What Is Communism? Ideology and political economy Wealth and property shared to eliminate exploitation and oppression Political institutions that maintain this system would eventually be eliminated 2

Communist Thought: Surplus Value of Labor Karl Marx (1818–1883) Surplus value of labor Human beings create things of value Value stays with the object This is the source of exploitation—that people can unjustly take others’ labor Core of human relations is economic 3

Communist Thought: Base and Superstructure All human actions flow from relationship between haves and have-nots Base: Economic system Means of production (technology) Class Relations Superstructure: Social system All non-economic relations in society 4

Base, Superstructure, and False Consciousness Base drives superstructure How technology and class are constructed affects how we think and what we believe and value False consciousness: superstructure blinds us to the truth of exploitation Religion is the “opiate” of the masses Democracy is a “sham” 5

Revolution and the “Triumph” of Communism Rise of the property owning class Feudalism Revolution: Rise of the proletariat (Socialism) Capitalist Democracy Dictatorship of the Proletariat Withering away of the state Communist Utopia

Revolution and the “Triumph” of Communism History driven by economic change Not evolutionary: Revolution! Dialectical materialism: Thesis: conflict btwn base/superstrucutre and technology Antithesis: tension btwn bourgeoisie and proletariat Synthesis: revolution that overthrows old base/superstructure 7

The Inevitable Downfall of Capitalism Feudalism overthrown Inevitable capitalism next Marx justified: Intense competition Wealth concentrated into fewer and fewer hands Wages driven down Workers alienated from their labor Consciousness! Realize their conditions and act! 8

Revolution and Utopia Proletariat revolt against exploitation Seize means of production and state International Revolution Dictatorship of Proletariat: temporary period to smash remnants of old order When successful, state would “wither away” True communism—true equality and cooperation! 9

Putting Communism into Practice Russia: Lenin (1870–1924) China: Mao (1883–1976) Both sought to carry out Marxism Problem: Marx expected revolution where capitalism was most advanced! Not China, Russia? Solution: “vanguard” party of elite comm. revolutionaries take the place of proletariat in starting (Lenin) 10

Communism in Practice Communism comes to power Communism tended to take root in countries with lower, not higher, economic development Communism comes to power Russia 1917 (Lenin) Eastern Europe post–World War II China 1949 11

Communist Party Rule Gov’t and state controlled by communist party Small “vanguard” organization Leading role written into constitution Power can’t be taken away Nomenklatura: politically sensitive jobs must be vetted by party Party becomes vehicle for opportunism Co-optation One-party rule 12

Structures under Communism Politburo General Secretary Central Committee Prime minister, or president, a parliament, a judiciary, and a local government: all encompassing postitions that are apart of the nomenklatura and staffed by party memebrs Parliamentary elections exists: candidates are almost exclusively party members No real competition “rubber-stamp” institutions: approving decisions sent down the party hierarchy Flow of control Regional Committees Flow of information Basic party organizations (cells)

Institutions of the Party-State Party-state: unclear separation Party more powerful than government Basic party organizations General secretary: head of the party Politburo: top party cabinet Central committee: “legislature” of party Cells: small groups designed to give party a way to monitor the masses 14

Communist Ideology in Action Shaped policy Sought to legitimize authoritarianism Secular “religion”—required unquestioning faith in communist ideology Personality cults (Stalin, Mao, Castro) Calls to sacrifice for ideology Quest for monopoly of power down to most basic level of home and work

Leaders in Communism Stalin—purged people from Communist Party for being “disloyal” Mao—Cultural Revolution persecuted intellectuals

Communist Political Economy Property absorbed by the state Only personal possessions are privately owned Labor controlled by the state No private employment (or unemployment) Markets eliminated by the state Demand does not drive supply 17

Central Planning and Incentives How do you make an economy work without markets and private property? Central planning: state bureaucracy allocates resources, determines what should be produced, where sold, price Difficult task—limited information Limited incentives for hard work, innovation (no individual profit) 18

Societal Institutions under Communism Suppression of religion Advanced gender equality (education, work), but many traditional values remained in place Nationalism and ethnic identity downplayed in favor of communist “internationalism” 19

The Collapse of Communism New Cold War, 1980s US v USSR capitalism v communism arms race space race Economic stagnation New political leadership (Gorbachev), seeks reform of system Glasnost: openness Perestrioka: restructuring 20

From Reform to Defeat Improved relations with West means allowing reform in Eastern Europe East European populations eject communist leaders Glasnost leads to criticism of system itself Party resists reforms Deepening crisis; failed coup by communist conservatives in 1991 21

Transformation of Political Institutions How do we move from communism to democracy? Reorganizing the state and creating a democratic regime Electoral institutions? Executive structures? Civil rights and liberties? 22

Evaluating Political Institutions in Transition Uneven progress in Eastern Europe, former SU Why difference? Pre-communist differences: Economic development Civil society Democratic institutions Rule of law Degree of contact with western Europe Length of communist rule 23

Transformation of Economic Institutions How do we move from communism to capitalism? Privatization: How to get rid of state assets? Sell to highest bidder? Give to people? Voucher privatization? Marketization: How to end central planning? Shock therapy or gradualism? 24

Transformation of Societal Institutions After Communism National identity and religion Re-emergence of nationalism, ethnic/nationalist conflict Re-emergence of religion, including fundamentalism and new faiths Gender Elements of equality under old system challenged Also threatened by changes in social expenditures 25

Evaluating Societal Transitions Ethnic conflict, created opening for terrorism (Afghanistan) Still, less conflict than many predicted High degrees of nationalism in Russia and China Setbacks for women in some areas but gains in others (fewer women in parliament but more in cabinets) 26

Future of the Post-communist World Re-balancing freedom and equality Institutionalizing new practices and values Communist countries becoming more diverse Some joining advanced democracies Others heading toward less developed status 27

The Chinese Alternative Much earlier and more dramatic liberalization of the market But political dissent not tolerated 1989 Tiananmen Square: student protests crushed violently Move toward capitalism continues, but without democratization Wiser move than Soviet Union, or more dangerous in the long run? 28