1st Edition

The Routledge Companion to Central and Eastern Europe since 1919

By Adrian Webb Copyright 2008
    384 Pages
    by Routledge

    384 Pages
    by Routledge

    The Routledge Companion to Central and Eastern Europe since 1919 is a compact and comprehensive reference guide to the area, from the Treaty of Versailles to the present day. With particular focus on the early nationalist and subsequent fascist and communist periods, Adrian Webb provides an essential guide to the events, people and ideas which have shaped, and continue to shape, central and eastern Europe since the re-ordering of Europe at the end of the First World War.

    Covering cultural, economic, political, and environmental issues, this broad-ranging and user-friendly volume explores both the common heritage and collective history of the region, as well as the distinctive histories of the individual states. Key features include:

    • wide ranging political and thematic chronologies
    • maps for clear visual reference
    • special topics such as the economy, the environment and culture
    • full list of office holders and extensive biographies of prominent people in all fields
    • glossary of specialist terms.

    With a wealth of chronological, statistical and tabular data, this handy book is an indispensable resource for all those who wish to understand the complex history of central and eastern Europe.

    Section 1: The Reordering of Europe   1.1  The background to 1919  1.2  Versailles, the establishment of the new order and its consequences  1.3 The concept and history of nationalism in eastern Europe  1.4 Authoritarianism, fascism and the problem of national minorities from 1919 to 1939  1.5 Anti-semitism  1.6 The liberal tradition  1.7 Communism  1.8 Titoism  1.9 Politics since 1990  Section 2: Historical Chronology of Key Events   2.1  Key events before Versailles  2.2  Key events from Versailles to the outbreak of the Second World War  2.3  Key events during the Second World War  2.4  Key events between the end of the Second World War and the death of Stalin  2.5  Key events during the Communist period 1953–89  2.6  Key events since the fall of Communism  2.6.1 Central and eastern Europe excluding Yugoslavia  2.6.2 The disintegration of Yugoslavia and its aftermath  Section 3: Thematic Chronologies   3.1  The rise of authoritarianism 1919–1939  3.2  Anti-semitism: character, scale and scope  3.3  Wartime administration, collaboration, government and resistance  3.4  Postwar retribution and revenge  3.5  Communism  3.5.1 The postwar consolidation of Communist power  3.5.2 The purges and the show trials  3.5.3 The struggle between church and state  3.5.4 Orthodoxy and reform 1953–90  3.5.5 The reformed Communist Parties since 1990  3.6  Foreign affairs  3.6.1 Regional agreements and alliances 1919–39  3.6.2 Wartime allegiances  3.6.3 The Communist period  3.6.4 Regional relations and relations with East and West since 1990  Section 4: The Nation States   4.1  Introduction  4.2  States and regions of central and eastern Europe: origins, characteristics and particularisms.  4.3  The countries of ‘further’ eastern Europe  4.4  The impact of the EU, NATO and Russia since 1990  Section 5: Special Topics   5.1  The Economy  5.1.1 The economy 1919–39  5.1.2  The impact of the Second World War  5.1.3  Postwar reconstruction under Communist rule  5.1.4  The impact of 1990  5.1.5  The economy: recent developments  5.1.6  Comparative GDP  5.2 The Environment 5.2.1  The Communist legacy 5.2.2  The impact of 1990  5.3 Human statistics  5.3.1  Population statistics  5.3.2  Ethnic minorities  5.3.3  War losses  5.3.4  The postwar migrations  5.3.5  Life expectancy in years (2003)  5.4 Culture  5.4.1  Cosmopolitanism and cultural nationalism  5.4.2  The Arts under Fascism and Communism  5.4.3  Postwar rebuilding of the national heritage  5.4.4  Linguistic politics  Section 6: People   6.1  Office holders  6.1.1  Heads of State  6.1.2 Heads of government (prime ministers/premiers, unless otherwise indicated)  6.1.3 Heads of the Communist Party Politburo  6.2 Communist Party membership statistics  6.3  Major assassinations, suicides and political executions  6.4 Biographies  Section 7: Glossary of specialist terms  Section 8: Historiography.  Maps.  Index.

    Biography

    Adrian Webb is a writer on European political and environmental issues. He was a part-time lecturer at Southampton Solent University, 1996–2007, and has contributed to a number of key works of reference. Dr Webb is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

    'The book is perfectly accessible to general readers as well as specialists..... a useful addition to any library's reference shelves' – Reference Reviews

    'Webb offers the latest addition to the Routledge Companions to History series of reference guides to key historical events and geographic areas. These comprehensive guides offer essential apparatus for navigating through the topics under consideration, including introductory articles, biographies, and chronologies ... Maps illustrate territorial changes that followed major historic events, and a glossary of specialist terms helps readers become familiear with local terminology ... With a wealth of chronological, statistical, and tabular data, this handy book is an indispensable resource for all (beginners and experts alike) who wish to understand the complex history of central and eastern Europe.'CHOICE