Western Continental Europe
| Published date | 01 July 1955 |
| Author | Franklin D. Scott |
| DOI | 10.1177/000271625530000168 |
| Date | 01 July 1955 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
170
180)
do
not
directly
provide
something
better
than
a
guess.
P.
J.
D.
WILES
Oxford
University
England
HENRYK
PASZKIEWICZ.
The
Origin
of
Rus-
sia.
Pp.
xii,
556.
New
York:
Philo-
sophical
Library,
1954.
$10.00.
This
impressive
study
covers
the
period
of
the
ninth
through
the
fourteenth
cen-
tury
of
Eastern
Europe.
It
is
an
im-
portant
era
during
which
the
destiny
of
Russian
statehood
was
shaped.
The
entire
work
consists
of
four
parts,
beginning
with
a
discussion
of
the
term
&dquo;Rus&dquo;
and
of
Eastern
Slavdom,
ending
with
the
ascend-
ancy
of
Moscow.
It
is
followed by
a
most
extensive
bibliographical
list-forty-nine
pages
of
neatly
packed
references-and
should
be
invaluable
to
the
student
of
history
laboring
in
this
field.
Two
maps,
five
genealogical
tables,
and
a
most
ex-
tensive
index
enhance
the
value
of
this
work
further.
The
entire
book
is
carefully
and
profusely
supported
by
lengthy
quota-
tions
and
references
to
numerous
and
vari-
ous
sources.
The
subject
of
Russia’s
origin
has
long
been
a
controversial
one.
It
has
been
dis-
cussed
at
great
length
on
many
occasions
by
various
scholars.
Professor
Paszkiewicz
approaches
the
subject
from
a
different
angle-the
ethical
aspects
and
the
prevail-
ing
form
of
political
life.
The
dawn
of
Slavdom
centered
within
the
region
of
two
great
rivers,
the
Volga
and
the
Dnieper.
The
ethnic
groups
that
came
to
play a
decisive
part
in
this
early
period
of
history
vary:
the
Scandinavians,
the
Finnish
tribes
mingled
with
the
Byzantines,
Tartar,
and
Slavic
peoples.
All of
them
leave
signifi-
cant
imprints
upon
the
later
course
of
Rus-
sian
national
development.
The
author’s
sources
are
the
twelfth
century
Nestor
Chronicle,
the
Tale
of
the
Raid
of
Igor
(Provest
vremennykh
let),
and
many
others.
The
main
thesis
of
Professor
Paszkiewicz
undoubtedly
will
be
challenged
by
many
scholars
who
hold
other
views.
The
link
between
ascending
Moscow
and
&dquo;Asia&dquo;
is
a
thesis
that
is
never
tired
of
and
is
par-
ticularly
common
among
Polish
writers.
It
emerges
perennially
and
is
especially
prone
to
crop
up
in
time
of
strenuous
relations
between
the
two
neighboring
states,
Poland
and
Russia.
What
is
further
interesting
to
note
is
this :
the
Soviet
historian,
M.
Pokrovsky,
has
never
been
held
in
too
high
esteem
by
historians
of
the
Paszkiewicz
school.
When,
however,
Pokrovsky’s
writ-
ings
seem
to
support
their
thesis
of
the
Muscovite
state
as a
&dquo;prison
of
nations&dquo;
Pokrovsky
is
faithfully
quoted.
Academic
freedom
is
a
precious
pos-
session
and
the
right
of
every
writer
to
be
his
own
historian
is
characteristic
of
demo-
cratic
society.
If,
however,
some
of
the
highly
hypothetic
theories
assume
the
form
of
political
dogmas
that
might
seriously
affect
world
policies,
it
is
necessary
to
call
for
alertness.
Highly
hypothetical
theories
can
quite
easily
turn
into
false
instruments
of
national
policy
with
sorrowful
conse-
quences
for
all
concerned.
ANATOLE
G.
MAZOUR
Stanford
University
WESTERN
CONTINENTAL
EUROPE
RAYMOND
FUSILIER.
Le
Parti
Socialiste
Suédois:
Son
organisation.
Pp.
372.
Paris:
Les
Éditions
Ouvrières,
1954.
900
fr.
The
choice
lies
between
a
modus
vivendi
reached
by
toleration
and
compromise
in
a
free
society
or
authoritarian
suppression
of
all
views
but
one.
In
Sweden
both
princi-
ple
and
the
even
balance
of
forces
prevent
the
authoritarian
solution.
The
Swedes
are
inclined
to
be
practical
rather
than
doctrinaire,
whether
they
are
socialist,
liberal,
or
conservative.
Their
ability
to
live
with
divergences
and
to
make
progress
through
co-operation
is
a
phenomenon
that
perhaps
appeals
especially
to
a
Frenchman.
Dr.
Fusilier
has
produced
a
lucid
and
thorough
analysis
of
one
of
Europe’s
most
effective
political
parties.
The
work
is
descriptive
and
comparative
and
deals
pri-
marily
with
the
organization
of
the
party;
it
is
not
a
study
of
causation
or
of
issues.
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