w. 35

W. 35

We discussed capitalism + socialism + Marx and Engels and their ideas. See chapter 25, pp. 734–737.

We discussed the Russian Revolution in brief. See the pdf file on Vklass. For greater detail, see pp. 867–873.
Issues brought up:

Russia before Rev.

Romanovs

Bolsheviks

Lenin

Leninism, Lenin’s version of Marxism

Russian Civil War

USSR (CCCP)

Stalin took over after Lenin

planned/command economy

five-year plans

Death of Romanovs

Homework: Read bottom of p. 872: “Evolution of Communist Thought”

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 On Friday, I introduced myself more thoroughly, and I went around the class to talk to you all briefly individually. While I did that, you worked in pairs to summarize (in 10–20 words) how Lenin interpreted communism.

(I'll note that I didn't mention that after earning the degrees I mentioned (B.A.s in Biology and French; M.A. in Art History; Ph.D. in Art History), I also went on to study more history and to earn an M.A. in Education.)

And we started comparing capitalism and communism.

Capitalism    (U.S. + Western countries)	Communism   (Soviet Union + Eastern Bloc)
Economic -        private ownership of businesses and property -        market economy - supply and demand drive the system (interaction between consumers and producers determines prices and volumes of goods) -        Competition between companies for consumers (by-product: tends to lead to innovations within specific industries -        Minimum government interference – with the argument that restrictions and regulations decrease efficiency (However: All capitalist systems have a variety of restrictions and regulations, for example regarding what products can be sold (e.g., drugs, child pornography, tobacco . . .), the release of hazardous material into society/the environment (e.g., toxic waste, exhaust fumes, dangerous materials), threats to species (e.g., products or actions that threaten endangered species), and the types and amounts of products that can be imported (and taxes thereon). (Arguments for private ownership: Progress is more easily achieved and individuals’ rights are better met when individuals are allowed to pursue their own self-interests. By-product: There is always an unequal distribution of wealth within society. The degree of these differences is affected by a wide range of factors and can differ not only from country to country but also within a country at different times.) Upshot: The needs of the individual are focused on more than the needs of the collective.	Economic -        state owns industries, companies; limited private ownership (socialism aspires to collective ownership) -        planned economy (a/k/a command economy) – (state makes decisions, including prices and volumes) -        No competition (by-product: fewer innovations) -        Government has central role in regulating companies/industries. (Arguments for government ownership versus private: the needs of society can be better met if goods and services are distributed evenly/fairly throughout society. Capitalists systems seen to be exploitative – where one group exploits (takes advantage) of another (the workers/proletariat), creating an unequal distribution of wealth. Upshot: The needs of the collective are focused on rather than the needs of the individual.
Political (Historically, capitalism has been married to a political system of liberal democracy. Note, though, that for each country, the application of these issues can vary) -        Free elections (different candidates that have competing political ideas, multiple political parties, secret ballots, open political debate, elections of parliamentary/legislative bodies representing various political parties) -        Various democratic institutions supported such as *freedom of expression (including freedom of speech and freedom of the press), *independent labor unions, *independent judiciary (judges)	Political -        1-party system, and, thus, no free-elections. (No competing political ideas allowed via political parties, political debates, political campaigning; no secret ballots; no parliamentary/legislative body representing various political parties) -        no democratic institutions, such as *freedom of expression (thus no freedom of speech or freedom of the press), *no independent labor unions, *no independent judiciary