Historian Richard Evans provides an extensive examination of the political and cultural parallels and differences between the current rise of modern populist conservatism and facisim in Weimar Germany. He finds many political and and cultural similarities between the two eras. Ultimately he concludes that the deeper modern commitments to democratic institutions differentiates the current political climate and that of Weimar Germany. He notes that the early fascist German party were never able to obtain a plurality in the German political system until after 1932 when their grant of extraordinary governmental powers enabled them to imprison about 200,000 members of opposition parties in proto concentration camps in 1933. That grant of emergency governmental powers was given due to a substantial rise in street violence coupled with the economic downturn of the global great depression. Weimar Germany was the young new form of democratic government in the 1920s. Democracy was insufficiently rooted in its culture to prevent the rise of fascism. Due to the passage of history, references to German fascism in modern popular culture have trivialized it to a comedic meme. Here, Richard Evans does the heavy, necessary periodic work of comparing modern times to historical events in order to assure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Kurt Fisher The mistakes of the present are the mistakes of the present. Our capacity to learn from the past which we know by direct experience is limited enough. It is still harder to learn from the experience of our forbears as explained in scholarly publications. I don't mean to disparage academic historical research in ANY way. I enjoy the fruits of it. But many citizens don't have time or inclination. Most politicians I hear in this particular 'democratic' milieu speak to the ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST of voters and little else. The narrative changed somewhat when the pandemic struck, but even then economic concerns and public health concerns are about evenly balanced. These politicians are probably correct in their calculation. I think most people prefer a government which promises prosperity, regard of ideology. If that means giving up a few marginal liberties, so be it. But let someone else take the brunt of persecution, if and when it arises. Perhaps in the secular world, high ideals are for those who can afford them. Only in the Kingdom of God are they for everyone, and Christ is the realization of the ideal. For quite some time I have felt the impoverishment of 'democratic' debate in the public sphere. Perhaps this is product of new styles of communication, which do not demand or encourage sustained mental concentration.
I was expecting this guy to talk about the Weimar Republic, but this is definitely a bait and switch operation. Just a long and irrational rambling about the democratic process that works against the communists.
There is not a single irrational thought expressed as this is a recounting of History along with the drawing of connections. Name one irrational thought.
Quite a few of the things that are mentioned here I disagree with, such as the idea that Imperial Germany was some dictatorship where no free speech was allowed, and the comparisons with Brexit and Trump (which are just utterly ridiculous).
To the RW attack dogs stating that Evans concludes that Weimar is analogous to Brexit and Trump - listen to the lecture, not just the introductory question. He concludes that political violence in Weimar Germany was endemic, and the country far more radically polarized than the UK or US. However, he seems to have more faith in humanity than I do, considering the popular election of moronic demagogues like Trump and Boris Johnson.
Yes. And it's worth looking at what happened in Weimar as well as other places so we can be alert in our current time. Someone said that history was an imperfect way to look to the future but it's the best tool we have.
Interesting, although the title could be just a bit misleading for some, just a bit not really anything to shake a stick at mind you, whomever might be reading this.
As far as I'm seeing he isn't either. He's talking about how he doesn't like conservatives and how white people aren't allowed to rule their own countries without being called racist... by him...
@@danielledegeorge2129 As far as you're seeing isn't very far at all. You can barely see anything beyond the tip of your nose. True, he doesn't like conservatives, but he tells you why. You weren't watching because your biased turned yourself against him. Why do wast time listening when you don't?
@@debralegorreta1375 why do you insult people without first being addressed by them? I wasn't talking to you, get out of the conversation, because if you did this in real life, walked into a stranger's conversation and insulted them out of the blue, people would think you were really strange. Social media makes people quite arrogant and bold, doesn't it?
They say that liberals just insult or attack people without any logical reasoning or facts to back them up.... yeah, point proven guys ⬆️. I guess you thought I was another Trump supporter to hate on, huh? Turns out I'm here trying to figure out why history is repeating and half the country is hating on the other half over a political opinion, which we're allowed to have differences on btw......... and I didn't hear him give any SOLUTION to the civil war situation by EXPLAINING what we can do to make it NOT A WEIMAR SITUATION all over again. All I saw was retards try and DIVIDE MORE.
The Kaiser lost WWI because it trusted the Allies to settle the post war as had been customary until then; but the US didn't buy into that and forced on them the Treaty of Versailles. Had the Kaiser been able to foresee that Treaty, he would not have surrendered. The war really didn't end; it was postponed for part 2.
As far as I know the US advocated for leniency, because they wanted the losing nations to be part of the League of Nations. The Kaiser was forced to surrender there was no choice. The novemberrevolution and the allies resolve only to deal with a democratic nation forced Max von Baden (the then prime minister) to pressure the kaiser to abdicate. I am not one hundred percent sure though.
Mr Evans seems to have trouble confusing measures by right-wing parties with attacks on democracy. Democracy is not synonymous with left-wing aspirations.
I must admit to being a tad bemused why the Weimar institution is being chosen and not the early Leninist administration of 1922. It's also interesting to note how labels are applied when they are not really applicable.
If you can call it that. Russia never had what we would call democracy. Just because it was called a people's revolution didn't make it democratic. All that happened was the tzars were overthrown. All a Tzar is, is a person who had the ability to have total control.
