Notes on Communism in Practice and the Soviet Union

Communism in Practice: The Soviet Union

Unit Inquiry Question

  • To what extent should government intervene in the economy?

Left-Wing Principles

  • Key Concepts:

    • Political Ideals:

    • Secular governance

    • Egalitarianism (equality)

    • Collective rights over individual rights

    • Interventionalist approach

    • Revolutionary mindset

    • Economic Ideals:

    • Public ownership of property

    • Prioritization of collective interest

    • Emphasis on cooperation

    • Focus on economic equality

Marxist Theory

  • History as Class Struggle:

    • Conflict between the Bourgeoisie (owners, producers) and the Proletariat (workers)

    • Elimination of classes is key to end conflict

  • Revolution as a Necessity:

    • Led by the proletariat to instigate change

    • Centralization of power during the transition (dictatorship of the proletariat)

    • Inevitable victory of the proletariat is a fundamental belief

  • Ultimate Goal:

    • “Withering of the state,” leading to a classless society

Russian Revolution

  • Led by: Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks, introducing communism in Russia

  • Context:

    • Russia was primarily an agricultural society, not ideal for Marx's industrial-based ideas

    • Artisans/powerful nobles contrasted with the unreformed peasant class

    • Not a fully industrialized or prosperous society at the time of revolution

Stages of Soviet Communism

  1. War Communism

    • Also called Marxist-Leninism

    • Full state control over all industries, abolishing private property

    • Command economy established to support war efforts

    • During this period:

      • Red Army created to suppress opposition

      • Consequences: Unable to sustain the economy, leading to starvation

  2. New Economic Policy (NEP)

    • Developed due to failures in War Communism

    • Mixed economy introduced to stabilize conditions

    • Features:

      • State owned key industries (iron, coal, electricity)

      • Small-scale businesses and farms returned to private ownership

      • Resulted in economic recovery, showcasing flexibility in approach

  3. Five-Year Plans

    • Implemented under Stalinism, focusing on rapid industrialization and collectivization

    • Goals were set for production quotas over five years, with strict enforcement

    • Characteristics:

      • Inflexible, dictated adherence to Marxist principles

      • Rejection of individualism, private rights, and capitalist competition

    • Impact: Rapid industrialization with severe human costs (e.g., famine, gulags)

      • Holodomor: Ukrainian famine led to approximately 5 million deaths

      • Repressive policies resulted in millions of deaths due to government actions

Human Cost of Policies

  • Examples of Severe Costs:

    • Holodomor: 6 million died during the Soviet famine due to crop seizures.

    • Gulags (work camps): 1 million died as a result of harsh labor and conditions.

    • State Repression: Millions lost lives through purges and government oppression.

Written Response Prep Chart

  • Economic Practices - Arguments For and Against Government Intervention:

    • In Favor:

    • Argument: Government should intervene because…

    • Evidence supporting this argument

    • Against:

    • Argument: Government should not intervene because…

    • Evidence supporting this argument

Comparative Analysis: Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism

  • Create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting:

    • Economic systems employed

    • Level of government intervention

    • Ideological flexibility

    • Vision of the ideal society

The Soviet Union's communism was underpinned by left-wing principles advocating for government intervention in the economy, collective rights, and economic equality through public ownership. Key Marxist theories emphasized class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, necessitating a proletariat-led revolution for a classless society.

The Russian Revolution, led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks, arose in a largely agricultural, non-industrial context. The evolution of Soviet communism included:

  1. War Communism: Full state control, command economy for war support, leading to economic collapse and starvation.

  2. New Economic Policy (NEP): Mixed economy facilitating recovery through state control of key industries while allowing private ownership of smaller businesses.

  3. Five-Year Plans: Under Stalin, focused on rapid industrialization and collectivization, with severe human costs, including the Holodomor famine and gulags, resulting in millions of deaths through repressive policies.