Objective: Students will review the basic ideas of Communism, Socialism and the Market Economy how these ideas are found in world economic systems.

Socialism and Communism What’s so bad about a little help from the government? What are the extremes?

Do we lose choice when the government controls the economy? xVJVQhttp:// xVJVQ Wendy’s, an American “free market” business, finds communism lacking choices:

Communism A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

Socialism brings less government control… “An ideology arguing that citizens are best served by policies focused on meeting the basic needs of the entire society rather than on serving the needs of individuals as individuals.”

These systems can be shown on a “Spectrum”- it’s a matter of degree

So, where did this all start? In 1917, the Russian Bolsheviks under Lenin led a revolution to take over Russia in the name of the Workers. They formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics- the U.S.S.R.

Their inspiration was a political theorist named Karl Marx who predicted that the Capitalist free market system could not survive because of inequities.

After the of the Soviet Union, other creation countries began to become communist

Where do we find Communist countries? Cuba: Cuba is one of the most Socialist nations, as it has a mostly state-run economy, universal healthcare, government-paid education at all levels, and a number of of social programs. It does not have a stock exchange. North Korea: The same is true of North Korea, which has an almost entirely state-run economy, as well as the same social programs mentioned for Cuba. Like Cuba, North Korea does not have a stock exchange. Venezuela: Economy has more private ownership, but the government social programs are quite extensive and the foreign policy is very left-wing. Cuban doctors and teachers have been brought to Venezuela to provide some medical and educational services. China: A substantial part of the economy is still state-run, although there are not as many social programs as there once were and universal healthcare has been eliminated. Still has a Socialist-type foreign policy, for the most part. Vietnam: A significant part of the economy is state-run. Close ties with Cuba, Venezuela, and Belarus. Syria: Although not commonly referred to as Socialist in the West, Syria has a mostly state-run economy and universal healthcare, along with a left-wing foreign policy. Belarus: Much of the Belarussian economy is state-run and some govt. social programs are available. Belarus has close ties with Venezuela, China, and other Socialist countries. Sweden: Mostly private industry, but many well-funded govt. social programs are offered. Universal healthcare and government-provided education at all levels is made available. Laos: A large part of the economy is state-run, and the government has close ties with most other Socialist countries. Zambia: Some elements of the economy are state-run, including most of the media. Universal healthcare and primary education are available. Zambia has a left-wing foreign policy and is friendly with China and North Korea. Turkmenistan: Mostly state-run economy, various free and subsidized services are provided by the government. Housing and transportation are subsidized, natural gas and electricity are provided to citizens free of charge. Other countries which might be considered Socialist, depending upon the interpretation of different factors, include Norway, Libya, Algeria, and Namibia.