The current crop of angry, populist leaders around the globe scared him into speaking up, and I'm glad he did. I live in the US; Republican convention this year (2020) was a Trump family love-fest. The party line is "Make Trump Happy", they have other discernible agenda of their own. He should just grow a little mustache and complete the image.
Yeah the narrative at the beginning concerns me. Quite woke for what I was expecting for a history lecture. In fact, it seems we have powerful people in the USA stirring outrage against “fascism” whilst being quite fascist themselves. Every atrocity needs a boogeyman. It’s a year later and the violence has begun. It’s being enabled by those in power - and the violence they enable is being used to smear who they don’t like. So the powerful play chess whole average people’s lives are destroyed. It’s sad.
Very interesting & informative video thank you; youtube is an amazing platform. I still believe that nationalist sentiment, political view & any other angle is completely nullified by economic circumstances. My questions if I may, is If the economy in the Weimar wasn’t so bad & the Weimar Republic didn’t experience massive inflation would history be different? Secondly are economic circumstances the ultimate driving factor because they affect everyone whatever race you are whatever political view you have, whatever economic situation you are in is the single unifying to population harmony or at least the foundation?
Evans is a distinguished historian of German social and political development, and I've been fortunate to have read his Third Reich trilogy, which is already regarded as a classic. Not a fan of President Trump, but you can imagine my disappointment after watching one third of this lecture I had to give up in disgust because it was really a Trump bash-fest in disguise. I'll stick to reading his books instead. They're far more focused.
triggered - exactly who has been triggered ? I see a lot of people who feel conned/disappointed about waiting for an informative lecture promising to bring insights into how things like the treaty of Versailles and it's highly abusive nature towards Germany post WW1, the nature of trade, the nature of British/French hegemony practices and the influence of the USA on same - we wanted some meat on the bones to research and broaden our knowledge with. This is, after all, the purpose of lectures from Gresham If we had wanted to listen to a liberal/post liberal/neoliberal take on the state of current politics we could have just looked at the BBC website. Had the lectured been titled quite differently, we could have all saved a great deal of time. A lot of us have much better things to be researching than the state of modern/contemporary politics
"The rise of the Brexit with its explicit attack on representative democracy", preceded by an attack on Trump for using executive orders in just the same way as Obama! Oh please spare us, I gave up at this point, this is supposed to be a historical lecture not a one-sided political rant. I see from other comments that he continued in the same vein.
@@bbgg71 In what way is the Brexit party making 'an explicit attack on representative democracy'? It is putting up candidates for election like any other party, and is campaigning for the implementation of the result of a democratic vote.
@Fredrik Larsson it's Richard Evans... not Vernon Bogdanor (and he gives lectures which are entirely more informative, interesting and which encourage further study. Can most definitely recommend V. Bogdanor's lectures to anyone looking for facts and insight on things which are legal/historical/constitutional) You are absolutely right about the public kicking back against the establishment although I think if it hadn't been Brexit, it would have been literally anything else.
@@adagietto2523 denounces decisions made by the elected parliament. That's an attack on representative democracy. As well as spouting conspiracy theories about politicians and major institutions, etc. A democrat doesn't do that, remember.
Obama signed 276 executive orders. Trump has signed 169. Please give me a break with the misuse of presidential authority. This guy has an obvious political bias.
john riva Actually there was a lot of contact between extreme Right and extreme Left during the Weimar years, and some swing voting between extremes. This is one scenario from which the concept of a circular political spectrum arose. I'm not saying that it is the way to go, just mentioning it. Look at so-called 'communist' China today, with its State-guided capitalist system, its billionaire plutocrats, its complete suppression of labor rights, its brainwashing techniques, its promotion of the 'superiority' of Han Chinese culture, its ethnic cleansing (or cultural genocide) in Xinjiang/East Turkestan. Notice any parallels with Nazi Germany? One thing those two extremes have in common: contempt for the LORD JESUS CHRIST and His teachings.
The gentleman seems a little stuck in the past with his 'eurocentric' perspective. He seems intensely focused upon events in the UK and USA. Granted, the Trump phenomenon APPEARS shocking on the surface, yet it only magnifies cultural conflicts which have been going on in the USA for a long time. The outcome is far from certain. Although China never really had its 'Weimar' period, does not today's PRC represent the biggest challenge to 'free' societies on the planet, and offer better parallels with Nazi Germany? Its authoritarian traditions are even more strongly entrenched, over a longer period, than were those of Germany. Does China not have a sense of grievance (former domination by European and Japanese colonialism) which drives its hubristic ambition? Does it not promote idolatry of the State, seeking to subordinate every institution, every individual, to its goals? Is it not engaged in a project of 'ethnic cleansing' in Xinjiang province (former East Turkestan)? Does it not seek GLOBAL dominance?
Jesus is Lord & Savior not really. Communism can have parallels to fascism , prime examples are China and Russian decades ago. I'm not sure in so far as to the extent the Uighurs have been affected. Many empires in the past sought global domination such as England , Rome, Mongolians etc. It's nothing new . America was the same way, Native Americans ,which parallels the holocaust. As well as destabilization of the Middle East from our foreign policies. Comparing China to the Nazi's? I don't think so , that's a stretch. China's dominance appears to be more economically.
