Undergraduate Program in Central European Studies (UPCES)

The Rise and Fall of Communism in Central and

Lecturer: Keith Crawford Email: [email protected] Phone (text messages only): +420 737 023 558

Outline of the course: Why did the Communist regimes establish themselves with such apparent ease throughout Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the late 1940s. Why did they seemingly remain so strong, and yet collapse so suddenly. This course will examine the basis of communist ideology, why and how the Communists managed to take over power in the immediate post-war period throughout CEE, how they managed to remain in power for so long, and, finally, why such regimes collapsed so completely and suddenly between 1989 and 1991. The following topics will be analyzed in detail: Communist ideology; the various stages of the Communists’ “salami tactics” in their take-over of power; the mechanisms the Communists used to maintain control, externally and internally - folklore, religion, economy, political trials, attempted control of most aspects of ‘private’, as well as ‘public’ life , politicization of education, socialistic realism and cult of communist heroes, among others; the reasons for the sudden collapse in 1989 plus. Guest speakers will also talk about their own experience with communism and communist ideology. There will be four guest speakers each with very different experiences of the Communist regime.

Assessment 1. Active class participation - 25% 2. Mid-term exam - 25% 3. Term paper - 25% 4. Final exam – 25%

Final Term Papers Term papers are due in Week 12. Late submission of the Final Term Paper will result in the reduction of one full grade for every commenced week after the due date.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any way. Even one plagiarised paragraph within the Final Term Paper, for example, will be an automatic failure for that piece of work. Two instances of plagiarism will be automatically failure of the whole course.

Grading Criteria

Grade A: Outstanding work. Highly analytical.

Grade B: Good work, distinctly above average. Moderately analytical. Grade C: Acceptable work. More descriptive than analytical. Grade D: Work that is significantly below average. No analysis, only very basic description. Grade F: Work that does not meet minimum standards for passing. Description and analysis both totally lacking.

The criteria apply to the letter grades themselves. Naturally all the in-between + and – grades are awarded, and it just depends to what degree the “outstanding” work could be truly “outstanding”. For example, A+ would basically mean someone had produced a piece of work – be it essay, presentation, or excellent participation – to the same degree that I would do it myself. And yes I have awarded A+ at my previous university in ! Likewise there are three degrees of “acceptable” work.

Attendance Policy Absences only for medical reasons will be excused. To obtain an excused absence, you are obliged to supply either a doctor’s note or corroboration of illness from the UPCES Director. Absences due to travel will not be excused.

