...Communism: A Review of an Ideology Raymond Castaneda English 228: Fall Session 2012 The purpose of this essay is to explain how unsuccessful Communism is ideologically in part due to its’ economic shortcomings. For ages, mankind has been in search of a perfect society, a utopia; a society, in which no suffering exists, and everyone is happy. In writing, they are common, from the City of Atlantis to the Garden of Eden. However, there are no utopias, none for which anyone can provide proof of. For better or worse, there have been men who have attempted to bring about these utopias in the form of egalitarian societies. Some of these societies have aimed at removing the differences in social class and material wealth between people in an attempt to establish a utopian society. For example communism which was based on a Marxist utopian ideology, has proven to be ultimately a flawed principle and regime. In recent times, so called utopian societies were identified as either socialist, or communist. True communist societies have aimed to be egalitarian, and perhaps even utopian. While the effects of communist and socialist regimes are not confined to one single aspect of human life, this essay focuses on the economic effects of communism. Unfortunately, they have not succeeded in either; instead these societies have resulted in poverty, violence, and overall failure . Modern communism cannot be explained without first defining it, as there have been many historical and contemporary...
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...Communism spread to North Korea mainly because of the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. According to O'Brien in “Asia”, the spread of Communism in Eastern Asia began with the victory of Mao Zedong in China. Mao Zedong was one of the leaders of the revolution in China and after throwing over the previous government, he became the leader of Communist China. Later, the Bolsheviks in Russia began their movement and earned their place in the government after the gruesome Russian Revolution. They later changed the name to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR). Quoted from Ali in “Communism”, “The Russian Communist movement became the model for other communist parties around the war”. The many communist parties, using the USSR as their model, began to make the US worry of a domino effect of Communism resulting in the ideas reaching the West. Genovese explains the cause of the impact of the Soviet Union in...
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...Fabian Muniz Mrs.Cox English 4 14 May 2018 Communism: A True Utopian Society Communism has been commonly used in major powers around the world. It has been used to manipulate its citizens then force them to do whatever the leaders of the country want them to do. Communism at first keeps promises of equality but, once a selfish leader comes to power communism goes south very quickly. Three important things about communism are the history of communism, the early leaders of communism, and communism in Russia. Every country is unique. The driving force of every country is its government. Russia's government was a communist witch, in turn made Russia a superpower. “Communism is a political and economic doctrine, the aim of witch is to abolish private...
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...Industrial Revolution Test Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer for each question and mark it on your scantron sheet. Each question is worth three points 1.) Which of the following factors motivated European nation’s to compete for colonies? a. Nationalism b. Communism c. Socialism d. Urbanism 2.) What was a result of the invention of the cotton gin? a. Slaves were no longer needed b. The need for slaves increased c. Farmers stopped growing cotton d. Cotton production decreased 3.) During the Industrial Revolution, how did the factory owners feel about the formation of trade unions? a. The owners encouraged the unions to form b. The owners did not care about the unions c. The owners did not like the unions d. The owners were excited about the unions 4.) Which of the following is the correct definition for collective bargaining? a. Process of negotiation between the United States and Japan b. Process of negotiation between management and union representatives c. Process of expanding educational opportunities for children d. Process of expanding a nation’s control over another nation with force 5.) Which of the following was included in child labor reforms passed by parliament? a. Increased the hours that children could work b. Restricted how many men could work c. Increased the hours that men could work d. Restricted the hours that children could work 6.) Adam Smith is...
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...and Charles Colson Introduction Two men, now deceased, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel Prize-winning Russian author and critic of the Soviet system, and Charles Colson, the once-infamous Nixon attorney who became a committed follower of Jesus argued that the West has forfeited its responsibility to uphold moral virtue. "When a government starts an earnest fight against terrorism, public opinion immediately accuses it of violating terrorists' civil rights." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1978). Two powerful essays by two very different individuals have challenged humanity to reflect on their moral obligation. Discussion Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn One of the most influential speeches of the 20th century was delivered by Solzhenitsyn at Harvard University's Commencement on June 8, 1978. Acknowledging Harvard's motto "Veritas", "Truth is seldom pleasant; it is almost invariably bitter." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1978). Although his political references are somewhat antiquated (communism vs. the West), his cultural, social and moral critiques are as thought provoking today as they were a decade before the iron curtain fell. And he did not mince his words. His message was deep and wide. He challenged the West's decline in courage and its legalistic life, short sightedness, loss of willpower and humanism. He even claimed "the press has become the greatest power within the Western countries, more powerful than the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. One would then like to ask: By...