@@debralegorreta1375 I hope that I misinterpreted your comment. So you maintain that China is not seeking world domination? Only wilful blindness could explain such a view. Have you heard of the Belt Road project? This is only one aspect of their overarching strategy. And you say that the DNC is worse than the CCP? I am non-partisan and have serious reservations about the DNC. However the CCP has colossal crimes on its record, including well over 300 million abortions. Check it out.
Short answer: Don't be do imbecile yo belive that you can pay government obligations by just printing more money. And if a country lost a war, don't try to gloat and give it s chance to recover peacefully.
These lectures are brilliant, but this one caused me to chuckle. Who could have predicted the Pandemic, the January 6 Insurrection, Johnson’s 80 seat majority, rising inflation and Partygate. I would agree that democracies die when legislatures cease to function, but also when people are prepared to let it happen. There are wars going on all over the world, of course, but perhaps, what we really ought to worry about is wars within borders. The situation in America is much more bleak than at the time of this lecture. Congress seems to have ceased to function. Biden seems to be unable to control his Party and is unwilling change the filibuster. Trump exerts more power over the Republicans out of office than when he was in power. The States are passing legislation which will make it much easier for “The Big Lie” to succeed in future elections, and the Trump appointed Supreme Court seems unwilling to stop them. With Fox News acting as a propaganda machine for Trump, their viewers are oblivious to what is happening. The Military leaders aren’t even confident the military would stay loyal if there were another January 6th. I am currently less concerned about the situation here in the UK. The British people have made it clear that, this week, they are not prepared to be made fools off by Boris Johnson, but who knows, a week is a long time in politics. I am not sure it matters, however because if democracy fails in America the World will shift on its axis
He didn't seem to notice the war going on already for about 15 years in a smallish country involving many other countries which has, since he spoke, moved on to another nearby country and work is going on to involve many more other countries and never mind about the nukes. 😵💫 He seems to think they will never be used, thanks to their invention. Except for the times they were.
During his six years in control of Russia, Lenin “became the author of mass terror and the first concentration camps ever built on the European continent,” commencing the killings of millions of innocent people. Lenin had inherited a country in the midst of the First World War, with war-weary Russian troops battling the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary on the Eastern Front.
@Thomas I read that some 'collabos' were motivated by pan-European ideals. Perhaps for a couple of years the German occupation looked solid. Perhaps they did not realize that this would never be the 'new world order'. But let's give credit where credit is due. For centuries Europe used to suffer spasms of fraternal war virtually every generation. How many have there been among members since foundation of the EU? The only European wars I can think of since 1945 are: -the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, which would have existed EU or no -the Yugoslav (or ex-Yugoslav) civil war of the 1990s -the present conflict in Ukraine. No former Yugoslav state joined the EU before 2000, and Serbia never has. Nor has Ukraine. I think stability rather than 'democracy' was the chief goal of the EU. But stability has always been contingent upon Germany's behaving properly. Merkel is planning to step down next year. Then what?
@@danielledegeorge2129 the bible describes that figure head, whom ever it may end up being, as the antichrist or false prophet. Look up project blue beam.
Starts out with the speaker lying. Very disappointing that he feels that real democracy is only voting how he thinks people should vote. I bet he isn't opposed to political violence.
@Shahid Khan I'm wondering if you are making a joke or do you actually believe that anybody who doesn't vote like you is a white supremacists? If so what do you think about the election in Peterborough?
@@js357s Democracy is not plebiscite, it's a system of representation with checks and balances and separation of powers. The only example of partly direct democracy is Switzerland, where referendums are balanced by federalism and a degree of discretion in their implementation by the central government. Referendums without checks and balances are a step towards tyranny.
@@js357s I'm not interested in accusations without evidence. If you claim "the left" does something then provide specific examples. I just saw a Tweet by an American literally writing that a broken lift in Vienna is due to "European-style socialism". I'm tired of this vague notion of "the left" and "socialism" being used as a scapegoat
@@aristeon5908 You were first making an accusation & I have no idea about some tweet you saw. Here's one for you, judicial activism. Judges are supposed to interpret the law not make them. I'd also like to point at how Brett Kavanaugh was slandered with no evidence and it sent the left into a massive hissy fit. BTW do you approve of political violence and intimidation and what do you think of throwing milk shakes at people. If you want an example of socialism sucking just check out Venezuela of life in the Soviet Union.
I learned nothing from this lecture and I am glad I didn't have to pay for it. I was more than merely disappointed with it, I feel slightly abused. The jejune nature of the repeated parallels with Brexit and Hitler and Brexit and the far right for instance. What about the millions of left supporting voters who want away from the EU? This lecture needs to be re-titled please, to something like "what you already know about the Weimar Republic with a highly subjective series of poor analogies to the UK leaving the European Union"
Very well said. I read his book on the rise of Nazi Germany, which was quite good. This lecture was a real turn-off. I wanted to hear about Germany in the twenties, not about the evil people who do not accept the climate change orthodoxy. I also agree with you about comparing Brexitism to Naziism. This character is a nutcase.