Recommended Reading Texts H. Arendt, (1990) On Revolution, Penguin Books, ISBN: 0-14-018421-X H. Arendt, (1994, [1948]) The Origins of Totalitarianism, Harvest Books, Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt ISBN: 0-156701537, 978-0-15-670153-2, 978-0-15-670810-8 K. Crawford, (1996) East Central European Politics Today, Manchester Univ. Press. ISBN 0- 7190-4621-1 (hdk), 0-7190-4622-X (pbk)] K. Crawford, (2013) Central and Eastern European Politics Today, Manchester Univ. Press. Handout). R. Dahrendorf, (1990) Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, Crown Publishers, ISBN: 0- 8129-1883-5, ISBN: 978-0812918830 S. Drakulic, (1993) How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed, Harper Collins. ISBN: 0- 06-097540-1 (pbk) The Economist, “Democracy in Eastern Europe”, February 1st 1992. J. Elster, C. Offe & U.K. Preuss, (1998) Institutional Design in Post-communist Societies: Rebuilding the Ship at Sea, Cambridge Univ. Press. ISBN: 0-521479312, 978-0521479318 C. J. Friedrich & Z. K. Brzezinski, (1967 [1956]) Totalitarian Dictatorship and Autocracy, Harvard Univ. Press. C. J. Friedrich, M. Curtis & B. R. Barber, (2008 [1969]) Totalitarianism in Perspective: Three Views, Praeger. T. Garton Ash, (1993) The Magic Lantern: The Revolution of '89 Witnessed in Warsaw, Budapest and Prague, Vintage. ISBN: 0-679740481, ISBN: 978-0679740483. T. Garton Ash, (1999 [1990]) We The People, Penguin/Granta Books. ISBN: 0-140283919, ISBN: 978-0140283914 C. Gatti, ‘The Mirage of Democracy’, Transition, 22nd March 1996. M. Glenny, (1993 [1990]) The Rebirth of History: Eastern Europe in the Age of Democracy, Penguin Books. ISBN: 0-140172866, ISBN: 978-0140172867 V. Havel, “The Power of the Powerless”, in John Keane (ed.) (1985) The Power of the Powerless, Hutchinson. ISBN: 978-0-203-85722-9 (ebk), 978-0-415-57145-6 L. Holmes, (1997) Post-communism: A Introduction, Polity Press. ISBN-0-7456-1311-X, ISBN-0- 7456-1312-8 (pbk) M. Kundera, (1992) The Joke, Faber and Faber. ISBN: 0-571166938 ISBN: 978-0571166930 J. J. Linz, (2000) Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes, Lynne Rienner. ISBN: 1-555878903, 978-1555878900. J.J. Linz, “Transitions to Democracy”, The Washington Quarterly, Summer 1990. J.J. Linz & A. Stepan, (1996) Problems of Democratic Transition & Consolidation, Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. J.J. Linz & A. Stepan, “Toward Consolidated Democracies”, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 7, No. 2, April 1996. K. Marx and F. Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party, 1848, available on-line at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch01.htm G. Orwell, (1996) Animal Farm, Signet Classics, 50th Anniversary edition. ISBN: 0-451526341 J. Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity: A Political History of East Since World War II, Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0-195334752, ISBN: 978-0195334753. J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN: 0-297-79804-9 G. Schöpflin, ‘The Political Traditions of Eastern Europe’, in Stephen R. Graubard (ed.) (1991) Eastern Europe  Central Europe  Europe. (Handout) G. Schöpflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Blackwell. ISBN: 0-631147241, ISBN: 978- 0631147244 J. Simpson, (1990) Despatches from the Barricades, Hutchinson. ISBN: 0-091745829, ISBN: 978- 0091745820 A. Solzhenitsyn, (1995) One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 0-374529523, ISBN: 978-037452952 M. Stransky, “Czechs Don’t Want Democracy”, New Presence, Fall 2000. J. Szucs, ‘The Historical Regions of Europe’, in J. Keane, (ed.) (1988) Civil Society and the State, Verso. ISBN: 0-860912035, ISBN: 978-0860912033 Time Magazine, January 1940, http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19400101,00.html, Time Magazine, January 1943, http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19430104,00.html V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin to Havel, The Free Press. ISBN 0-7432-1282-7 (hbk) S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny, Manchester Univ. Press. ISBN: 0-719036410, ISBN: 978-0719036415 J. Urban, ‘The Future of Central Europe’s Civil Society’, in E. Matynia (ed.) (1996) Grappling with Democracy, Slon, Prague, , pp. 33-36.

Internet Resources There are various sites specializing in Central & East European Politics/Economics that often have articles concerning the communist past. For example: Transitions On-line (actually based in Prague) with individual student subscriptions being very cheap: [email protected] But, by far the best and most accessible web site is The Directory of Resources on Central and Eastern Europe and Russia at the University of London’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies/University College: http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk , and then click on Directory of Internet Resources.

Via this website you can immediately access any CEEC’s governmental organisation or local press agency, or tap into all official political, economic and social statistics. You can also reach on-line most of the major English language daily or weekly for each of the countries concerned, for example, the Slovak Spectator, the Sofia Echo, the Budapest Sun, the Prague Post, the Bucharest Business Week, and so on.

Very useful for most courses in this UPCES program are the back issues of New Presence (quarterly magazine in English covering anything from Art to Politics): www.new-presence.com/

Course Outline:

Week 1: Background to Communism: where did it come from and why? Introduction of the course and course assignments, plus expectations.

