A global economic downturn that lasted for ten years was the dominant characteristic of the Great Depression. This situation occasioned the most severe and most prolonged economic, social, and political crisis ever experienced among different European countries. Essentially, the Great Depression sparked fundamental alterations in economic theories, macroeconomic policies, and economic institutions across Europe. Although the Great Depression began in the United States, it resulted in a drastic reduction in production, acute deflation, and severe unemployment in most countries around the globe. The crisis occasioned by the Great Depression was primarily linked to severe political and social impacts between European countries. In this respect, the rate of output from employment in countries like Poland, Austria, and Germany considerably reduced. The social and political impact of the Great Depression among European countries involved changes in lifestyles, behavior, practices, customs, and beliefs, social issues like suicides, and the establishment of authoritarian regimes, among others.
Political and Social Impact of the Great Depression among Countries in Europe
In many countries in Europe, the Great Depression had varied social consequences. It is worth noting that there were different rates of social issues like suicides among various European countries. People in these countries reacted to this particular crisis by committing a series of suicides. In this way, these cases of suicides involved people who were overwhelmed by economic losses, shame, and failure. According to Schmidt (2019), the rate of suicide rose to about 18 per 100,000 people during 1929 and was marked by a steady increase for the entire duration of the Great Depression. Such terrible deaths had adverse effects on the families of the deceased.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
More cases of suicides were experienced while additional European countries felt the reality of prolonged Great Depression. This particular global crisis also resulted in a social class separation between different countries in the continent. In countries like France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, distinct separation of social classes between the wealthy and the poor primarily evolved. The social class separations were based on different environments and the neighborhoods in which individuals and families lived ( Stuenkel, 2015). Equally, such economic situations tend to facilitate extremism and radicalization in the society coupled with deteriorating conditions of living among individuals and families.
Significant changes in the lifestyles, behavior, practices, customs, and beliefs of Europeans are a notable element of how differently the Great Depression impacted various nations in Europe. According to the description and evaluation presented by Ivanova (2016), the social effects in European states were largely characterized by poor living standards of people, lowered social activities, and ineffective relationships. In that way, European countries such as Belgium, Germany, Frances, and the United Kingdom dealt with social consequences characterized by prolonged economic downfall. The traumatic era associated with the global results of the event transformed European society in the sense that the social effects of living conditions, unemployment, health, education, quality of life, and health were adversely affected among individuals and their families.
Although national variations were noted, virtually all countries in Europe were suffered from the political and social effects of the Great Depression. Austria, Germany, and Poland were part of the worst impacted with significant rates of unemployment. Besides, there was a decline in industrial productivity by more than forty percent. Unlike in other countries such as Great Britain, levels of trade in Austria, Germany, and Poland, among others, collapsed. Unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression can lead to a social crisis that made life more difficult for those already marginalized or discriminated ( Ingram, 2019). Several challenges were experienced in fending for owing to the difficulties in affording food and other necessities. Social researchers have cited depression and mental health issues as some of the most significant social effects that impacted the European continent due to the Great Depression. The social crises that resulted from the Great Depression tended to adversely affect individuals and families to extreme limits where they increasingly became more susceptible to populism and demagogy.
The Great Depression also had different political implications among various countries in Europe in the sense that it shook the confidence of unfettered capitalism from a wide range of dimensions. In the 1930s, the Great Depression resulted in the establishment of new political alignment in countries like Germany, Austria, and Sweden. One of the outcomes of these new political alignments was the breakdown of democracy in democracy. Among different European countries, the crisis associated with the Great Depression marked the commencement of a long duration of austerity in social and economic affairs (Schmidt, 2019). Arguably, the Great Depression is linked to changes in the European political scene by occasioning a significant decline in the presence and activities conducted by social-democratic political parties among European countries.
The arguments political commentators and scholars around the globe were not explicit in articulating the failure by different European countries such as Germany, France, and Belgium to isolate their center-left parties from the financial capitalism crisis. In this respect, Pensieroso (2011) noted that election coverage in various European countries failed to give details concerning the economic crisis that was tailor-made to criticize the aspect of the free market. The political implications of this particular crisis resulted in the establishment of several anti-democratic parties before becoming largely successful in their political pursuit. Several negative consequences of the Great Depression influenced the outcome of elections across the continent. In countries like Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Romania, there was a common trend in the political scene characterized by the increased emergence of anti-democratic political parties.
