The World of the Slavs

Out of Print

In the four years that have elapsed since the appearance of the first edition of Le Mand Slav much has happened in the Slav World to warrant a new survey of the whole problem.

The author show's how, during the nineteenth century, Russia which has always been looked upon as a Slav nation, appears to be the protector of the Slavs preaching pan-Slavism. He traces how, after the First World War, a reaction against Russian influence set in. This reaction was accompanied by the resurgence of nationalism in the various Slav countries, and Slavism menaced the peace of Europe.

During the Second World War the Soviet Union was largely responsible for the liberation of the Slav countries from Nazi hegemony, and this work explains how the Soviet Union assumes a supreme role in East European politics with the Slav nations revolving round the Soviet epicentre.

Finally the author examines the significance of Titoism which he regards as a manifestation of the old Slav individualism in revolt against imperialist hegemony.

The main theme of the book is that 'Pan-slavism is a pre-war legend. It became a national reality in international life during the Second World War to give way, in the new organisa¬tion of Eastern Europe, to Marxist solidarity.