@@artherladett442 I listened to several minutes. What I did hear, I found neither very compelling nor very objectionable. I'm neither an all-out apologist for liberal democracy nor a 'hater' of the populist Right, but politically agnostic. (NO, that has nothing to do with uncertainty of belief in God!) Political engineering cannot save human civilization or human souls. (Mark 13:20) 'Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.' Who are the elect? Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But don't you think that China (PRC) presents a better parallel to Nazism than any regime in the West?
*boomer consciousness. nothing that was said about Trump is remotely true. vague insinuation and saying things on behalf of the despised individual. kinda stupid. jus fyi. . .
He speaks for those who will take your freedom in the name of freedom. Like his early mention of the Brexit party, to say that "our political system is finished" is not them saying they will destroy it, rather the incumbent politicians have destroyed it.
Weimar Republic was not at all democracy since it lacked representation and separation of powers in origin. It was not even a parliamentary system since the Germans voted party lists to the Reichtag and not constituency representatives. Furthermore, I doubt there can be democracy without common law/rule of law whilst Weimar's Republic was just an Etat de Droit. In fact the constitution of the II Reich was closer to democracy since there was representation and separation of powers in origin, although the executive branch was not elected but hereditary.
@@debralegorreta1375 Thanks for your answer. However I with all due respect I stick to my comment, the Weimar Republic was not a democracy. Nowadays all European countries except for France and the UK have similar regimes as of the Weimar Republic. We Europeans should try Parliamentary systems or Democratic systems.
@@ramontrillo5722 No, just no. A parliamentary system is not contingent on constituent representatives it is contingent on elected representatives to a parlament. The manner in which they get elected is not too important (as long as it is democratic). I would also be really interested for the sources of the claims that a) there was no seperation of power and b) that it was an Etat de Droit. You are aware that an almost absolute executive, that the people cannot vote out semantically excludes it being a democracy?The people do not rule the Kaiser does
Interesting ruminations about possible historical parallels. As history progresses themes and variations, recurring 'leitmotivs' perhaps, but never wholesale repetition. The Sovereign LORD is in charge of the outcome, and whether we perceive it or not, all that happens is driving toward the culmination, when JESUS will return in His glory to Judge the earth.
Weimar wasn't ill fated; it was ill managed.
that tells us a lot !
Historian Richard Evans provides an extensive examination of the political and cultural parallels and differences between the current rise of modern populist conservatism and facisim in Weimar Germany. He finds many political and and cultural similarities between the two eras. Ultimately he concludes that the deeper modern commitments to democratic institutions differentiates the current political climate and that of Weimar Germany. He notes that the early fascist German party were never able to obtain a plurality in the German political system until after 1932 when their grant of extraordinary governmental powers enabled them to imprison about 200,000 members of opposition parties in proto concentration camps in 1933. That grant of emergency governmental powers was given due to a substantial rise in street violence coupled with the economic downturn of the global great depression. Weimar Germany was the young new form of democratic government in the 1920s. Democracy was insufficiently rooted in its culture to prevent the rise of fascism. Due to the passage of history, references to German fascism in modern popular culture have trivialized it to a comedic meme. Here, Richard Evans does the heavy, necessary periodic work of comparing modern times to historical events in order to assure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Kurt Fisher
The mistakes of the present are the mistakes of the present. Our capacity to learn from the past which we know by direct experience is limited enough. It is still harder to learn from the experience of our forbears as explained in scholarly publications. I don't mean to disparage academic historical research in ANY way. I enjoy the fruits of it. But many citizens don't have time or inclination.
Most politicians I hear in this particular 'democratic' milieu speak to the ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST of voters and little else. The narrative changed somewhat when the pandemic struck, but even then economic concerns and public health concerns are about evenly balanced. These politicians are probably correct in their calculation. I think most people prefer a government which promises prosperity, regard of ideology. If that means giving up a few marginal liberties, so be it. But let someone else take the brunt of persecution, if and when it arises.
Perhaps in the secular world, high ideals are for those who can afford them. Only in the Kingdom of God are they for everyone, and Christ is the realization of the ideal.
For quite some time I have felt the impoverishment of 'democratic' debate in the public sphere. Perhaps this is product of new styles of communication, which do not demand or encourage sustained mental concentration.
For me it seems like history is gonna repeat itself again
wise you are.
Widespread degeneracy you mean?
I was expecting this guy to talk about the Weimar Republic, but this is definitely a bait and switch operation. Just a long and irrational rambling about the democratic process that works against the communists.
There is not a single irrational thought expressed as this is a recounting of History along with the drawing of connections. Name one irrational thought.
Quite a few of the things that are mentioned here I disagree with, such as the idea that Imperial Germany was some dictatorship where no free speech was allowed, and the comparisons with Brexit and Trump (which are just utterly ridiculous).
no they aren't you fascist liar
To the RW attack dogs stating that Evans concludes that Weimar is analogous to Brexit and Trump - listen to the lecture, not just the introductory question. He concludes that political violence in Weimar Germany was endemic, and the country far more radically polarized than the UK or US. However, he seems to have more faith in humanity than I do, considering the popular election of moronic demagogues like Trump and Boris Johnson.
Well said.
Yes. And it's worth looking at what happened in Weimar as well as other places so we can be alert in our current time. Someone said that history was an imperfect way to look to the future but it's the best tool we have.
Here here!
From the comments it would be easy to conclude that a large part of humanity today wants an autocratic dictator.
