The politics of popular initiative : the radical right in interwar Estonia
The thesis examines the development of the Estonian Veterans' League and its profound impact on Estonian political life during the 1930s, which resulted in the demise of liberal democracy and the emergence of authoritarianism. Founded in 1929 as an association of veterans of the War of Independence (1918â20), the League became increasingly involved in politics during the economic depression of the early 1930s. It attacked corruption, Marxism, and the weakness of parliamentary democracy and advocated the establishment of a strong executive and an integrated national community. Through the means of popular initiative the Veterans were able to present their constitutional amendment proposal introducing a powerful presidency and reducing the authority of the parliament. The result of the referendum on the Veterans' constitutional amendment in 1933 was a landslide victory and the League appeared set to triumph in elections, but was thwarted by acting president Konstantin Pats' imposition of martial law in 1934. Though Pats claimed to have acted to save democracy from the threat posed by the radical right, his authoritarian regime appropriated many of the more popular ideas of the Veterans. The League continued
Kasekamp, Andres
Estonian Veterans' League; Authoritarianism
The politics of popular initiative : the radical right in interwar Estonia. The thesis examines the development of the Estonian Veterans' League and its profound impact on Estonian political life during the 1930s, which resulted in the demise of liberal democracy and the emergence of authoritarianism. Founded in 1929 as an association of veterans of the War of Independence (1918â20), the League became increasingly involved in politics during the economic depression of the early 1930s. It attacked corruption, Marxism, and the weakness of parliamentary democracy and advocated the establishment of a strong executive and an integrated national community. Through the means of popular initiative the Veterans were able to present their constitutional amendment proposal introducing a powerful presidency and reducing the authority of the parliament. The result of the referendum on the Veterans' constitutional amendment in 1933 was a landslide victory and the League appeared set to triumph in elections, but was thwarted by acting president Konstantin Pats' imposition of martial law in 1934. Though Pats claimed to have acted to save democracy from the threat posed by the radical right, his authoritarian regime appropriated many of the more popular ideas of the Veterans. The League continued
politics popular initiative radical right interwar examines_development estonian league profound_impact estonian political_life result demise liberal_democracy emergence founded association veteran war_independence league become_increasingly involve politics economic_depression attack corruption marxism weakness parliamentary democracy advocate establishment strong executive integrate national community mean popular initiative able present constitutional amendment proposal introduce powerful presidency reduce authority parliament constitutional amendment landslide victory league appear set triumph election act president imposition martial law though claim act save democracy threat_pose radical right authoritarian regime appropriate many popular idea league continue