1. “Putin thinks that democracy stands in his way” (Gorbachev)
Communism
“Putin thinks that democracy stands in his way” (Gorbachev)

2. Communism
Fascism
Method of Gaining Power
Violent revolution
Abuse of the electoral system and terror
Method of Rule
Single-party Dictatorship
Source of Beliefs
Writings of Marx, Lenin, Mao
Writings of Mussolini, Rocco, Sorel
Goals
Triumph of the working classes, world revolution, the overthrow of capitalism
National greatness, constant expansion
Economy
State controlled, no private property, favors proletariat, emphasis on equality
State regulation of private enterprise, favors capitalists, natural inequalities
Appeal
Working class, peasants, intelligentsia
Lower middle class, some upper class and clergy
Scope
A worldwide movement, opposed to nationalism
A series of national movements, stresses nationalism
Belief in Reason
Humans are basically rational
Humans are basically irrational

3. Political Characteristics
(communism is both an economic theory and a political system)
Government actions for the benefit of all
Theoretically democratic
Equal rights – Bill of Rights (many freedoms and rights guaranteed but not enforced)
Periodic elections (high turnout, but often only 1 candidate – one party state)
Control of media and education
Need to educate (indoctrinate) the masses to appreciate the values of communism

4. Justification
Based on established theories of Marx – communist system creates a society that encourages creativity and self-awareness (because you are not worried about mundane things)
Democracy is based on the idea that all people are equal, not freedom.
Rapid industrialization proved the superiority of the system
avoidance of Great Depression
Ability to defeat the Nazis

5. Conditions in Russia leading to the Bolshevik revolution
Part of Europe but not industrializing at same pace
Awareness of Enlightenment ideals
Dissatisfaction with limited reforms made by Tzar (economic reforms outpaced the political reforms)
Why?
Civil rights, universal suffrage and elected Duma all introduced in 1905, but were suppressed
Losing the battles of World War One

6. Bolshevik Rise to power
Two revolutions – one to overthrow the Tzar, next to establish Bolshevik rule
Bolsheviks gained support of peasants and soldiers through Lenin – “peace, land, bread”
How does this differ from the group Marx expected to revolt?
5 year civil war
War Communism: swift transfer to communist system (to support civil war efforts)
NEP – Lenin sees the dramatic transformation is not working, returns to minor forms of capitalism (eg. farmers selling extra produce)

7. Stalin’s USSR
Vision
Rejected the NEP (need to devote to the communist ideology)
Point to the strength of communism during the Great Depression
Indoctrination/propaganda
Used to promote the cult of personality (Stalin as strong man, yet father-figure)
Also used to denounce opponents
Direction of Popular Discontent
Collectivize farms to support rapid industrialization
Kulak revolts, reduced output, Ukrainian famine
During Cold War – blamed US for problems

8. Controlled Participation
Only one party – CPSU
voters handed ballot with approved candidates name on it
If you wanted to vote for someone else, you had to scratch out the name and write another: with everyone watching you
6% of population members of CPSU (start at young age)
Perks: bigger apartment, better food, special medical services, nice vacation, better education for children (approx. 1% also had rights to overseas travel, foreign currency and personal servants)
Force
Elimination of opposition (early removal of opposition will allow the socialist society to become truly communist)
Great Purge
KGB. gulags
After Stalin’s death, Khrushchev denounces his tactics

9. Rejection of Liberalism
Just look at how successful the country was under dictatorial rule:
Avoided the Great Depression
Greater equality - didn’t have the race riots or protests like the US Civil Rights Movement. Their women gained equality long before women were treated equally here in Canada.
Literacy and health care were superior to many liberal nations.
Of course we know now with hindsight that this ruthless dictatorship could not hold on to power indefinitely, but when Stalin was ruling the country, this rejection of liberalism made sense.

10. The fall of communism
We will look at the collapse of the communist political system in more detail as we study the Cold War

11. Do the ends justify the means?
Stalin video
Do the ends justify the means?