E-Book Overview
Economic historians have perennially addressed the intriguing question of comparative development, asking why some countries develop much faster and further than others. Focusing primarily on Europe between 1914 and 1939, this present volume explores the development of thirteen countries that could be said to be categorised as economically backward during this period: Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Yugoslavia. These countries are linked, not only in being geographically on Europe's periphery, but all shared high agrarian components and income levels much lower than those enjoyed in western European countries. The study shows that by 1918 many of these countries had structural characteristics which either relegated them to a low level of development or reflected their economic backwardness, characteristics that were not helped by the hostile economic climate of the interwar period. It explores, region by region, how their progress was checked by war and depression, and how the effects of political and social factors could also be a major impediment to sustained progress and modernisation. For example, in many cases political corruption and instability, deficient administrations, ethnic and religious diversity, agrarian structures and backwardness, population pressures, as well as international friction, were retarding factors. In all this study offers a fascinating insight into many areas of Europe that are often ignored by economists and historians. It demonstrates that these countries were by no means a lost cause, and that their post-war performances show the latent economic potential that most harboured. By providing an insight into the development of Europe's 'periphery' a much more rounded and complete picture of the continent as a whole is achieved.
E-Book Content
Europe’s Third World
Modern Economic and Social History Series General Editor: Derek H. Aldcroft
Titles in the series include: Railways in Britain and the United States, 1830–1940 Studies in Economic and Business History Geoffrey Channon Exchange Rates and Economic Policy in the 20th Century Edited by Ross E. Catterall and Derek H. Aldcroft Trade Unions and the Economy: 1870–2000 Derek H. Aldcroft and Michael J. Oliver Spain A Modern European Economy Joseph Harrison and David Corkill Britain and the Economic Problem of the Cold War The Political Economy and the Economic Impact of the British Defence Effort, 1945–1955 Till Geiger Industrial Reorganization and Government Policy in Interwar Britain Julian Greaves Merchants and Migrations Germans and Americans in Connection, 1776–1835 Sam A. Mustafa Industrial Clusters and Regional Business Networks in England, 1750–1970 Edited by John F. Wilson and Andrew Popp
Europe’s Third World The European Periphery in the Interwar Years
DEREK H. ALDCROFT University of Leicester
© Derek H. Aldcroft, 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Derek H. Aldcroft has asserted his moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. Published by Ashgate Publishing Limited Gower House Croft Road Aldershot Hants GU11 3HR England
Ashgate Publishing Company Suite 420 101 Cherry Street Burlington Vermont, 05401–4405 USA
Ashgate website: http://www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Aldcroft, Derek Howard Europe’s Third World: The European Periphery in the Interwar Years – (Modern Economic and Social History). 1. Europe – History – 20th century. 2. Europe – Economic conditions – 20th century. 3. Europe – Social cond