It is noteworthy that the electoral behavior of the member of the public was not the same in all countries across Europe. Based on the evaluation conducted by Ingram (2019) on the nature of differences experienced by European countries due to the Great Depressed, it is arguable that most extreme-left parties in the political space were not as successful as those of the right-wing. As such, the political effects associated with the Great Depression caused the establishment of authoritarian regimes like fascists across European. Besides, totalitarianism appeared to be thriving in several parts of the European continent while the democratic space retreated. The electoral conduct and behavior displayed by people in most European countries in the post-Depression phase were considerably influenced by the dreadful political and economic situations ( Rosenberg, 2018). Being part of populist caused anti-system political parties offered to act the providers of solutions to difficult and challenging questions. For a large section of voters in most European countries, such political parties were seen as being capable of offering reliable means out of the Great Depression crisis.
A significant level of success was achieved by the extremists in counties where adverse economic conditions persisted for longer durations. Mainly, the extremists were largely successful in countries without long-standing traditions of democracy, where fewer obstacles and challenges faced the electoral system ( Lindvall, 2012). Regardless of the justification for their powers, countries like Austria, Hungary, and Germany had their democratic spaces negatively affected by the Great Depression. In this way, most people began feeling that their votes did not count or matter in determining the political future of their countries. In light of this particular view, Schmidt (2019) argues that far-right extremists were regarded as ultra-nationalists, which supported their efforts in realizing a reconsideration of the peace agreements established in 1919-20 in France. Regardless of whether there were sufficient reasons to support the justification of their actions, the idea of suffering from suppression occasioned by foreign authorities and powers made most citizens of the European countries more susceptible extremism by the right-wing.
People with nothing to lose quickly followed the political parties encouraged the destruction of economic and social systems before the establishment of new ones. The increase in the levels of political extremism experienced in countries like Germany resulted in adverse social and economic impacts. In most cases, alignments were seen involving different authoritarian regimes. However, it is worth mentioning that such arrangements were not easily achieved for purely ideological reasons. Instead, the formation of such alignments was keen on the achievement of practical geopolitical objectives ( Martin, 2017). Territorial expansionism, combined with nationalism and totalitarianism, would create a very unfavorable environment. This environment would be damaging to social and political progress and development. The collapse of most European democracies following the Great Depression eventually resulted in the failure of stable political states and structures in a way that is argued to be non-progressive some political commentators.
Researchers and researchers have extensively explored the interaction among different European countries concerning political and social upheaval. In this respect, there were fears that the increase in popularity of the far-right parties would cause political instability in most countries around Europe. Nevertheless, the rise in political extremism in most countries around Europe is mainly attributable to the Great Depression. Several far-right political parties were regarded as being quite successful just before the commencement of the Great Depression. The French National Front political party is one of the most notable examples. Golden Dawn and other political parties, in contrast to fascist, suffered considerably from political obscurity following the Great Depression crisis. The observation by Rosenberg (2018) introduces a different perspective in examining how the political and social factors caused by the depression differed among various European states. In this respect, Ingram (2019) argues that this crisis was critical in ensuring the existence of a favorable climate that supported the blossoming and growth of extremist political parties.
Although the Great Depression was a catalyst in the process of growing and developing extremist political parties in various countries across Europe, it was not successful in creating political extremism. According to Stuenkel (2015), the seeds of racism, nationalism, and were extensively planted during the period of the Great Depression. The far-right parties took advantage of the prevailing confusion to propagate the ideologies and views among members of the public while trying to win their endorsement and support. In that way, their populist message resonated with a significant number of voters who believed that they needed to be rescued from the potential harm that could be caused by the Great Depression ( Klapsis, 2014). Given the differences in the way the Great Depression socially and politically impacted European countries, politicians from mainstream political parties were also lured into joining less liberal and more conservative positions.
Political scientists and commentators argue that overcoming the Great Depression crisis has considerably assisted European countries in minimizing the influence of the aspect of political extremism. Inadequate resources made it unrealistic to run school and healthcare facilities to the extent of offering services to all those in need ( Schmidt, 2019) . An economic crisis such as the one occasioned by the Great Depression tends to alter the framework, structure, and objective of political and social debates in society. In the context of confusion and challenges caused by the Great Depression, countries within Europe experienced the emergence of strong and courageous political extremists. These extremists found it more comfortable and more convenient to address champion for the plight of the marginalized in their communities.