Don't think out loud. Your thinking is shallow.
Accurate!
@@danielgoggins2130 no it isn't you maroon
Decentralized constitutional Republic.
Finally a histiry presentation that frame the investigation why it is important today to learn from the past.
Interesting, although the title could be just a bit misleading for some, just a bit not really anything to shake a stick at mind you, whomever might be reading this.
great lecture
Seems like he didn’t talk about the Weimar Republic or Germany
As far as I'm seeing he isn't either. He's talking about how he doesn't like conservatives and how white people aren't allowed to rule their own countries without being called racist... by him...
Danielle DeGeorge smooth brained people took him seriously
@@danielledegeorge2129 As far as you're seeing isn't very far at all. You can barely see anything beyond the tip of your nose. True, he doesn't like conservatives, but he tells you why. You weren't watching because your biased turned yourself against him. Why do wast time listening when you don't?
@@debralegorreta1375 why do you insult people without first being addressed by them? I wasn't talking to you, get out of the conversation, because if you did this in real life, walked into a stranger's conversation and insulted them out of the blue, people would think you were really strange. Social media makes people quite arrogant and bold, doesn't it?
They say that liberals just insult or attack people without any logical reasoning or facts to back them up.... yeah, point proven guys ⬆️. I guess you thought I was another Trump supporter to hate on, huh? Turns out I'm here trying to figure out why history is repeating and half the country is hating on the other half over a political opinion, which we're allowed to have differences on btw......... and I didn't hear him give any SOLUTION to the civil war situation by EXPLAINING what we can do to make it NOT A WEIMAR SITUATION all over again. All I saw was retards try and DIVIDE MORE.
The Kaiser lost WWI because it trusted the Allies to settle the post war as had been customary until then; but the US didn't buy into that and forced on them the Treaty of Versailles. Had the Kaiser been able to foresee that Treaty, he would not have surrendered. The war really didn't end; it was postponed for part 2.
As far as I know the US advocated for leniency, because they wanted the losing nations to be part of the League of Nations. The Kaiser was forced to surrender there was no choice. The novemberrevolution and the allies resolve only to deal with a democratic nation forced Max von Baden (the then prime minister) to pressure the kaiser to abdicate. I am not one hundred percent sure though.
This is so ill-informed, it's laughable.
The usa literally didn't sign that treaty
Mr Evans seems to have trouble confusing measures by right-wing parties with attacks on democracy. Democracy is not synonymous with left-wing aspirations.
Nothing. The only thing we need to refer to is 1776 and 1788. There are reasons we had to rescue Europe 3 times from itself.
Having a whole continent controlled by one power makes it rather easier not to get into any fights.
I must admit to being a tad bemused why the Weimar institution is being chosen and not the early Leninist administration of 1922. It's also interesting to note how labels are applied when they are not really applicable.
Didn't Lenin say "hang 100 kulaks and make sure people see them"?
Bearing in mind my German Grandmothers maiden name was Kulack and came from what was Prussia- yes.
@@leoroverman4541 Interesting coincidence. My point is why choose Lenin to demonstrate incipient democracy?.
If you can call it that. Russia never had what we would call democracy. Just because it was called a people's revolution didn't make it democratic. All that happened was the tzars were overthrown. All a Tzar is, is a person who had the ability to have total control.
@@leoroverman4541 Right, ok.
These lectures from Gresham are fantastic!
Quiz: When was the Weimar Republic established?
Why do lecturers think that repeating a date over and over makes them more meaningful?
Ive watched past lectures by Evans. He wasnt political like this at all. Seems odd.
The current crop of angry, populist leaders around the globe scared him into speaking up, and I'm glad he did.
I live in the US; Republican convention this year (2020) was a Trump family love-fest. The party line is "Make Trump Happy", they have other discernible agenda of their own. He should just grow a little mustache and complete the image.
@@thomosburn8740 The country is coming apart like a pinata no matter who wins.
I don't find it so "odd." Urgency has just made him less concerned about maintaining the mask of neutral objectivity nowadays.
@@thomosburn8740 Yeah Thom, all that wanton looting and burning by angry Republican populists this year has been very disturbing, lol.
Yeah the narrative at the beginning concerns me. Quite woke for what I was expecting for a history lecture.
In fact, it seems we have powerful people in the USA stirring outrage against “fascism” whilst being quite fascist themselves. Every atrocity needs a boogeyman.
It’s a year later and the violence has begun. It’s being enabled by those in power - and the violence they enable is being used to smear who they don’t like. So the powerful play chess whole average people’s lives are destroyed. It’s sad.
Very interesting & informative video thank you; youtube is an amazing platform.
I still believe that nationalist sentiment, political view & any other angle is completely nullified by economic circumstances.
My questions if I may,
is If the economy in the Weimar wasn’t so bad & the Weimar Republic didn’t experience massive inflation would history be different? Secondly are economic circumstances the ultimate driving factor because they affect everyone whatever race you are whatever political view you have, whatever economic situation you are in is the single unifying to population harmony or at least the foundation?
What is an "ultimate" driving factor ? Or did you mean"universal" driving factor ?
You are basically asking if they werent socialists......
It's the watching the printing press go brrrrrrrrrt that caused the hyper inflation.
