Untitled Flashcards Set

Bolsheviks

A faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, that seized power during the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia.

Bourgeoisie

In Marxist theory, the class of capitalists who own the means of production, contrasted with the proletariat.

(the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production)

Command economy

An economic system where the government makes all decisions regarding production and distribution.

Communism

A political ideology advocating for a classless society with collectively owned means of production.

advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. It seeks to eliminate private ownership and promote equality among citizens.

Cult of personality

A phenomenon where a leader uses propaganda to create an idealized image of themselves.

Cultural Revolution

a set of activities carried out in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union, aimed at a radical restructuring of the cultural and ideological life of society. The goal was to form a new type of culture as part of the building of a socialist society.

De-Stalinization

The process of reducing the influence and legacy of Joseph Stalin after his death.

Glasnost

A policy of openness introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev allowing more freedom of speech and press.

Nomenklatura

A system where the government appoints loyal individuals to key positions of power.

Perestroika

A series of political and economic reforms aimed at restructuring the Soviet Union's political system.

Proletariat

The working class in Marxist theory that must sell their labor to survive.

Politburo

The executive committee of the Communist Party with significant power and decision-making authority.

Secretariat

The administrative body responsible for managing the daily affairs of the Communist Party.

Shock therapy

Rapid economic reforms implemented in post-Soviet countries involving privatization and market liberalization.

Socialism

A political system where the means of production are owned or regulated by the community.

Totalitarianism

A form of government where the state holds absolute power over public and private life.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist states in Eastern Europe formed in 1955.

Five-year plan

Centralized economic plans setting specific production goals for five-year periods. The plan called for the country's real national income to double in five years and investment to treble, while consumption per head was to rise by two-thirds and was a key feature of the Soviet economic strategy to rapidly industrialize and improve living standards.

Oligarchs

Wealthy individuals who gained control over major industries during the transition from communism.

Duma

The lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia responsible for legislative authority.

Has more power

approves prime minsister

call for a vote of no confidence

only 2/3 needed to impeach president

Economic Reforms

Reforms characterized by privatization and deregulation leading to significant social and economic upheaval.