5.00 €
We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
From the beginning of the 19th century, the newly emerging nationalistic sentiments characteristically took the guise of some ideology (other than nationalism). People belonging to small ethnic groups felt their authentic national existence threatened by the frequent recurrence of dynastic hegemonies on the one hand, and the interests of neighbouring nations on the other. At the same time, nationalism provided fuel for courage to face the future and possibly build a more fortunate and more modern society. Nationalistic sentiments were in the beginning tied to various other ideologies but from the start of the 20th century they became ideologies in their own right. This phenomenon continued to exist in Eastern Europe after World War II, even under Soviet dominance. In my paper I examine mental factors in the region and their effects on the situation that emerged throughout the 20th century.
More...
Joseph Stalin died on 05.03.1953. The lack of legitimate mechanisms for the transfer of power caused a continuous crisis related to a heated struggle for his heritage. The fate of the country fell into the hands of the people who were Stalin's closest associates. The most powerful positions were held by G. Malenkov, L. Beria and Nikita Khrushchev. Having abundant information about the situation in the country and heading the Interior Ministry of the USSR, Beria concentrated enormous power in his hands. He, however, had no intention of fighting any of Stalin's "heirs". Beria realized that the established collective leadership, in which there was a certain system of equality, was the most favourable for the implementation of the reforms he had devised. The new documents published from the declassified archives reveal that he became actively involved in both domestic and foreign policy. Beria's reformist activity was doomed from the very beginning. His activity and unpredictability at the solution of the tasks set forth made him a deadly dangerous competition in the eyes of Malenkov, Khrushchev and the other loyal associates of Stalin. The factor that united them was the fear of the "man with the pince-nez". He knew too much about them. The practice from previous years showed them that the most convenient way in which they could dispose of the dangerous adversary was his complete discreditation before the party and the people, and his physical removal.
More...
