John Maynard Keynes' 1919 Book Essay

" (Peaple 172)

Population was especially important in destabilizing the European economic system, as the positive environment across the continent made it possible for the population of countries like Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Russia to reach impressive numbers while also promoting values that made the rich richer and increased poverty rates. A rapidly increasing number of individuals meant that particular opinions would become more common and that more individuals were determined to reach goals that were previously believed to be negative for society as a whole.

Organization was key in Europe during the early twentieth century, taking into account that European countries were interdependent previous to the First World War. Germany, for example, was responsible for collaborating with most European countries and with both supplying them with products and buying products from them. "Germany was the best customer of Russia, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. […] She was the largest source of supply to Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Roumania, and Bulgaria." (Keynes 7) The fact that Europe became involved in the First World War thus led to the continent experiencing serious economic problems, taking into account that most countries were no longer able to sustain their demand and supply.

The European Psychology of Society promoted the idea that it was in the continent's best interest to make sure that it gathered as much capital as it possibly could. However, the fact that most of this respective capital was in the hands of rich people who were reluctant to spend it meant that money stayed in the same place as poor individuals struggled to survive.

The Relation of the Old World to the New was also a significant reason for economic destabilization across Europe during the early twentieth century.By 1914 Europe had started to depend on resources from the New World and the fact that it gradually came to have access to lesser and lesser resources from the West meant that it would have to focus on employing self-sufficient attitudes. This was particularly hard in an environment torn by war and where countries were determined to focus on their personal interests rather than to help each-other.

Lenin's opinion on Keynes' principles

I believe that V.I. Lenin would disagree with regard to how population represented a reason for economic destabilization across Europe. The fact that his ideology promoted the power of the many actually supported the idea that an increased number of individuals was more likely to cause stability. The Russians experienced a long period of stability precisely because their large numbers succeeded to achieve victory in the face of traditional powers.

Another thing that Lenin would disagree to would be related to organization as a means to achieve stability. The Russian leader promoted the idea of organization and actually built the Soviet system around it with the purpose of having people acknowledge the positive effect associated with restructuring their lives in order to introduce discipline.

The fact that Lenin had a whole different understanding of the economic system when compared to Keynes means that even though some of the economist's principles are in accordance to the Russian leader's, the reality is that Lenin himself was likely to be more supportive of a destabilized European economy with the purpose of having Bolshevik ideas seem more appealing.

Works cited:

Berend, Tibor Ivan, and Berend, Ivan, "An Economic History of Nineteenth-Century Europe: Diversity and Industrialization," (Cambridge University Press, 15.11.2012)

Keynes, John Maynard, "The….....