Lex Fridman Podcast #444 – Vejas Liulevicius: Communism, Marxism, Nazism, Stalin, Mao, and Hitler
Vejas Liulevicius, a historian specializing in Germany and Eastern Europe, dives deep into the ideologies of Marxism, Communism, and Nazism. He discusses the complexities of Marx's theories and the tragic realities of Stalin and Mao’s regimes, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of collectivization in the Soviet Union. Liulevicius also explores the intersections of fascism and socialism, and how these ideologies influenced global conflicts and revolutions. His insights reflect on the enduring legacies of these figures in our world today.
03:37:43
Marx's Contradictory Ideas
- Marx argued history has a purpose and moves in a predetermined direction.
- He also believed individuals could accelerate this historical progress.
Marx's View of History
- Marx, influenced by Hegel, believed history progresses through class struggles.
- He adapted Hegel's dialectic, focusing on material conditions instead of ideas.
Class Struggle as the Engine of History
- Marx saw class struggle as the engine of history, encompassing all social conflicts.
- He outlined historical stages, culminating in a final revolution led by the proletariat.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Sponsorship Highlights: Mental Health, Productivity, Hydration, and Sleep Innovation
04:29 • 4min
Marx's Duality: History and Heroism
08:28 • 5min
From Capitalism to Communism: The Marxist Journey
13:01 • 29min
Revolutions, Religion, and Radical Ideals
42:29 • 12min
Interplay of Economics and Politics in Marxist Theory
54:48 • 6min
The Rise of Communism: Ideals and Realities
01:00:29 • 20min
Power Struggles in Early Soviet Leadership
01:20:24 • 17min
The Catastrophe of Collectivization
01:37:22 • 27min
Unpacking Fascism and Socialism: The Nazi Ideology
02:04:17 • 26min
Communism and the Legacies of Mao
02:30:27 • 22min
Engaging with Communist Nations: A Realistic Approach
02:52:56 • 6min
The Evolution of Communism in North America
02:58:34 • 18min
Leaders and Their Legacies
03:16:17 • 9min
The Impact of Literature and Film on Personal Growth
03:24:56 • 3min
The Importance of Reading for Young Minds
03:28:00 • 3min
Exploring the Journey of Literature: From Books to Audiobooks
03:30:38 • 2min
AI as a Reading Companion: Hope and Resilience in Human Nature
03:32:36 • 5min
#272
• Mentioned in 52 episodes
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thomas Common
The book details Zarathustra's descent from his mountain solitude to share his transformative ideas about humanity and existence.
Nietzsche explores themes such as the rejection of traditional moral values, individualism, and the concept of the Overman.
Zarathustra's interactions with various characters reveal his struggle to articulate his vision and confront prevailing societal values.
The book also delves into the existential test of the eternal recurrence of the same and the importance of self-overcoming and personal transformation.
#99
• Mentioned in 104 episodes
The Brothers Karamazov
Larissa Volokhonsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Richard Pevear
Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov.
The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason.
It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty.
The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.
#199
• Mentioned in 64 episodes
The Communist Manifesto
Friedrich Engels
Karl Marx
#351
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
Das Kapital
Karl Marx
#127
• Mentioned in 93 episodes
Mein Kampf
Adolf Hitler
Mein Kampf, written by Adolf Hitler while he was imprisoned following the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, is a two-volume work that combines autobiography and political treatise.
The book details Hitler's early life, his experiences during World War I, and his increasing antisemitism and militarism.
It outlines his vision for Germany, including the need for Lebensraum (living space) in Eastern Europe, and his racist and anti-Semitic views.
The work became the central text of National Socialism and a blueprint for Hitler's policies, including aggressive foreign policy and the persecution of Jews and other minority groups.
#1429
• Mentioned in 16 episodes
What Is to Be Done?
Michael R. Katz
William G. Wagner
Nikolai Chernyshevsky
Written in 1863 by Nikolai Chernyshevsky, 'What Is to Be Done?
' is a novel that had a significant influence on Russian revolutionary thought.
The story follows Viéra Pavlovna, a young woman who seeks economic independence and starts a cooperative workshop for seamstresses.
The novel promotes the creation of small socialist cooperatives, advocates for women's rights, and critiques the patriarchal and authoritarian structures of Russian society.
It was written in response to Ivan Turgenev's 'Fathers and Sons' and played a central role in polarizing the Russian intelligentsia between radical and liberal reformers.
The novel's impact was so profound that it contributed to the conflicts leading up to the Russian Revolution.
#2130
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
Witness
Whittaker Chambers
Published in 1952, 'Witness' is a memoir that recounts Chambers' journey from being a dedicated Marxist-communist in the 1920s to his work as a courier in the Soviet underground during the 1930s.
The book also details his defection from communism, his spiritual conversion to Christianity, and his pivotal role in the Alger Hiss trials.
It is both a personal history and a philosophical treatise, offering insights into the dangers of communism and the importance of spiritual values in politics.
The book was widely acclaimed and is considered one of the most significant American autobiographies of the 20th century.
#5736
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The age of extremes
a history of the world, 1914-1991
Eric Hobsbawm
#95
• Mentioned in 107 episodes
The Gulag Archipelago
An Experiment in Literary Investigation
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
The Gulag Archipelago is a three-volume series written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, exploring the Soviet labour camp system through a mix of historical narrative, personal accounts, and literary investigation.
The book traces the history of the Gulag from Vladimir Lenin's decrees to the era of Nikita Khrushchev, detailing the arrest, conviction, transport, and imprisonment of prisoners.
It includes Solzhenitsyn's own experiences as a Gulag prisoner and accounts from other inmates, highlighting the brutal conditions, forced labor, and the psychological and physical suffering of the prisoners.
