Europe in the 20th Century

by George Lichtheim

The great upheavals of the twentieth century have completely altered the shape of Europe, and Europe’s role in international affairs. George Lichtheim analyses the profound changes in intellectual, artistic and religious awareness which were both cause and consequence of the decay of traditional bourgeois-liberal culture. Factors such as nationalism, socialism, the European civil war between communist and fascist movements after 1919, and the decline of the nation state are interwoven with concerns such as changes in the quality of life and the rise of technocratic forms of government to create a compelling and comprehensive account of European civilisation between 1900 and 1970. First published in 1972 as part of Weidenfeld & Nicolson’s History of Civilisation series.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

424 pages, Hardcover

First published August 3, 1972

About the author

George Lichtheim (1912-1973) was a German-born intellectual whose works focused on the history and theory of socialism and Marxism. He defined himself as a socialist and stated in a 1964 letter to the New York Review of Books that "I am not a liberal and never have been. I find liberalism almost as boring as communism and have no wish to be drawn into an argument over which of these two antiquated creeds is less likely to advance us any further."
His work appeared in the Palestine Post, Commentary, Partisan Review, Dissent, the New Leader, Encounter, the Times Literary Supplement and the New York Review of Books. Additionally, he translated Gershom Scholem's Main Currents in Jewish Mysticism. His death was by suicide.

Reviews

[Leonardo]

Libro de referencia para Posguerra.

[Riatmi Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not easy for people who do not familiar with European History to read the book. And I am among them though I do like the topic.

Europe's 20th Century, in social politics term, marked with First World War in 1914 altering the shape of Europe and her roles in international affairs. The compelling analysis show how the profound change in intellectuals, artistics, and religious awareness were both cause and consequence of the decay of traditional liberal-bourgeois culture. Taking into account factors such as nationalism, socialism, the European civil war between communist and fascist movements after 1919, the decline of the nation-state, and the rise of technocratic forms of government, the result is a compelling and comprehensive view of European civilization between 1900 and 1970.

When I was reading the book, there was debate in social media regarding the significant increasing budget in military in Indonesia. And through this book, I knew despite that Germany & Japan were lost in WWII, they outgrew the economic growth of most Allied Power Countries because the were focusing all their energy to rebuild their country and didn't have the burden to compete in military power produced by cold war. So, in this economy, I disagree with Indonesian Government.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lichtheim’s a beast. He actually sort of apprehends neoliberalism coming as one possibility (this book was published in 1972, the year before neoliberalism’s inaugural oil crisis), although he was more sure of the Russian and American models fusing into a technocratic, planned, mixed economy. He covers just about everything you could want—the development of science, art, literature, sociology, history, philosophy, all with a reckless will to criticize that contemporary scholarship rarely demonstrates itself capable of attaining. He knows how to use dialectical logic perhaps better than any Marxist or philosopher I’ve ever read (really. He can explain Hegel). The book has a ton of value. The failed predictions, the careful interpretations, the vicious polemics, it’s a astounding work. Perhaps its most interesting aspect is the critique of universal history Lichtheim offers, where he compares the Marxist theory of history to other macro-scale historians like Spengler and Toynbee. The only mark I’d put against it is his interpretation of Nietzsche, whom he basically reads just like the Nazis did.

[Dermot Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little old fashioned and a little out of date (1972) but a solid interesting view of Europe since 1900. If one is not familiar with the history of philosophy and its basic tenets then some parts of this book can be a bit on the heavy side! But, still a worthwhile read.