The writings of Karl Marx as a critique of capitalism. The writings of Karl Marx as a proponent of an alternative to capitalism (i.e. communism). Why did communism take root in Russia? Countries where there was a short communist-style revolution after World War I. The state of the Communist Parties in Central and Eastern Europe during the inter-war. Who supported these parties in the interwar period The role of Communist Parties throughout Europe during the Second World. The liberation of Central and Eastern Europe in 1945. How the world viewed Stalin and communism in 1945 at the conclusion of World War Two. Back-drop to the post-war rise of communism: political traditions in CEE Required Reading: K. Crawford (2013), Chapters 3 & 4 pp. 1-32 & 33-35 respectively (Handout) Karl Marx and Frederick Engels: Manifesto of the Communist Party, 1848, available on-line at: http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html Time Magazine, January 1940 & January 1943. (just look at the covers & main theme!) George Orwell, (1996) Animal Farm. (general reading) Or watch the movie “Animal farm” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047834/) Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap.s 1 & 2, pp. 1-74 G. Schöpflin, (1991) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap 1 pp. 5-37, (Political Traditions) (Handout) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin…, Chap. 1, pp. 1-21 Week 2: The Rise of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe as a whole and in in particular.

Immediate takeovers (Yugoslavia, Bulgaria & Albania). Otherwise the ‘salami tactics’ to be applied throughout the “buffer” countries of CEE. The various stages of the ‘takeover’. The 1946 totally free election in Czechoslovakia. The ‘salami tactics’ as they were applied in Czechoslovakia. The 1948 “coup”. Benes, Masaryk and the leading politicians. Why was the Communist takeover so easy? Link with fist lecture: in what types of societies had communism ‘succeeded’.

Required Reading: K. Crawford (2013), Chap. 4 pp. 35-45 (Handout) George Orwell, (1996) Animal Farm. (general reading) Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 3, pp. 75-125 J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap. 4, pp. 63-108. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 3, pp. 57-74. (Handout) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin…, Chap.1 & 2, pp. 22-54 Week 3: First Guest Lecture: Jan Sokol: The History & Evolution of Dissent. (10.00-11.30)

Early communism in Central and Eastern Europe. The Main instruments of external Soviet control. 1. COMECON & the Warsaw Pact 2. The Brezhnev Doctrine The Main instruments of internal control: 1. Economic: Collectivization, nationalization, ownership under socialism; 2. Attempts to control all aspects of both private and public life (Security Police). 3. In particular, the politicization of education. 4. The cult of the “leader”

Required Reading: K. Crawford (2013), Chapters 4 pp. 45-52 (Handout) S. Drakulic (1992), Chapter 5 (or as much of the book as you can read!) Milan Kundera, (1992) The Joke (general reading – try to get the feeling of the book) George Orwell, (1996) Animal Farm. (general reading) Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 4, pp. 125-146. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 4, pp. 75-103 (Handout) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin… Chap.s 1 & 2, pp. 22-54 Week 4: Early communism in Central and Eastern Europe (continued) The Main instruments of internal control: 1. Economic: Collectivization, nationalization, ownership under socialism; 2. Attempts to control all aspects of both private and public life (Security Police). 3. In particular, the politicization of education. 4. The cult of the “leader” Who suffered most?

Revolts against Soviet control: East Berlin 1953; Budapest and Poland 1956; The Prague Spring 1968; Kosovo 1968-70 Why did these “revolts” take place, what did they seek to achieve and why did they fail? Film: Vsechni Dobri Rodaci, (“All Our Good Countrymen”) (time to be fixed)

Required Reading: K. Crawford (2013), Chapters 4 pp. 45-62 (Handout) S. Drakulic (1992), as much of the book as you can read! Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 5, pp. 147-190. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. s 5 & 6, pp. 104-156 (Handout) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin… Chap.s 4, pp. 89-111

