Political Challenges in Interwar Eastern Europe

The successor states of Eastern Europe faced significant political problems in the 1920s due to a variety of factors. One major issue was the lack of a history of democratic structure or republican government in these newly defined geographic regions. These nations were not accustomed to deciding their own fate and had previously been governed by external powers. As a result, the transition to democracy was challenging and led to many problems.

Another factor that contributed to the political problems in Eastern Europe was the absence of a traditional ruling group. The politicians in these countries had previously received orders from dominant governments and were not experienced in democratic deliberation and governance. This lack of experience and indecision on various issues resulted in chaos and inaction within many Eastern governments.

Ethnic divisions also played a significant role in the political problems faced by the successor states. Woodrow Wilson's vision of self-determination led to the redrawing of frontiers in Eastern Europe, allowing different ethnic groups to rule themselves. While this was achieved to some extent, it also brought about further complications. The peacemakers attempted to protect minorities by including clauses in treaties that required fair treatment. However, the exclusion of self-determination for the Germans and the forced inclusion of German minorities in Poland and Lithuania, as well as the incorporation of the German Sudetenland into Czechoslovakia, created tensions. Similar conflicts arose in other countries, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia, where enclaves of minority races existed.

Economic difficulties also posed challenges to stable government in Eastern Europe. The aftermath of World War I left many of these nations in a state of economic turmoil, making it difficult to establish and maintain stable governance.

Hungary experienced a great deal of instability during the inter-war years. After a period of chaos, it ultimately decided on a monarchy, effectively becoming a dictatorship run by the landed aristocracy.

In contrast, Czechoslovakia proved to be the only nation in Eastern Europe that was able to function reasonably well as a democracy during the inter-war period.

In conclusion, the successor states of Eastern Europe faced political problems in the 1920s due to the lack of democratic history, the absence of a traditional ruling group, ethnic divisions, economic difficulties, and internal conflicts stemming from new self-determination. These challenges hindered the establishment of stable and effective governance in the region.