Conclusion
The social and political impact of the Great Depression among European countries involved changes in lifestyles, behavior, practices, customs, and beliefs, social issues like suicides, and the establishment of authoritarian regimes, among others. Overall, the different European countries were politically and socially impacted negatively by the Great Depression in varying dimensions. It is noteworthy that there were different rates of social issues lice suicides among various European countries. Unemployment and poverty during the Great Depressing can led to a social crisis that made life more difficult for those already marginalized. The Great Depression occasioned changes in the European political scene by occasioning a significant decline in the presence and activities conducted by social-democratic political parties among European countries. Several anti-democratic parties were established among various European countries before becoming largely successful in their political pursuit. The economic crisis that resulted from the Great Depression across the globe led to the alteration of the framework, structure, and objective of political and social debates in society. Notably, an increase in political extremism in most countries around Europe is attributable primarily to the Great Depression.
End Notes
Extreme economic situations are often linked to adverse social effects and radical political affiliations and leanings. 1
Separation by social classes, as well as stark contrasts between different European countries, fostered increased political resentment and tension among respective countries. 2
The society experienced considerable levels of anxieties and fears that were seen to be influencing their electoral behavior and political affiliation. 3
Great Depression resulted in the establishment of new political alignment in Europe. 4
Far-right extremists were also known as ultra-nationalists. 5
Fascism involves a form of far-right and an authoritarian ultranationalism associated with dictatorial power. 6
In some European countries, the social effects experienced due to the Great Depression played a critical role in making it difficult for most people to access and affords essential services like education and healthcare. 7
References
Ingram, N. (2019). Conan Fischer. A Vision of Europe: Franco-German Relations during the
Great Depression, 1929–1932. The American Historical Review , 124 (4), 1528-1529.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/rhz1012
Ivanova, M. (2016). The global impact of the Great Depression, 1929-1939. Choice Reviews
Online , 34 (05), 234-286. https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.34-2865
Klapsis, A. (2014). Economic Crisis and Political Extremism in Europe: From the 1930s to
the Present. European View , 13 (2), 189-198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12290-014
0315-5
Lindvall, J. (2012). The Political Consequences of the Great Depression and the Great
Recession: Remarkably Similar. Swiss Political Science Review , 18 (4), 514-517.
https://doi.org/10.1111/spsr.12007
Martin, J. (2017). A Vision of Europe: Franco-German Relations during the Great Depression,
1929–1932. German History , 35 (4), 659-661. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerhis/ghx073
Pensieroso, L. (2011). The Great Depression in Belgium from a neoclassical perspective.
Review Of Economic Dynamics , 14 (2), 389-402.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.red.2010.10.004
Rosenberg, H. (2018). Political and Social Consequences of the Great Depression of 1873
1896 in Central Europe. The Economic History Review , 13 (1/2), 5-8.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2590515
Schmidt, J. (2019). The Great Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression in the Global Context.
SSRN Electronic Journal , 8 (5), 143-149. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3482239
Stuenkel, O. (2015). The system worked: how the world stopped another Great Depression.
Global Change, Peace & Security , 27 (2), 249-251.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14781158.2015.1041485.
1 Schmidt, J. (2019). The Great Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression in the Global Context. SSRN Electronic Journal , 8 (5), 143.
2 Stuenkel, O. (2015). The system worked: how the world stopped another Great Depression.
Global Change, Peace & Security , 27 (2), 249.
3 Ivanova, M. (2016). The global impact of the Great Depression, 1929-1939. Choice Reviews
Online , 34 (05), 243.
4 Schmidt, J. (2019). The Great Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression in the Global Context. SSRN Electronic Journal , 8 (5), 145.
5 Lindvall, J. (2012). The Political Consequences of the Great Depression and the Great
Recession: Remarkably Similar. Swiss Political Science Review , 18 (4), 516.
6 Rosenberg, H. (2018). Political and Social Consequences of the Great Depression of 1873
1896 in Central Europe. The Economic History Review , 13 (1/2), 6.
7 Klapsis, A. (2014). Economic Crisis and Political Extremism in Europe: From the 1930s to
the Present. European View , 13 (2), 196.