“Free American Press?” Is that the punchline to some sick joke?
Same goes for the Brit Press.
You're free to make facile comments on UA-cam, aren't you?
@@SuperMookles I guess I am, it’s my privilege...no matter what color... ;-)
@@tubamirum007 what's your point? That the US has been hijacked by a liberal media peddling "fake news"?
@@SuperMookles Censorship and woke culture.
Evans is a distinguished historian of German social and political development, and I've been fortunate to have read his Third Reich trilogy, which is already regarded as a classic. Not a fan of President Trump, but you can imagine my disappointment after watching one third of this lecture I had to give up in disgust because it was really a Trump bash-fest in disguise. I'll stick to reading his books instead. They're far more focused.
Someone who doesn't understand the present won't understand the past.
This title should read "The road to Socialism, from a Socialist perspective".
Sounds like a clever rebuke, but you provide no argument, just a typical reactionary proclamation. Got proof? Doubt it.
Hmmm...not feasible in current times? ...What happened in Gaza?
So many triggered people here... Way to prove a point
triggered - exactly who has been triggered ? I see a lot of people who feel conned/disappointed about waiting for an informative lecture promising to bring insights into how things like the treaty of Versailles and it's highly abusive nature towards Germany post WW1, the nature of trade, the nature of British/French hegemony practices and the influence of the USA on same - we wanted some meat on the bones to research and broaden our knowledge with. This is, after all, the purpose of lectures from Gresham
If we had wanted to listen to a liberal/post liberal/neoliberal take on the state of current politics we could have just looked at the BBC website. Had the lectured been titled quite differently, we could have all saved a great deal of time. A lot of us have much better things to be researching than the state of modern/contemporary politics
'People disagreeing... Way to prove a point'
You're the one who is hysterical, oblivious person.
"The rise of the Brexit with its explicit attack on representative democracy", preceded by an attack on Trump for using executive orders in just the same way as Obama! Oh please spare us, I gave up at this point, this is supposed to be a historical lecture not a one-sided political rant. I see from other comments that he continued in the same vein.
How is that statement wrong?
@@bbgg71 In what way is the Brexit party making 'an explicit attack on representative democracy'? It is putting up candidates for election like any other party, and is campaigning for the implementation of the result of a democratic vote.
@Fredrik Larsson it's Richard Evans... not Vernon Bogdanor (and he gives lectures which are entirely more informative, interesting and which encourage further study. Can most definitely recommend V. Bogdanor's lectures to anyone looking for facts and insight on things which are legal/historical/constitutional) You are absolutely right about the public kicking back against the establishment although I think if it hadn't been Brexit, it would have been literally anything else.
@@adagietto2523 denounces decisions made by the elected parliament. That's an attack on representative democracy. As well as spouting conspiracy theories about politicians and major institutions, etc. A democrat doesn't do that, remember.
Obama signed 276 executive orders. Trump has signed 169. Please give me a break with the misuse of presidential authority. This guy has an obvious political bias.
Who's here after the recent US election looking for an explanation for what you KNOW to be happening? Raise your hand ✌🏻
I'm sorry - is this a lecture about Weimar Germany or Donald Trump's shortcomings [of which there are many]? Time and place, people...
Lost me at the beginning with his lies about Trump and Brexit.
They're not lies. Or have you got a bad memory?
The communists try to take control and the nazis oppose them; the nazis are simply the reaction of the ordinary people to resist the communists.
john riva
Actually there was a lot of contact between extreme Right and extreme Left during the Weimar years, and some swing voting between extremes. This is one scenario from which the concept of a circular political spectrum arose. I'm not saying that it is the way to go, just mentioning it.
Look at so-called 'communist' China today, with its State-guided capitalist system, its billionaire plutocrats, its complete suppression of labor rights, its brainwashing techniques, its promotion of the 'superiority' of Han Chinese culture, its ethnic cleansing (or cultural genocide) in Xinjiang/East Turkestan.
Notice any parallels with Nazi Germany?
One thing those two extremes have in common: contempt for the LORD JESUS CHRIST and His teachings.
More an activist than a historian.
A man of the establlishment.
History is science that forces to take a stand
The gentleman seems a little stuck in the past with his 'eurocentric' perspective. He seems intensely focused upon events in the UK and USA. Granted, the Trump phenomenon APPEARS shocking on the surface, yet it only magnifies cultural conflicts which have been going on in the USA for a long time. The outcome is far from certain.
Although China never really had its 'Weimar' period, does not today's PRC represent the biggest challenge to 'free' societies on the planet, and offer better parallels with Nazi Germany? Its authoritarian traditions are even more strongly entrenched, over a longer period, than were those of Germany. Does China not have a sense of grievance (former domination by European and Japanese colonialism) which drives its hubristic ambition? Does it not promote idolatry of the State, seeking to subordinate every institution, every individual, to its goals? Is it not engaged in a project of 'ethnic cleansing' in Xinjiang province (former East Turkestan)? Does it not seek GLOBAL dominance?
Jesus is Lord & Savior not really. Communism can have parallels to fascism , prime examples are China and Russian decades ago. I'm not sure in so far as to the extent the Uighurs have been affected. Many empires in the past sought global domination such as England , Rome, Mongolians etc. It's nothing new . America was the same way, Native Americans ,which parallels the holocaust. As well as destabilization of the Middle East from our foreign policies. Comparing China to the Nazi's? I don't think so , that's a stretch. China's dominance appears to be more economically.
