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tive in countering the steadily dete–
riorating situation. There were end–
less discussions about what
"ought" to be done-but no vigor–
ous action. The weak and disorga–
nized Kerensky government proved
powerless to control the restless
forces swirling around it.
As a result, the militant Bolshe–
viks (Communists) toppled Ke–
rensky's government and seized
supreme power November 7, 1917.
Old dreams of building Russia into
a representative democracy were
dashed.
Lenin , leader of the Bolsheviks,
was named head of the first Soviet
government and ruled with a firm
hand until his death in 1924- to be
succeeded by the even more
authoritarian Josef Stalin.
But we have to go back no fur–
ther than the memories of many
readers of this magazine to find two
of the most telling examples of
political paralysis.
Look .at what occurred in post–
World War 1 Italy. Following that
conflict, Italy was plunged into a
period of growing disorder. Unem–
ployment, strikes, riots and general
History shows that
when leaders prove
inadequate, a
feeling of
hopelessness and
insecurity grips
the people.
unrest tore at the fabric of soci–
ety. Italy fell further and further
into chaos.
The government was unable to
establish arder. It proved wholly
impotent in the face of new social
conditions. Events were allowed to
move totally out of hand.
As Italians looked for a way out,
Benito Mussolini seized an oppor–
tunity. Late in October 1922, his
September 1985
blackshirted Fascist militia made
its dramatic march on the city of
Rome. The government was
brought down and Mussolini was
handed full emergency powers .
Fascism had come to Italy.
Similar events were played out
more slowly in post-World War 1
Germany.
Following Germany's defeat in
that war, a system of democratic
government- the Weimar Repub–
lic- replaced the old empire in
Germany. But Germans quickly
discovered that it is easier to write
a democratic constitution than to
make it work.
The new republic was plagued
almost from the start by a variety
of political, social and economic
concerns. As the years passed, the
problems grew. The collapse of the
stock market and the Great
Depression in the United States
shook Europe's economic fabric.
Germany was hit hardest of all.
Increasingly hard times fueled
the fires of política} pandemonium.
By 1933, more than
eight million
Germans were unemployed. Teo–
sions moved relentlessly toward the
breaking point.
The disunity of weak and
visionless political parties spelled
political paralysis and rendered a
drastic solution of the crisis inevi–
table.
The National Socialists under
Adolf Hitler-exploiting Ger–
man fear and discontent-moved
to capitalize on the impotence of
leadership. Thus was born the
"Third Reich," which would
ultimately turn German
dreams into one of the most
terrible nightmares of all his-
tory.
Power by Default
Situations such as the
above are found in abun–
dance among the chroni-
cles of the past. History is
a graveyard of civiliza–
tions, a record of
declines and
f~lls
of
empires and societies.
The lessons are clear.
A society, if it is not to
stagnate and disintegrate,
needs the continua! watchful guid–
ance of effective leaders, courageous
and reasonable meo of decisiveness
and intellectual energy who will
seize opportunities to sanely change
things for the better- lest power fall
into the hands of unreasonable men
who Iead only to ruin.
Students of history often wonder
how the barbarous dictatorial
regimes of history ever came to
power in a "civiJized" world. The
answer is simple:
Either because of imperfect sys–
.tems of government, or reasonable
men wai ting too long to solve the
problems, unreasonable men get
control
by default.
History is made
up of unscrupulous, self-seeking
men just waiting for the chance to
seize absolute power.
The experience of history shows
that when leaders prove inadequate
in the face of overwhelming social
conditions, a feeling of hopelessoess
and insecurity grips the people.
People need leadership, and a dis–
contented populace easily drifts
toward the acceptance of unconstitu–
tional methods. No other apparent
option is left. Of course, in such situ–
ations, the people-not wholly igno–
rant of history-always hope that "it
will be
different
this time," that
this
strong man will exercise "enlight:
ened" power.
It
is the triumph of
false hope over experience.
Dark Possibilities
Could this pattern be repeated in
our modern "civilized" Western
world?
Global problems today are
severely taxing the abilities of
world leaders. The potential exists
for upheavals on a scale unprece–
dented in human history. Yet the
great
urg((ncy
of our time is not
generally realized, not even by
leaders who are supposed to under–
stand such things.
Few governments today seem to
have the capacity for intelligent and
effective response to challenges and
problems. With few exceptions,
today's parliamentary Ieaders are
unremarkable individuals, whose
limi ted vision and strength of pur–
pose are further diminished by elect–
ed representatives with whom they
must work. They appear to be locked
in a paralysis of inaction, shackled by
short-term politicking, the victims of
multiple forces pushing -ill-CGflftict–
ing directions.
(Continued on page 38)
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