4th Edition

European Dictatorships 1918-1945

By Stephen J. Lee Copyright 2016
494 Pages
by Routledge

494 Pages
by Routledge

494 Pages
by Routledge

European Dictatorships 1918–1945 surveys the extraordinary circumstances leading to, and arising from, the transformation of over half of Europe’s states to dictatorships between the first and the second world wars. From the notorious dictatorships of Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin to less well-known states and leaders, Stephen J. Lee scrutinizes the experiences of Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain,... Read more

List of illustrations. Dictatorship: comparative timeline 1918-1945. Preface. Prologue. 1. The setting for dictatorship  2. Types of dictatorship  3. Dictatorship in Russia  4. Dictatorship in Italy  5. Dictatorship in Germany  6. Dictatorship in Spain  7. Dictatorship elsewhere  8. Dictatorships vs. Democracies  9. Dictatorships Compared. Epilogue. Notes. Select bibliography. Index.

Biography

Stephen J. Lee was Head of History at Bromsgrove School in Birmingham, UK. His publications include Russia and the USSR (Routledge, 2005) and Hitler and Nazi Germany, 2nd edition (Routledge, 2008).

"This is an excellent, balanced and well-written account of Europe´s notorious dictators. In particular, the section on Spain presents a subtle yet diverse portrait of the country´s tormented experience under General Franco."

Antonio Cazorla Sánchez, Trent University, Canada

"Lee’s book provides a comprehensive and chronologically-driven narrative of events while also engaging in the comparative study of fascism and comparative dictatorships. It is not all about theory and the conceptual status of ‘fascism’ and ‘communism’, and thus is a better introduction for students who may be new to the area of study."

Julie V. Gottlieb, University of Sheffield, UK

"The book's strength is its truly comprehensive overview of the history of dictatorships in twentieth-century Europe, while also providing a theoretical framework for understanding that history. Its rigorous comparative approach helps to make sense of the larger phenomenon."

David G. Tompkins, Carleton College, USA

"My students have found Lee’s book to be a superb entrée to scholarly understanding of the dictatorships. The book is very accessibly written but does not shy away from complex issues: the historiographic and theoretical discussions shine. I have particularly liked the breadth of Lee’s survey and the new edition carries this further, with its separate chapters on Spain and the effect of the dictatorships on the smaller democratic countries around them." 

Christopher Burton, University of Lethbridge, Canada