Communism and Post-Communism

Communism Set of ideas that view political, social, and economic institutions in a fundamentally different manner that most political thought

Father of Communism: Karl Marx Encourages equality and cooperation Governments would disappear

Father of Communism: Karl Marx Human beings are able to create objects of value by investing their own time and labor into their creation “Surplus value of labor:” –Value invested in man-made goods –Create objects with their own innate value sets people apart from animals Human beings develop their own knowledge and technological skills Human action flowed from the relations between the haves and have-nots

Father of Communism: Karl Marx Human history and human relations are being based on what he terms “base” and “superstructure” –Base: system of economic production; including technology and the kind of class relations that exist as a result –Superstructure: all human institutions Politics and the state National identity and culture Religion and gender “false consciousness” people are deluded by the superstructure imposed by capitalism –Failure to understand the nature of one’s exploitation

Father of Communism: Karl Marx Communist Manifesto in 1848 –Saw Capitalism as an economic system that exploited workers and increased the gap between rich and poor. –Believed workers would join together and revolt –Social class would disappear –Ownership of private property would be banned

Revolution and the “Triumph” of Communism Feudalism Capitalist Democracy Dictatorship of the proletariat Communist utopia Revolution: Rise of the property owning class Revolution: Rise of the proletariat : the working class Withering of the state

Communism into Practice Departures from Marxism –Lenin (Vladimir Ulyanov) (rev Russia) –Mao Zedong (rev China) –Both believed the revolution could be carried out in less-developed countries –Departed from Marxist theory Reality meant communism spread where the level of economic development was relatively low –Made headway in less developed versus advanced countries

Expanded by leaps and bounds –1980’s accounted for approx. 1/3 of worlds population –Striking fear in capitalist countries everywhere How did one go about building communism? –Need to build a new state, society, and economy –Pave the way for a “communist future” Communism into Practice

Politics and State Entrusted to the communist elite –Direct and staff the state –“vanguard of the proletariat” 10% or of the population Role is written into the constitution No constitutional way to remove party from power –Party embodies what it sees as the “correct” view of human history and future relations –alternative organizations and ideologies treat to communism

System cannot survive under treat alone Maintain control through repression –Allocate power throughout the country’s political, social, and economic institutions (cooptation) –Nomenklatura: sensitive or influential jobs in the state, society, or the economy appointed by communist party Jobs include: head of university, editor of a newspaper, military officer, a film director –Party approval requires party membership Joining the party shows one’s loyalty Better housing, ability to travel abroad, access to scarce consumer goods Politics and State

Use nomenklatura co-opt talented or ambitious people in society Party membership is driven by opportunism –Join to pursue certain careers –System works against Marxist quest for collective equality Division of class are smaller that found in capitalist countries Equality is still greater –Everyone = poor Politics and State

Communist party and the nomenklatura –Creates a powerful relationship –Power rest in the party; not the state and government –i.e.: Leader of a communist country is referring to the general secretary of the communist party –Top party leaders do not hold top positions in the state Government positions are secondary Politics and State

“Party-State” replaces the term government –Power flows from the party directly to the state –Bypasses the government structures –Leadership turnover takes place through power struggles among the elite not elections Politics and State

Structures under Communism Flow of control Flow of information Basic party organizations (cells) Regional Committees Central Committee PolitburoGeneral Secretary

Politics and Structure Party and nomenklatura control key organizations –Communist ideology shapes policy and seeks to legitimize the government Elimination of inequality Promotion of economic development Requires unquestioning faith in a set of beliefs and sacrifice for a future reward Penetration of the state and society by the party proved to be dangerous and lethal

Communist Political Economy Characterized by central planning ownership of private property and the market mechanism were replaced with the allocation of resources by the state Two problems: –Logistical Difficulties –Lack of worker incentives

Gender Relations Traditional gender role –Women in subservient roles to men –Inequality By 20 th century: women in comm. Countries worked outside the home