Week 5 CEE 1946-89: Totalitarian or Authoritarian? Meaning of “totalitarian”. Characteristic of “totalitarian” societies. Post-totalitarian societies: the difference between the two. Differences between the various countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Required Reading: H. Arendt, (1994, [1948]) The Origins of Totalitarianism, Part 3, Chaps. 10-13, pp. 305-482 (Assessent in S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Chap. 2 pp. 38-68) K. Crawford (2013), Chap. 5 pp. 63-80 (Handout) S. Drakulic (1992), all of the book that you haven’t yet read! C. J. Friedrich & Z. K. Brzezinski, (1967 [1956]) Totalitarian Dictatorship and Autocracy, Harvard Univ. Press. (The original classic volume re. totalitarianism) (Assessment in S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Chap. 3 pp. 69-99) C. J. Friedrich, M. Curtis & B. R. Barber, (2008 [1969]) Totalitarianism in Perspective: Three Views, Praeger, 1969, Chap 1 pp. 3-52, Part 3 by Friedrich also of interest. J. J. Linz, (2000) Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes, Chap. 2, pp. 65-142. J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap. 9, pp. 224-248. S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Conc.: Totalitarianism in Perspective, pp. 167-190

Week 6: How these regimes kept themselves in power (1) Economically: the control of work and the workplace Politically: political trials, imprisonment, Party membership, Secret Police.

Required Reading: K. Crawford (2013), Chap. 5 pp. 63-80 (Handout) S. Drakulic, (1993) How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed (general reading) Vaclav Havel, “The Power of the Powerless”, in John Keane (ed.) (1985) Chap. 1 pp. 10-59. (Assessment in S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Chap. 5 pp. 133-166.) Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 4, pp. 132-140. J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap. 5, pp. 109-130. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 4, pp. 93-103 (Handout) Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, (1995) One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (general reading) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin…, Chap. 2 pp 40-46. S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Conc.: Totalitarianism in Perspective, pp. 167-190 Film showing: Czechs working in the uranium mines (excepts only during the class)

Week 7: How these regimes kept themselves in power (2) Socially: everyday compromises with the regime. The role of the everyday citizen. The extent of dissidence throughout CEE.

Second Guest Lecture: Tomas Brezina - My life running a restaurant under communism

Required Reading: K. Crawford (2013), Chaps. 5 pp. 63-80 (Handout) S. Drakulic, (1993) How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed (general reading) Vaclav Havel, “The Power of the Powerless”, in John Keane (ed.) (1985) Chap. 1 pp. 10-59. (Assessment in S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Chap. 5 pp. 133-166.) Milan Kundera, (1992) The Joke (the whole book or excerpts on-line to get a feeling of the book) George Orwell, (1996) Animal Farm (general reading) J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap. 8, pp. 193-223. S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Conc.: Totalitarianism in Perspective, pp. 167-190

Week 8: CEE under communism: an Assessment One-hour tutorial-type discussion of students’ impressions of CEE during communism. Two-hour Mid-term Examination.

Required Reading for Exam: K. Crawford (2013), Chapters 3 – 5, pp 1-80 (Handouts) S. Drakulic, (1993) How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed Vaclav Havel, “The Power of the Powerless”, in John Keane (ed.) (1985) Chap. 1 pp. 10-59. (Assessment in S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny. Chap. 5 pp. 133-166.) Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chaps. 1-6. J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap.s 4, 5 & 9. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chaps. 1-7. (Handout) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin… Chaps. 1-6. S. Tormey, (1995) Making Sense of Tyranny, Chap.s 2, 3 & 5, plus Conclusion.

Week 9: The Beginnings of Real Dissent The end of the 1970s and the Helsinki Accords Poland 1981 & Solidarnosc: consequences for communism The arrival of Gorbachev Communism in the 1980s: power for power’s sake.

Required Reading: K. Crawford (1996), Chap. 6, pp. 80-110 (Handout) S. Drakulic, (1993) How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed Vaclav Havel, “The Power of the Powerless”, in John Keane (ed.) (1985) Chap. 1 pp. 10-59. Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 7, pp. 227-266. J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap. 6 & 7, pp. 164-192. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 8, pp. 186-223. (Handout) V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from…, Chap.s 5 & 6, pp. 117-174.

Week 10 Were these really “revolutions”? What happened in 1989: how & where : the “domino theory” in reverse. Common features of all “revolutions” throughout Central & Eastern Europe: suddenness, completeness and non-violence. Were they revolutions or ‘refolutions’?