NO it doesn't. The DNC is worse.
@@debralegorreta1375
I hope that I misinterpreted your comment.
So you maintain that China is not seeking world domination? Only wilful blindness could explain such a view. Have you heard of the Belt Road project? This is only one aspect of their overarching strategy.
And you say that the DNC is worse than the CCP? I am non-partisan and have serious reservations about the DNC. However the CCP has colossal crimes on its record, including well over 300 million abortions.
Check it out.
Short answer: Don't be do imbecile yo belive that you can pay government obligations by just printing more money. And if a country lost a war, don't try to gloat and give it s chance to recover peacefully.
The punitive nature of Versailles is a myth.
Yeah, when people bring that up ask how many payments were actually made.
And ask them how much France actually paid Prussia.
These lectures are brilliant, but this one caused me to chuckle. Who could have predicted the Pandemic, the January 6 Insurrection, Johnson’s 80 seat majority, rising inflation and Partygate.
I would agree that democracies die when legislatures cease to function, but also when people are prepared to let it happen. There are wars going on all over the world, of course, but perhaps, what we really ought to worry about is wars within borders.
The situation in America is much more bleak than at the time of this lecture. Congress seems to have ceased to function. Biden seems to be unable to control his Party and is unwilling change the filibuster. Trump exerts more power over the Republicans out of office than when he was in power. The States are passing legislation which will make it much easier for “The Big Lie” to succeed in future elections, and the Trump appointed Supreme Court seems unwilling to stop them. With Fox News acting as a propaganda machine for Trump, their viewers are oblivious to what is happening. The Military leaders aren’t even confident the military would stay loyal if there were another January 6th.
I am currently less concerned about the situation here in the UK. The British people have made it clear that, this week, they are not prepared to be made fools off by Boris Johnson, but who knows, a week is a long time in politics.
I am not sure it matters, however because if democracy fails in America the World will shift on its axis
He didn't seem to notice the war going on already for about 15 years in a smallish country involving many other countries which has, since he spoke, moved on to another nearby country and work is going on to involve many more other countries and never mind about the nukes. 😵💫 He seems to think they will never be used, thanks to their invention. Except for the times they were.
“Public memory of what happened in the 30s”?!!! What world does he live in?!
I would like an update to how the CROW tasted. Or is he still locked up in his home by his non oppressive government?
During his six years in control of Russia, Lenin “became the author of mass terror and the first concentration camps ever built on the European continent,” commencing the killings of millions of innocent people.
Lenin had inherited a country in the midst of the First World War, with war-weary Russian troops battling the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary on the Eastern Front.
He did it for coloured people in the colonies.
The EU. Now there's a real democratic institution!
@Thomas
I read that some 'collabos' were motivated by pan-European ideals.
Perhaps for a couple of years the German occupation looked solid. Perhaps they did not realize that this would never be the 'new world order'.
But let's give credit where credit is due. For centuries Europe used to suffer spasms of fraternal war virtually every generation. How many have there been among members since foundation of the EU? The only European wars I can think of since 1945 are:
-the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, which would have existed EU or no
-the Yugoslav (or ex-Yugoslav) civil war of the 1990s
-the present conflict in Ukraine.
No former Yugoslav state joined the EU before 2000, and Serbia never has. Nor has Ukraine.
I think stability rather than 'democracy' was the chief goal of the EU.
But stability has always been contingent upon Germany's behaving properly. Merkel is planning to step down next year. Then what?
Loved the joke, but doesn't work.
so, we should imitate, more or less, the Weimar republic. what are we waiting then?
The lawless state of the Weimar Republic is why the Germans elected Hitler you dope.
Yeah, if you want a Hitler type... but we're actually imitating the Weimar Republic worldwide at the moment, so expect a world dictator to arise.
@@danielledegeorge2129 the bible describes that figure head, whom ever it may end up being, as the antichrist or false prophet. Look up project blue beam.
@@danielledegeorge2129 shouldn't you see him as an liberator/saviour rather than an opressor?
@@fortunateson2 And has described it for the last 2000 years.
He got the Westminster system correct and wrong twice still in not good at predicting either
Starts out with the speaker lying. Very disappointing that he feels that real democracy is only voting how he thinks people should vote. I bet he isn't opposed to political violence.
@Shahid Khan I'm wondering if you are making a joke or do you actually believe that anybody who doesn't vote like you is a white supremacists? If so what do you think about the election in Peterborough?
@@js357s Democracy is not plebiscite, it's a system of representation with checks and balances and separation of powers. The only example of partly direct democracy is Switzerland, where referendums are balanced by federalism and a degree of discretion in their implementation by the central government. Referendums without checks and balances are a step towards tyranny.
@@aristeon5908 That's called a representative democracy. I support checks and balances. I wish the left did too.
