Communist and Post Commie Countries Over past century advanced industrialized democracies have become $$$$ and powerful. Criticized-- economic inequality Big divide between them and rest of the world Value freedom at the expense of equality Communists base their government on belief that equality is more important than freedom

Marxism Society passes through evolutionary stages Ruling class exploits workers. Keeps them in line State=govt. institutions to keep you in line Ruling class=bourgeoisie, workers=proletariat 1. Religion=false hopes “Religion is the opiate of the masses” 2. Workers rebel “War is inevitable” 3. Peaceful organized society where everyone lives by “From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs”

Marxism-Leninism Russia was first society to base political system on Marx Marx taught revolution would come from workers, Lenin “vanguard of the revolution” a group of leaders who could provoke the revolution in non-capitalist Russia Democratic Centralism-”vanguard”

The Crisis of Communism Pros~ of the Party State Within 12 years, the U.S.S.R. was powerful Everyone had jobs Free education Free medical and accident insurance Housing Nostalgia factor…

Mixed results New communist parties speak to the “losers” Bloody wars Poverty New govts. just as repressive. Mixed results Join EU Higher standards of living NATO

Stinkin’ Commies USSR- 1922-92 communism via civil war Mongolia-became commie btwn. WWI and WWII Iron Curtain-Soviet Satellite countries (Eastern Europe) 1945 Yugoslavia and Albania—commie after WWII Korea after WWII China-civil war (1949) Indochina-1954 (all of Vietnam 1975) Cuba -1959

Socialism-Advocate social, political, and economic equality Capitalism and private ownership of the means of production (major industries) are flawed. Unacceptable levels of inequality Equality of opportunity and outcome Extend democracy from elections to include all decisions that shape lives…workplace Public ownership leads to improvement in human relations in general

Socialism Achieved via… Liberal Democracies-socialism achieved via elections. Revolutions: significant political and economic progress can occur only through revolution