Required Reading: H. Arendt, (1990) On Revolution, Chap 1, pp. 21-58. K. Crawford (1996), Chap. 6, pp. 80-110 (Handout) Ralf Dahrendorf, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, pp. 1-154. T. Garton Ash, (1999 [1990]) We The People, pp. 11-156. L. Holmes, (1997) Post-communism: A Introduction, Chap 2, pp. 23-62. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 9, pp. 224-255. (Handout) Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 7, pp. 227-263. J. Rupnik, (1989) The Other Europe, Chap. 10 & 11, pp. 251-278. J. Simpson, (1990) Despatches from the Barricades, Chap.s 3-5, pp. 116-255. V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin…, Chap. 6, pp. 175-240 Film: German film about how the Stasi operated (time to be fixed)

Week 11 Why 1989?: what had come about to make these revolutions successful? Political illegitimacy, Economic Bankruptcy and Social Change.

Third Guest Lecture: Jan Urban, Thoughts on the in Prague

Required Reading K. Crawford (1996), Chap. 6, pp. 80-110 (Handout) Ralf Dahrendorf, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, pp. 1-154. T. Garton Ash, (1999 [1990]) We The People, pp. 11-156. Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 7, pp. 227-263. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 9, pp. 224-255. (Handout) J. Simpson, (1990) Despatches from the Barricades, Chap.s 3-5, pp. 116-255. V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin…, Chap. 6, pp. 175-240

Week 12: The Differences between the various countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The Baltics, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia and Serbia (1999).

Required Reading for Exam: K. Crawford (1996), Chap. 7, pp. 110-135 (Handout) Ralf Dahrendorf, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, pp. 1-154. T. Garton Ash, (1999 [1990]) We The People, pp. 11-156. L. Holmes, (1997) Post-communism: A Introduction, Chap 3, pp. 63-99. Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 7, pp. 227-263. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 9, pp. 224-255. (Handout) J. Simpson, (1990) Despatches from the Barricades, Chap.s 3-5, pp. 116-255. V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe from Stalin…, Chap. 6, pp. 175-240

Week 13: Post-communism: A New Beginning Freedom. Ideological Flight to the West The “New” Capitalists. The New Europe Corruption. Fear of participation. Refusal to take responsibility Film: The “Revolution” in Serbia 1999. (excerpts in class)

Required Reading: K. Crawford (1996), Chaps. 8 & 13 (Handout) Ralf Dahrendorf, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, pp. 1-154. The Economist, (01.02.1992)“Democracy in Eastern Europe”, pp. 30-31. L. Holmes, (1997) Post-communism: A Introduction, Chap. 1, pp. 3-22. J.J. Linz, “Transitions to Democracy”, pp. 143-164. J.J. Linz & A. Stepan, (1996) Problems of Democratic Transition & Consolidation, pp. 3-15. J.J. Linz & A. Stepan, “Toward Consolidated Democracies”, pp. 14-33. Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 8, pp. 265-302. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 10, pp. 256-300. V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe…, Chap. 7 & Epilogue, pp. 241-287.

Week 14 Post-communism: with communistic mind-sets The Legacy of Communism Fourth Guest Lecture: Martin Stransky: Today’s Legacy of communism.

Required Reading: K. Crawford (1996), Chaps. 8 & 13 (Handout) Ralf Dahrendorf, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe, pp. 1-154. C. Gatti, (23.03.1996) ‘The Mirage of Democracy’, pp. 6-12. L. Holmes, (1997) Post-communism: A Introduction, Chap. 12, pp. 329-347. Joseph Rothschild, (2007) Return to Diversity, Chap. 8, pp. 265-302. George Schopflin, (1993) Politics in Eastern Europe, Chap. 10, pp. 256-300. M. Stransky, “Czechs Don’t Want Democracy”, pp. 16-20. J. Urban, ‘The Future of Central Europe’s Civil Society’, pp. 33-36. V. Tismaneanu, (1992) Reinventing Politics: Eastern Europe…, Chap. 7 & Epilogue, pp. 241-287.

Week 15 Final Examination

Prepared by: Keith Crawford, September 2012.

Politických vězňů 7, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic Tel. : +420 224 005 201, +420 224 005 133, +420 224 005 208, Fax : +420 224 005 225 Website: http://upces.cerge-ei.cz/