Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
Lecture 1: The Other Europe
THE OTHER EUROPE
Politics & East European Studies is an Area Studies programme
Area studies: the scientific study of a region presenting a
certain politico-social unity with a view to understanding and
explaining its place and its role in international society.
If Eastern Europe is (or was) a region, what provides this
politico-social unity? Geography? Language? Religion?
A political creation of the Cold War, created at Yalta by the
victorious powers
Western Europe, Central Europe, South-Eastern Europe, Russia
IMPERIAL LEGACY?
Eastern Europe in 1815:
Russian Empire
Ottoman Empire
Prussian Empire
Austrian Empire
POLITICAL TRADITIONS:
EAST V. WEST
State-society relations in the West:
Democracy
Popular sovereignty
Separation of powers
Social contract
Western model derived from:
Christianity
Feudalism
STATE-SOCIETY RELATIONS: CHRISTIANITY
The rise of the medieval European state closely tied to spread
of Christianity
Recognition from other Christian rulers
Christianity as ideological cement
Framework for law and order
Sense of solidarity beyond kin group
Obedience to secular authority
Eastern and Western Christianity
WESTERN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
In Roman times religious law was part of civil law
Christianity understood as a set of laws
Avoidance of sin was an individual responsibility
From the start, the West has understood the fundamental
relationship between God and man primarily as a legal
relationship. God has established certain laws for man. By sinful
conduct man violates these laws. Justice requires him to make
amends to God. The church supervises that relationship.
Ernst Benz
EASTERN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
Ancient Greek and Oriental influences:
introspection
c / sobornost
communal sentiment
collective responsibility for
salvation
Sinning increases distance from God
Obligation of love and devotion
Devotion arbitrary judgement
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
Western Church:
Rationalistic
Individualist
Contractual
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
Eastern Church:
Abstract
Essentialist
Collectivistic
Arbitrary
CHURCH AND STATE IN WEST
Collapse of Western Empire Church of Rome became
institutionally independent
Emperors and kings were sacralised and their rule was
legitimised by Church
Emperors and kings were required to obey laws of the
Church
Churchs institutional integrity acted as a model for others
to follow
CHURCH AND STATE IN EAST
Byzantine Empire did not collapse until 15C
Orthodox Church remained subordinate to State
Emperors born sacred, not made sacred
Emperors interfered in Church matters
political and religious space merged
Boundaries between state and society blurred
incipient totalitarianism
FEUDALISM
Development of parliamentary
institutions:
1. Reciprocal contractual
relationship between lord and
vassal based on homage and
fealty
2. Vassals privileges expanded
and made hereditary
3. Discussions between king and
lords parliaments
CHARTERS OF RIGHTS IN WESTERN & CENTRAL
EUROPE
Contractual relationship between kings and lords
Contractual relationship between lords and peasants:
Serfdom and land tenure were economic, not personal
relationships
Serfs enjoyed hereditary rights to land use
Peasants rights set down in writing
CHARTERS OF RIGHTS IN ORTHODOX EUROPE
Social relations not based on reciprocal rights and
obligations
Guiding principles of autocracy and paternalism
Russian Tsar was supreme owner of every person and all
property
National assemblies were at best advisory
No contractual relationship with kings
Conclusions
Eastern Europe cannot be thought of as a single region on the
basis of political traditions
In pre-modern era: main dividing line in Europe was between
Western and Central Europe v. South-Eastern Europe/Russia
WE/CE: contractual, reciprocal rights and duties
SEE/Russia: autocratic rule; no contractual relationship
between ruler and ruled
But technological revolution in transport, warfare and means
of production CE pushed over dividing line with SEE/Russia
