Global Economic and Political Shifts: Europe, Asia, and Neoliberalism
1. Western Europe: Post-War Transformation and Crises
1.1. Political Systems: Democracies and Dictatorships
Democratic political systems were established in some Western European countries after World War II, while in others, democracy did not arrive until the 1970s. Dictatorships persisted in Portugal and Greece until 1974, and Franco’s dictatorship lasted from 1939 until 1975 in Spain.
1.2. Economic Expansion in Western Europe
Several factors fueled significant economic growth:
- The application of
The Resistance to Franco’s Regime (1939–1975)
Francisco Franco remained in power for almost 40 years, dying in 1975. This period is considered one of the longest dictatorships in modern European history.
The Opposition Policy in the First Francoism (1939–1959)
Initial Repression and Political Scattering
The substitution of the previous political system was accompanied by intense repression. Francoism sought to impose a warning on those who had opposed the uprising. Repression dismantled political parties and unions, whose members were imprisoned,
Read MoreWorld War II Aftermath: Reconstruction and the Cold War’s Genesis
The Impact of World War II
When the Second World War finished, it ravaged Europe and its population, which was decimated. Two new powers emerged: the United States (U.S.) and the USSR. The demographic balance showed around 50 million deaths; nearly half were in the USSR, followed by Germany and Poland.
Consequences of the War
Physical Destruction and Economic Shifts
The physical destruction was immense, affecting cities, infrastructure, and industrial facilities. This destruction caused a reduction
Russia on the Eve of Revolution: Politics and Society
Russia in the Early 20th Century
In the early 20th century, the Russian Empire was one of the world’s largest and most populous nations. However, it lagged politically, economically, and socially, existing in a state between feudalism and early industrialization.
Political Landscape: The Tsarist Autocracy
Political power was concentrated in the hands of the Tsar, Nicholas II, who ruled as an autocrat and served as the head of the Orthodox Church. His power was supported by several key pillars:
- The aristocracy
- The
Franco’s Justification for the 1936 Military Uprising
The Genesis of the Spanish Civil War: Franco’s 1936 Appeal
This document analyzes a political and historical text, self-authored by Francisco Franco (then General Commander of the Canary Islands), concerning the military uprising that initiated the Spanish Civil War.
The Coup of July 18, 1936
The coup d’état, launched on July 18, 1936, was primarily orchestrated by Generals Mola (Pamplona) and Sanjurjo (Lisbon). In the immediate aftermath, Franco issued an appeal directed exclusively to the military
Read MoreTransformations in World History: Renaissance to Industrial Age
Key Inventors and Inventions
- John Kay: Invented the flying shuttle.
- James Hargreaves: Invented the Spinning Jenny.
- Eli Whitney: Invented the cotton gin.
- Robert Fulton: Invented the steamboat.
- Alexander Graham Bell: Invented the first telephone.
- Thomas Edison: Invented the first electric light bulb.
Humanism
Humanism was an intellectual movement that sought to exalt the full range of human qualities and human nature, giving a rational meaning to life by taking ancient Greeks and Latins as masters.
The Renaissance
The
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