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...Changing History or Preserving the Past? Both Rousseau and Marx have contrasting views on private property. Throughout this essay I will go in-depth at both theorists’ critique of private property individually, and as a whole. Having been written 150 years ago, both Rousseau’s Discourse on Inequality and Marx’s Communist Manneifsto ideas of private property still remain relevant till this day. Marx has a very aggressive view of property. Marx believes that private property divides society into two groups the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. The bourgeoisie are the people who have all the land. Where the Proletariat are known to have no property (means of production), and who are the people who apply labor to the land. According to Marx the division between these two groups in society has been going on since the beginning of history, and is extremely important to realize that history has dictated how people are grouped into these societies. “In bourgeois society…. the past dominates the present; in...
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...of the 50s? The Cold War began in 1947 between the USSR and the USA. After World War II, both countries began to distrust each other, as they knew the amount of power each country had in terms of nuclear weapons. Not only did they distrust each other, but they lacked a mutual understanding of each other’s culture. The USA believed in capitalism and the USSR believed in communism. This lack of mutual understanding caused mass paranoia within America as they feared that communists would infiltrate their society. This hysteria was known as the Red Scare which lead to “a range of actions that had a profound and enduring effect on U.S. government and society.” (Red Scare, 2013). During World War II “moviegoers learned to appreciate cinema for what it was: a powerful delivery system of ideology” (Doherty, 2003, p. 19) and after World War II “Soviet Communism and American Democracy, found its domestic expression in fierce debates over the subversive influence of the popular media.” (Doherty, 2003, p. 21). Hollywood was scrutinized first for allegedly using the film industry to influence the public about communism. The House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was formed in 1938, and it’s investigations were “frequently focused on exposing communists working inside the federal government or subversive elements working in the Hollywood film industry” (Red Scare, 2013). On September 21, 1947, HUAC “subpoenaed forty-three members of the Hollywood film community to answer charges...
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...University of KwaZulu-Natal | Political Science Essay: The Freedom Charter | Pols 307- SA: Apartheid & After | Cindy Chamane 212518239 3/11/2015 | Communism can be defined as an ideology whereby everyone within a particular state is regarded as equal. It is an ideology that is all about having an equal society or state in the sense that people of a communist state earn the same salary regardless of their profession. The Freedom Charter is a document drafted in the early 1950’s. It can be described as a document that contained the aspirations and hopes of black people during the Apartheid era of the kind of South Africa they envisioned to live in some day. Chief Albert Luthuli stated in his biography, Let My People Go, that the Freedom Charter was a statement of aims. It is a classification of the goals of our liberation movement; it was the aggregate of our national democratic aspirations and the new democratic life that we need. On the foundation of the Freedom Charter are the foundation stones of our principles of freedom and democracy. Imperialism can be defined as big states taking advantage of weaker states and exploiting the weaker states for their resources so that the bigger states can expand or grow. The Freedom Charter can be regarded as a communist document and this essay aims to explain why this statement is not true. When the white colonies came to settle in South Africa early in the late 19th century early 20th century, they came with the idea...
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...In order for one to answer whether the idea of communism is potentially emancipatory it is important to first define what the communist idea is as well as what an emancipatory feature of policy is. To start with the latter, emancipatory theory drawn from its name is the notion that people are means within themselves and not ends to the needs of others. They have agency and should be free to propose the world in which they wish to live in. According to Ramsey 2011:183, the emergence of emancipatory theory was in the 1960’s and 1970’s and it emerged as theory that was opposed to the oppression to the extent that they are marginalised. “Dominance is progressively dehumanizing for both the oppressed and the oppressor, though only the resistance of the oppressed will allow for the possible re-humanization of the oppressors” (Ramsey, 2011:183.) Emancipatory theory is meant to target oppression that consolidated within dominant systems of policy in reality that takes away people’s agency and consciousness. This essay deals with communism as an idea, this requires effort in departing from the use of communism as an adjective that describes a form of politics, “An entire century of experiences both epic in scope and appalling was required to understand that certain phrases produced by this short-circuiting between the real and the Idea were misconceived.”(Badiou, 2010:13). At this point Badiou requires us to not look at communism in its historical context and use misconceived phrases...
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...HIST 1121/ INTL 2301 Cumulative Essay by Emily Barnes Revolution in Europe Revolution, by definition, is the overthrow of an established government or political system. When people hear the word revolution, they may instantly think of violence, but revolution and war do not necessarily go hand in hand. How are nonviolent and violent revolutions different? Revolution is a major part of European history, and this essay will construe the many specific revolutions, their causes, and what they accomplished. The Glorious Revolution, also known as the Bloodless Revolution, occurred between 1688 and 1689, and King James II was in power. During the Catholic James’ rule over England, he lost support from the primarily Protestant Parliament. James used his power to pass laws that favored Catholics, upsetting the Parliament, and a...
