One thought on “Democracy’s ‘Deserted Temple’ (II): After 1933”
Thanks, Neil and Siobhan, for the summary and highlighting key points. I think it’s important to highlight, as you do, the emphasis on different understandings of democracy in this period. The idea that democracy only had shallow roots in much of Europe is something that is also emphasised by Mazower. You also describe, I think, Eley’s relatively positive view of the Popular Front, which matches a lot of left-wing romanticisation of the French Popular Front and the Spanish Civil War as a cause. Others see the PF as simply a front for communism. Is Eley’s view overly rosy, do you think?
Thanks, Neil and Siobhan, for the summary and highlighting key points. I think it’s important to highlight, as you do, the emphasis on different understandings of democracy in this period. The idea that democracy only had shallow roots in much of Europe is something that is also emphasised by Mazower. You also describe, I think, Eley’s relatively positive view of the Popular Front, which matches a lot of left-wing romanticisation of the French Popular Front and the Spanish Civil War as a cause. Others see the PF as simply a front for communism. Is Eley’s view overly rosy, do you think?