In a captivating discussion, Sean McMeekin, a Bard College professor and author of several acclaimed books on Soviet history, dives deep into the origins and complex legacy of Communism. He explores the darker side of Lenin and Stalin's reign, contrasting romanticized Hollywood portrayals with historical facts. The conversation highlights the harrowing experiences of those on the Eastern Front during WWII, critiques bureaucratic systems in modern contexts, and addresses the evolution of freedom and civil liberties in contemporary society.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Interest in Communism
Sean McMeekin's interest in communism stemmed from a high school history project reenacting the Army-McCarthy hearings.
He later interviewed Red Army veterans, whose harrowing stories and differing perspectives on communism fascinated him.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Veterans' Views on Communism
The Red Army veterans McMeekin interviewed held diverse perspectives on communism and the Soviet Union.
They focused on survival and found American political debates trivial compared to their experiences with starvation and government mistreatment.
insights INSIGHT
Russian Cultural Fatalism
McMeekin suggests that Russian culture, marked by fatalism and resilience, may have contributed to the acceptance of totalitarian systems.
This cultural tendency to endure hardship, while not unique to Russia, has been notable throughout its history.
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In 'Stalin's War', Sean McMeekin presents a groundbreaking reassessment of World War II by shifting the focus from Adolf Hitler to Joseph Stalin. McMeekin argues that Stalin was the central figure in the conflict, working to ensure that the war would leave his enemies exhausted and ripe for revolution. The book reveals how Soviet Communism was rescued by the self-defeating strategic moves of the US and Britain, particularly through Lend-Lease aid, which provided Stalin's war machine with substantial American matériel. This support enabled the Soviet Union to conquer much of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, and set the stage for the Cold War. McMeekin's research draws on previously classified Soviet archives and challenges the traditional view of World War II as a simple struggle between good and evil[1][3][5].
To Overthrow the World
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Communism
Sean McMeekin
In 'To Overthrow the World', Sean McMeekin explores the evolution of Communism from a seductive ideal of a classless society into the ruling doctrine of tyrannical regimes. The book spans from Karl Marx’s writings to the rise and fall of the USSR under Stalin, Mao’s rise to power in China, and the acceleration of Communist or Communist-inspired policies in the twenty-first century. McMeekin argues that despite its endurance, Communism remains deeply unpopular as a political form and has always arisen by force. The book provides a thorough and readable account of how Communism has endured through the twentieth century and its ongoing influence today.
The Communist Manifesto
Friedrich Engels
Karl Marx
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money
John Maynard Keynes
Published in February 1936, 'The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money' by John Maynard Keynes revolutionized economic thought by challenging the classical economic theories of his time. Keynes argued that total spending in an economy can fail to generate full employment if total savings exceed total investment. He introduced key concepts such as the 'Principle of Effective Demand,' liquidity preference, and the marginal efficiency of capital. The book emphasizes the importance of aggregate demand, the role of government in stabilizing the economy, and the interaction between monetary and real economic factors. Keynes's theories have had a profound impact on economic policy and continue to influence macroeconomic thought and policy to this day.
Defenders of the West
Defenders of the West
Raymond Ibrahim
The Military Program of the Proletarian Revolution
The Military Program of the Proletarian Revolution
Vladimir Lenin
The Russians
Hedrick Smith
Published in 1976, 'The Russians' provides a detailed and insightful look into life inside the Soviet Union during the early 1970s. Hedrick Smith, drawing from his three years as the New York Times Moscow bureau chief, paints a comprehensive picture of Soviet culture, politics, and economy. The book includes interviews with natives, historical perspectives, and observations on the lack of democratic values and the pervasive control of the Soviet government over everyday life. Despite being written over four decades ago, the book remains relevant today for its deep insights into Russian history, culture, and society.
Today, Santiago & Josh interview Sean McMeekin, Professor of European History and Culture and Author of Stalin's War, to discuss the origins of Communism, the influence and impact of Lenin and Stalin, World War II Revisionism, and applications to modern day US politics.
#SeanMcMeekin #Communism #WorldWarII #Stalin #Lenin #Election #War #Famine #Politics
Sean McMeekin teaches courses in modern European, Russian, Soviet, and post-Soviet history at Bard College. He has also taught at Koç University in Istanbul, Yale, Bilkent in Ankara, and NYU. He is the author of Stalin’s War (2021); The Russian Revolution (2017); The Ottoman Endgame: War, Revolution, and the Making of the Modern Middle East (2015, awarded the Arthur Goodzeit Book Prize); July 1914: Countdown to War (2013, reviewed on the cover of the New York Times Sunday Book Review); The Russian Origins of the First World War (2011, winner of the Norman B. Tomlinson Jr. Book Prize); The Berlin-Baghdad Express: The Ottoman Empire and Germany’s Bid for World Power (2010, winner of the Barbara Jelavich Book Prize); History’s Greatest Heist: The Looting of Russia by the Bolsheviks (2008); The Red Millionaire (2004); and numerous articles and essays. McMeekin also reviews books regularly for the Sunday Times, The Literary Review, American Historical Review, History Today, Journal of Modern History, Slavic Review, and Journal of Cold War Studies.
Learn more about Sean McMeekin's work:
https://www.bard.edu/faculty/sean-mcmeekin
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