@@js357s I'm not interested in accusations without evidence. If you claim "the left" does something then provide specific examples. I just saw a Tweet by an American literally writing that a broken lift in Vienna is due to "European-style socialism". I'm tired of this vague notion of "the left" and "socialism" being used as a scapegoat
@@aristeon5908 You were first making an accusation & I have no idea about some tweet you saw. Here's one for you, judicial activism. Judges are supposed to interpret the law not make them. I'd also like to point at how Brett Kavanaugh was slandered with no evidence and it sent the left into a massive hissy fit. BTW do you approve of political violence and intimidation and what do you think of throwing milk shakes at people. If you want an example of socialism sucking just check out Venezuela of life in the Soviet Union.
Weimar problems requires Weimar solutions....
Always has and always will be...
So disappointing! I was hoping to learn some history. Instead, all I got was far-left political rhetoric.
I agree with your excellent comment.
Yeh, not even subtle. Very disappointing. What the heck is wrong with the leftists?
@Ash bad losers
Well you basically didn't get the point - but well, that was the whole point to it, so thanks for playing a live specimen.
@Zhefff Hurrnklle actually, I wanted a somewhat objective review of the history of that era.
More liberal propaganda
The American president issues executive orders, sir, not "decrees." And no, Trump doesn't encourage "violence" of ANY kind! 😠😠😠😠😠
That's the same thing smart one, and if you think he dosent have fun in Magic Castle: Captial of fantasy land, freind.
Donald trump definitely supports violence. Especially against minorities ;)
He does in his rally speeches, esp. in 2016. Even pleged to cover legal expenses for his supporters for beating up protesters that popped up
I love your sarcasm
I learned nothing from this lecture and I am glad I didn't have to pay for it. I was more than merely disappointed with it, I feel slightly abused. The jejune nature of the repeated parallels with Brexit and Hitler and Brexit and the far right for instance. What about the millions of left supporting voters who want away from the EU?
This lecture needs to be re-titled please, to something like "what you already know about the Weimar Republic with a highly subjective series of poor analogies to the UK leaving the European Union"
Very well said. I read his book on the rise of Nazi Germany, which was quite good. This lecture was a real turn-off. I wanted to hear about Germany in the twenties, not about the evil people who do not accept the climate change orthodoxy. I also agree with you about comparing Brexitism to Naziism. This character is a nutcase.
@@Juulmand1 Did you listen to the lecture? Did anyone listen to the lecture in these comments!!!!!!!!!!!
@@artherladett442
I listened to several minutes. What I did hear, I found neither very compelling nor very objectionable. I'm neither an all-out apologist for liberal democracy nor a 'hater' of the populist Right, but politically agnostic.
(NO, that has nothing to do with uncertainty of belief in God!)
Political engineering cannot save human civilization or human souls.
(Mark 13:20) 'Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.'
Who are the elect? Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But don't you think that China (PRC) presents a better parallel to Nazism than any regime in the West?
Came here for an analysis of history not this guy's own political views.
Don't like facts, do you?
*boomer consciousness. nothing that was said about Trump is remotely true. vague insinuation and saying things on behalf of the despised individual. kinda stupid. jus fyi. . .
He speaks for those who will take your freedom in the name of freedom.
Like his early mention of the Brexit party, to say that "our political system is finished" is not them saying they will destroy it, rather the incumbent politicians have destroyed it.
Full of bias won’t waste my time on this.
you're the biased one clownshow
Weimar Republic was not at all democracy since it lacked representation and separation of powers in origin. It was not even a parliamentary system since the Germans voted party lists to the Reichtag and not constituency representatives. Furthermore, I doubt there can be democracy without common law/rule of law whilst Weimar's Republic was just an Etat de Droit. In fact the constitution of the II Reich was closer to democracy since there was representation and separation of powers in origin, although the executive branch was not elected but hereditary.
Get your facts straight.
@@debralegorreta1375 Thanks for your answer. However I with all due respect I stick to my comment, the Weimar Republic was not a democracy. Nowadays all European countries except for France and the UK have similar regimes as of the Weimar Republic. We Europeans should try Parliamentary systems or Democratic systems.
@@ramontrillo5722 No, just no. A parliamentary system is not contingent on constituent representatives it is contingent on elected representatives to a parlament. The manner in which they get elected is not too important (as long as it is democratic). I would also be really interested for the sources of the claims that a) there was no seperation of power and b) that it was an Etat de Droit. You are aware that an almost absolute executive, that the people cannot vote out semantically excludes it being a democracy?The people do not rule the Kaiser does
Trump 2024, commies.
What a bunch of lies you are spewing!
This person is a fake intelectual and historian
Not really about the Weimar Republic. More a rant by a left-wing academic against the Brexit result.
Zzzzzzxx
Tomorrow's fascists will call themselves anti facists.
Or they'll try to overturn the results of free and fair elections.. oh wait, that already happened, didn't it?
no they won't you sheep
Interesting ruminations about possible historical parallels. As history progresses themes and variations, recurring 'leitmotivs' perhaps, but never wholesale repetition. The Sovereign LORD is in charge of the outcome, and whether we perceive it or not, all that happens is driving toward the culmination, when JESUS will return in His glory to Judge the earth.
This guy has Alzheimer.
What B.S!
this is a crazy limey living in the past . I could only watch 10 minutes of this
A well-respected professor of History. I'm hardly surprised you couldn't watch, too much for you probably. Watch Trump, that's more your level.
What a huge nose, mr evans, Hysterian and Progrom of Frankfurt College.