Citation

Palvi M. Am. J. Sociol. 1941; 46(4): 469-486.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1941, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/218694

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present analysis of dictatorship assumes that economic interests are the primary driving forces of its political mechanism. Any interpretation of contemporary Germany must take account of the fact that the German people have been convinced of the futility of continuing or restoring the economic system which collapsed in 1930-33. The inflation of the early 1920's delivered a moral blow at democracy as a form of government which shook the nation's political loyalty by undermining its reliance upon security based on "saving" and upon the "justice" of capitalistic wealth distribution. In their "despair" a large sector of the German people were willing to follow Hitler, whose essential formula was "to eliminate unemployment by public works and armaments, to restore confidence by armaments, and to foster foreign trade by armaments." Despite current beliefs regarding the militant cultural background of the German people, it is nalve to attribute to the Germans any rigid philosophy. If there is a national characteristic at all, it is the lack of ideology, continuity, and stability, combined with an ability to sublimate worldly aims into quasi-religious enthusiasm. By 1938 the Nazi economic system was threatened with alienation of the loyalty of the masses and of the army. War had to be risked to keep the system going.