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...The Trend of Global Capitalism Qiudong Wang All sovereign societies on earth can be put roughly into two categories: developed and under-developed countries. The developed countries, including the United States, Canada, most of west Europe countries, Japan and Australia, are all free capitalist society with a well functioned democratic government and a free market economic system. The under-developed countries, including Russia and east Europe countries, India, China, Mexico, South America and Africa, are relative poor, where capitalism has not yet developed into a healthy form. In Middle East, Israel belongs to welldeveloped camp but the rest goes to under-developed category. In this essay I will discuss the history, the present and the future trend of politic and economic relationship between developed and under-developed countries. My purpose is to develop an intellectual framework, through which one could acquire a comprehensive understanding on basic characteristics of various human societies and their interaction in today’s world: where they were from; where they are now; and where they are likely heading to in future. I will illustrate that there are three different systems in under developed world: the under-developed capitalism, the totalitarian capitalism and the military imperialism of developed countries in Middle East. Developed countries, in dealing with under developed world, are in a very much favored position. They are with full strategic initiatives in the on-going...
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...The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx, explains what it means to be a communist nation. According to Marx, a communist nation will allow everyone to own the land, everyone is responsible to work, and the state will control communications and transports. Marx said a communist nation will do and be much more but those list above are a few main points. The opposite of communism is capitalism, which is where private owners, rather than the state, control a country's trade and industry for profit. The United States of America is not communist but capitalist because America does not share land between citizens, does not force the disabled to work, and Americans can communicate how they please and ship their goods wherever. The United States of America allows citizens to own private property, unlike communist nations that Marx describes in his essay. In a communist nation, the nation will have an “abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes,” according to Marx. This means that there will be no private property but just public land which the people work. America does allow citizens to own land, and then use it for private purposes. There are private property rights in the Constitution, the fourth Amendment, regarding that individuals may hold and exercise their property, even if it is against the government itself. In a capitalist nation, the people are allowed free enterprise which Americans can do and communists cannot. Therefore...
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...| Film essay 1 | | Ninotchka | | Film essay 1 | | Ninotchka | In the past propaganda was used rather obviously, especially during the war and battle. Posters, comics and movies showing the ‘opponent’ as being malicious and horrifying were shown, while the antagonists were portrayed as tough and nearly divine. In my paper I will be discussing propaganda and its uses in the film industry, by examining the power of the Communism shown in the movie during the Second Red Scare. The plot is shaped to show that an average Soviet resident, far from being an ideological, given the opportunity, will be tempted by capitalist advantage . Ignoring that, the movie differentiates itself by giving the communist a human face. Ninotchka can be seen as one of the first movies which came out as Hollywood propaganda against Communism, it shows a rough Russian woman sent to Paris, where she meets a French “gigolo” called Leon who appears to characterize everything against her beliefs. The movie illustrates Russia as harsh, unsympathetic and depressed, whilst showing France as magnificent and lovely. By falling for a man who stands against everything Ninotchka is thought to support, the movie also shows how much superior Western civilization is in comparison to the strict, dreadful conditions in Russia at the time. The humor in the movie derives from differences between life in the East and the West. Three incompetent Soviet envoys Buljanoff, Iranoff, and Kopalski arrive to Paris...
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... In the other hand, the United States was anti-communist and always supported countries, regions, and political parties fighting against communism. In Vietnam as other places a long war happened nearly a decade after the World War Two in 1954 between the North Vietnam communist regime with the support of China, Soviet Union, and other communist allies, against South Vietnam and its essential partner, the United States, also supported by other anti-communist allies. The war was long and costly for both sides, and it left many problems and disadvantages on the United States economy. This essay will argue the following three points, how the United States involved in the Vietnam War, the impact of the war especially on the United States with focus on economics, politics, and culture in both negative and positive aspects, and the US withdrawal of the war. Beginning with the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War. Firstly, there were many different reasons of the American involvement in the war, but the main reason was prevention of communism spread and expansion. The United States felt communism is spreading in the Vietnam and more people were becoming communist probably after France failed and the Vietnam became two parts. In other words, before the United States get involved in the war, they helped France to fight against communism by supplying economic and military aid. When the French were not successful and left Vietnam, and a communist state...
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...Marxism Today Student’s Name University Affiliation Marxism Today Identify an emerging country and discuss why Marxism might be an option for the country and discuss how Tocqueville may view the country if he were to visit it today. Karl Marx is considered as the father of communism (Wright, Levine & Sober, 1992). He is an individual who has made a lot of contributions in policies of the economy as well as various writing that he has made. This has especially influenced many of the leaders in the emerging countries especially in the way that they run their economies. The main idea that was raised by Karl Marx is that of communism that is highly applied in countries such as china and Korea and has been a major contribution to the prosperity if these economies. He advocated for the unity of the workers. Emerging countries on the other hand are defined as that is on the road attaining industrialization. The theory of Karl Marx can be highly applicable to these economies to help them in the process of industrialization. The country we are going to focus on in this assignment is India. India is considered as in of the emerging economies in the world that for a very long time had practiced capitalism on a very large scale and it is recently losing the sense for the capitalism system. India has been struggling with its economy in terms of bringing about economic growth and also in the terms of providing quality standards of living for their people and this has been caused...
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