The work is a testament to the human spirit's struggle against evil and serves as a comprehensive critique of the Soviet regime's use of terror against its population.
#7013
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Doctor Zhivago
Boris Pasternak
The novel tells the story of Yuri Zhivago, a medical student who becomes a medical officer in the Russian army during World War I and the Russian Civil War. It explores his love for two women, Tonya and Lara, and his struggles with the tumultuous events of early 20th-century Russia.
The book is a sweeping narrative that delves into themes of love, grief, longing, and loss, set against the historical backdrop of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath.
Pasternak's work is notable for its critical stance on the October Revolution and the Soviet regime, which led to its initial rejection for publication in the USSR.
#16122
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Whisperers
Private Life in Stalin's Russia
Orlando Figes
The Whisperers is a comprehensive account of everyday private life in the Soviet Union during the Stalin era.
The book delves into how Soviet people lived, thought, and felt under the oppressive regime, using extensive interviews, letters, diaries, and other personal archives.
It examines the moral maze of Soviet society, where minor actions could lead to severe consequences, and how the system influenced family relationships, communication, and personal values.
Figes also explores the role of informers and the pervasive atmosphere of fear and surveillance that characterized life under Stalin.
#244
• Mentioned in 55 episodes
On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
Published on November 24, 1859, 'On the Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin is a seminal work in scientific literature.
The book presents a comprehensive theory of evolution, arguing that species evolve over generations through the process of natural selection.
Darwin supported his theory with evidence collected during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, as well as from subsequent research, correspondence, and experimentation.
The book addresses the struggle for existence, the variability of species, and the principle of divergence, explaining how natural selection leads to the adaptation and diversification of life on Earth.
It has been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology and has had significant impacts on both scientific and public discourse.
#231
• Mentioned in 57 episodes
The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli
Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers.
Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals.
The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess.
Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points.
The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues.
'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
#5464
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Y the Last Man
Pia Guerra
Brian K. Vaughan
The series follows Yorick Brown and his monkey Ampersand as they navigate a world where all male mammals have died.
Yorick's mother, a U.S.
Representative, commissions Agent 355 to protect Yorick as they travel to meet Dr. Allison Mann, a geneticist working to discover why Yorick survived and how to save humanity.
The story explores themes of survival, identity, and the future of humanity in a world without men.
#645
• Mentioned in 28 episodes
The Origins of Totalitarianism
Hannah Arendt
In this seminal work, Hannah Arendt explores the historical and philosophical roots of totalitarianism.
The book is structured into three essays: 'Antisemitism', 'Imperialism', and 'Totalitarianism'.
Arendt examines the rise of anti-Semitism in 19th-century Europe, the role of European colonial imperialism, and the emergence of totalitarian movements in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.
She argues that totalitarianism is a novel form of government that differs from other forms of political oppression by its use of terror to subjugate mass populations and its aim for global domination.
The book also delves into the mechanics of totalitarian movements, including the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror to maintain control.
#1290
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
Stalin
The Court of the Red Tsar
Simon Sebag Montefiore
This biography transforms our understanding of Stalin as Soviet dictator, Marxist leader, and Russian tsar.
Based on groundbreaking research, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals the daily life, family relationships, and the brutal cruelty of Stalin's secret world.
The book is praised for its elegant prose, rich detail, and the author's ability to humanize Stalin while highlighting his brutal and chilling nature.
It is a masterful and terrifying account that has become a classic of modern history writing.
#12924
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The doctrine of fascism
Benito Mussolini
#47590
Currents of Marxism
Eric Hobsbawm
#27310
German Myth of the East
Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
#12851
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The new science of politics
Eric Voegelin
In 'The New Science of Politics,' Eric Voegelin critiques the positivist approach to political science, arguing that it fails to address existential questions and moral values.
He advocates for a return to a more holistic understanding of human nature and society, drawing on classical philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.
The book is a seminal work in political theory, offering insights into the historical roots of modern political thought and the need for a more comprehensive political science.
#59503
What Is Fascism
Richard Robinson
Giovanni Gentile
#40221
Generalplan Ost
Nazi Plan for Eastern Europe
Nazi Regime
Generalplan Ost was a comprehensive plan by the Nazi regime to colonize and Germanize Eastern Europe, involving the genocide and ethnic cleansing of millions of Slavs, Jews, and other groups.
The plan was part of the broader Lebensraum policy and was only partially implemented during the war.
#15839
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Deptford Trilogy
Robertson Davies
Vejas Liulevicius is a historian specializing in Germany and Eastern Europe, who has lectured extensively on Marxism and the rise, the reign, and the fall of Communism.
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Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/vejas-liulevicius-transcript
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EPISODE LINKS:
Vejas’s Courses: https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/vejas-gabriel-liulevicius
Vejas’s Books: https://amzn.to/4e3R1rz
Vejas’s Audible: https://adbl.co/4esRrHt
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OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:48) – Marxism
(36:33) – Anarchism
(51:30) – The Communist Manifesto
(1:00:29) – Communism in the Soviet Union
(1:20:23) – Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin
(1:30:11) – Stalin
(1:37:26) – Holodomor
(1:51:16) – The Great Terror
(2:04:17) – Totalitarianism
(2:15:19) – Response to Darryl Cooper
(2:30:27) – Nazis vs Communists in Germany
(2:36:50) – Mao
(2:41:57) – Great Leap Forward
(2:48:58) – China after Mao
(2:54:30) – North Korea
(2:58:34) – Communism in US
(3:06:04) – Russia after Soviet Union
(3:17:35) – Advice for Lex
(3:25:17) – Book recommendations
(3:28:16) – Advice for young people
(3:35:08) – Hope
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