CommunismCommunism““Putin thinks that democracy stands in his way” (Gorbachev)Putin thinks that democracy stands in his way” (Gorbachev)

Communism Fascism

Method of Gaining Power Violent revolution Abuse of the electoral system and terror

Method of Rule Single-party Dictatorship Single-party Dictatorship

Source of Beliefs Writings of Marx, Lenin, Mao Writings of Mussolini, Rocco, Sorel

Goals Triumph of the working classes, world revolution, the overthrow of capitalism

National greatness, constant expansion

Economy State controlled, no private property, favors proletariat, emphasis on equality

State regulation of private enterprise, favors capitalists, natural inequalities

Appeal Working class, peasants, intelligentsia

Lower middle class, some upper class and clergy

Scope A worldwide movement, opposed to nationalism

A series of national movements, stresses nationalism

Belief in Reason Humans are basically rational Humans are basically irrational

Political CharacteristicsPolitical Characteristics(communism is both an economic theory (communism is both an economic theory

and a political system) and a political system)• Government actions for the benefit of allGovernment actions for the benefit of all• Theoretically democraticTheoretically democratic

• Equal rights – Bill of Rights (many freedoms and Equal rights – Bill of Rights (many freedoms and rights guaranteed but not enforced)rights guaranteed but not enforced)

• Periodic elections (high turnout, but often only 1 Periodic elections (high turnout, but often only 1 candidate – one party state)candidate – one party state)

• Control of media and educationControl of media and education• Need to educate (indoctrinate) the masses to Need to educate (indoctrinate) the masses to

appreciate the values of communismappreciate the values of communism

Conditions in Russia leading to the Conditions in Russia leading to the Bolshevik revolution Bolshevik revolution

• Part of Europe but not industrializing at same pacePart of Europe but not industrializing at same pace

• Awareness of Enlightenment idealsAwareness of Enlightenment ideals

• Dissatisfaction with limited reforms made by Tzar Dissatisfaction with limited reforms made by Tzar (economic reforms outpaced the political reforms)(economic reforms outpaced the political reforms)

• Why?Why?

• Civil rights, universal suffrage and elected Duma all Civil rights, universal suffrage and elected Duma all introduced in 1905, but were suppressedintroduced in 1905, but were suppressed

• Losing the battles of World War OneLosing the battles of World War One

JustificationJustification• Based on established theories of Marx – Based on established theories of Marx –

communist system creates a society that communist system creates a society that encourages creativity and self-awareness encourages creativity and self-awareness (because you are not worried about (because you are not worried about mundane things)mundane things)

• Democracy is based on the idea that all Democracy is based on the idea that all people are equal, not freedom.people are equal, not freedom.

• Rapid industrialization proved the Rapid industrialization proved the superiority of the system superiority of the system • avoidance of Great Depressionavoidance of Great Depression• Ability to defeat the NazisAbility to defeat the Nazis

Bolshevik Rise to powerBolshevik Rise to power• Two revolutions – one to overthrow the Tzar, next Two revolutions – one to overthrow the Tzar, next

to establish Bolshevik ruleto establish Bolshevik rule

• Bolsheviks gained support of peasants and soldiers Bolsheviks gained support of peasants and soldiers through Lenin – “peace, land, bread”through Lenin – “peace, land, bread”

• How does this differ from the group Marx expected to How does this differ from the group Marx expected to revolt?revolt?

• 5 year civil war5 year civil war

• War Communism: swift transfer to communist system War Communism: swift transfer to communist system (to support civil war efforts)(to support civil war efforts)

• NEP – Lenin sees the dramatic transformation is not NEP – Lenin sees the dramatic transformation is not working, returns to minor forms of capitalism (eg. working, returns to minor forms of capitalism (eg. farmers selling extra produce)farmers selling extra produce)

Politics In USSRPolitics In USSR• Only one party – CPSUOnly one party – CPSU

• At elections, voters handed ballot with the At elections, voters handed ballot with the approved candidates name already filled inapproved candidates name already filled in• If you wanted to vote for someone else, you If you wanted to vote for someone else, you

had to scratch out the name and write had to scratch out the name and write another: with fellow employees, leaders and another: with fellow employees, leaders and government officials watching you, very few government officials watching you, very few people did thispeople did this

• 6% of population members of CPSU (start 6% of population members of CPSU (start at young age)at young age)• Perks: bigger apartment, better food, special Perks: bigger apartment, better food, special

medical services, nice vacation, better medical services, nice vacation, better education for children (approx. 1% also had education for children (approx. 1% also had rights to overseas travel, foreign currency rights to overseas travel, foreign currency and personal servants)and personal servants)

Stalin’s USSRStalin’s USSR• Rejected the NEP (need to devote to the communist ideology)Rejected the NEP (need to devote to the communist ideology)

• Collectivize farms to support rapid industrializationCollectivize farms to support rapid industrialization

• Kulak revolts, reduced output, Ukrainian famineKulak revolts, reduced output, Ukrainian famine

• Elimination of opposition (early removal of opposition will Elimination of opposition (early removal of opposition will allow the socialist society to become truly communist)allow the socialist society to become truly communist)

• Great PurgeGreat Purge

• After Stalin’s death, Khrushchev denounces his tacticsAfter Stalin’s death, Khrushchev denounces his tactics

The fall of communismThe fall of communism• We will look at the collapse of the communist We will look at the collapse of the communist

political system in more detail as we study political system in more detail as we study the Cold Warthe Cold War

Stalin videoStalin video

Do the ends justify Do the ends justify the means?the means?