Notes on Communist and Post-Communist Politics

Advanced industrialized democracies have become the wealthiest and most powerful but criticized for economic inequality.
Communism arose as a response to perceived injustices in capitalist societies, emphasizing equality over freedom.
Notable communist nations: Soviet Union and People's Republic of China. Soviet Union collapsed, leading to emerging democracies.
China, Cuba, and North Korea remain under communist regimes, showcasing varied interpretations and implementations of Marxism.

Karl Marx established the foundation of communism with The Communist Manifesto (1848).
- Capitalism is viewed as exploitative, leading to a revolution by the proletariat against the bourgeoisie.
- Envisions a society without social classes or private property, promoting equality and cooperation.

V. I. Lenin adapted Marxism for the Russian context, asserting a vanguard of revolutionary leaders and establishing democratic centralism in 1917.
The Soviet model, established by Lenin, had a hierarchical party structure preventing competing ideologies.
Co-optation and nomenklatura systems dominated, leading to party members controlling societal positions and opportunities.
Despite authoritarianism, some social mobility was allowed within the party.

Mao Zedong's interpretation differed from Soviet communism, focusing on China's agrarian society and revolutionary fervor in rural communities.
Post-Mao, Deng Xiaoping introduced market-based socialism integrating capitalism, contrasting to the Soviet Union's upheaval during Gorbachev's reforms.

Communism aimed for gender equality, viewing traditional gender roles as capitalist oppression.
- However, reality often led to continuing inequality despite increased labor participation from women.

Characterized by central planning, lacking private property or market mechanisms.
Issues faced:
- Logistical difficulties in managing large economies.
- Lack of worker incentives leading to decreased quality and efficiency.

BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) emerged as influential economies, with discussions on globalization and reforming international economic systems.
Both China and Russia exhibit authoritarian governance despite capitalist integration.

Bourgeoisie: The capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production. Often seen in opposition to the proletariat in Marxist theory.
Proletariat: Workers or the working class, particularly those who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive.
Democratic Centralism: A governing principle used in some communist states; refers to the control of democratic organizations by central leadership, with debate and discussion permitted only within the bounds of party discipline.
Nomenklatura: A system of patronage and class of influential posts in government and other sectors filled by appointed officials from the communist party, effectively controlling key positions in society.
.

Yeltsin's presidency (1991-1999) moved towards democracy but faced corruption and oligarch control.
Vladimir Putin's regime has returned to centralized power after varying degrees of democracy during Yeltsin's rule.

Russia possesses a semi-presidential system with a constitution that has evolved from communist control to modern adaptations.
The Duma functions as a legislative body, while the Federation Council represents regional interests but is weak compared to the executive.

Russia faces challenges in political legitimacy, with ongoing corruption and economic issues complicating governance.
Growing disillusionment among citizens toward their government, despite a history of valuing strong state control.

Russia possesses a semi-presidential system characterized by a balance of power between the president and the parliament.

Constitution: Evolved from strict communist control to incorporate modern adaptations, granting various democratic elements, though the president holds significant authority.
Duma: Functions as the legislative body, tasked with law-making. It has limited power compared to the president and faces dominance from the executive branch.
Federation Council: Represents regional interests but is generally seen as weak in influence, with major decisions often driven by the president.