca hyi sf or ptuhbel riecco rd.
Thep eoplef romw hom illuminatiaornet hcoomsweehs o ca n,o rw ant
tos,p eakf reelpyr,e feriafbt lhyeh ya vneo r esponsibifloigrtr ye aatff airs.
Neverthetlhesosu,g nhe cessarpialryt ainadlm isleadtionh ga,v ken own
peoplaen dp lachesa sh elpmeede normouIstlm ya.yb en om oret hatnh e
sighoftt hes amec itayta ni nterovfta hli ryteya -rsValencoriP aa lermo
- whicahl onber inhgosm et hes peeadn ds caloef s ocitarla nsformiant ion
thet hirqdu artetrh epo rfe secnetn tuIrtym .a yb es implay m emoroyf
somethsianigid nco nversatiolnosn agg oa nds toraewda ys,o metifmoesnr o
cleraeras onf,o rfu ture If thhies torcaina mna kes omes ensoeft his
use.
centuirtiy si nl arpgaer bte causoefw atchianngdl istenIih nogp.Ie h ave
communicatetdor eadesrosm ethoifwn hga Ith avlee arnetdh rough sdoo.i ng
Thebo ok alsaon,d n ecessarrielsyto,sn tihnef ormadtriaownfrn o m
colleagsutesu,d enatnsda, n yoneel sweh omI buttonhowlheidlI e w as
workionngi tI.n s omeca ses thed ebits s ystemaTthiecc .h aptoenrt he
scienwceass s ubmitttoem dy frienAdlsa Mna ckaFyR S, who oinsl yn ot
ac rystallogbruatap neh necry clopaenddiJ soth,nM addoxS.o meo fw hat
I havwer ittaebno uetco nomidce velopmweansrt ea db ym y colleaagtu e
theN ew SchoolL,a ncTea ylofro,r merolfMy I T,a ndm uchm orew as
baseodn r eaditnhgep aperlsi,s tentiotn hge d iscussainodng se nerally
keepimnyg earosp end urintgh ec onferenocresg anizedv aroino us
macro-econompirco bleamtts h eW orlIdn stituftoeDr e velopmEecnotn ­
omiRcesea rch oft heU N Univers(iUtNyU /WIDER)i nH elsiwnhkein
it wtarsa nsforimnetdao majoirn ternaticoennatrleo fr esearacnhd
discussuinodnet rh ed irectoifDo rn LalJ ayawardIenng ae.n ertahle,
summerIsw asa blteos penadtt haatd miraibnlseti tuatisoa nM cDonnell
Douglavsi sitisncgh olwaerr ei nvaluatboml ee, n otl eastth rouigths