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Communism In Russia Essay, Research Paper

Communism in Russia

The Reasons for the fall of Socialism/Communism and the Troubles

of Starting the New Democratic System in the Russian Federation “Let’s

not talk about Communism. Communism was just an idea, just pie in the

sky.” Boris Yeltsin (b. 1931), Russian politician, president. Remark

during a visit to the U.S. Quoted in: Independent (London, 13 Sept.

1989).

The fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union was more

than a political event. The powerful bond between economics and

politics that was the integral characteristic of the state socialist

system created a situation that was unique for the successor states of

the Soviet Union. The Communist regime was so ingrain in every aspect

of Soviet life that the Russian people were left with little

democratic tradition. Russia faces the seemingly impracticable task of

economic liberalization and democratization. This is combined with the

fact that the new administration must address human rights issues,

such as living conditions and the supply of staple goods in this new

form of administration makes the prospect of a full democratic switch

seemingly impossible.

To fully understand the scope of the transference of governing

power in the Russian Federation, one must first look at the old

Socialist/Communist regime, to see the circumstances under which it

fell gives a good view of why this transference is almost impossible.

In the beginning Communism seemed to the people of Russia as a

utopian ideal. The promise of the elimination of classes, of

guaranteed employment , “The creation of a comprehensive social

security and welfare system for all citizens that would end the

misery of workers once and for all.” Lenin’s own interpretation of the

Marxian critique was that to achieve Communism there would first have

to be a socialist dictatorship to first suppress any dissent or

protest. Through coercive tactics this new government seized power and

in 1917 Lenin came to power. Under his “rule” the Soviet Union

underwent radical changes in it’s economic doctrines adopting a mixed

economy which was termed the New Economic Policy also referred to as

NEP, this economy called for some private ownership of the means of

production, but the majority of industry was made property of the

people, which meant the majority of the means of production was

controlled by the government. Lenin’s government made many

achievements. It ended a long civil war against the remnants of the

old Czarist military system and established institutions in

government. During this period, and in fact throughout the majority of

the Communist rule, censorship and the subordination of interest

groups such as trade unions was imposed to stop dissension and

increase conformity to the new governments policies.

Lenin died in 1924, and was quickly followed by Joseph Stalin as

head of the Soviet Communist Party, the oppressive reforms started by

Lenin were continued and at length became completely totalitarian.

Stalin became the most powerful man in Russia. He controlled to bulk

of all the political power and with that he started a ruthless

campaign of removing all opposition to the Communist rule. During this

period called the “Great Purge” Stalin systemically executed anyone

who stood in his path. Millions of people were arrested and either

harassed or killed. The economic status of the Soviet Union was yet

again changed and the entire system became controlled by the

government. All private ownership ended. A mass program of

industrialization was commenced, and the strength of the Soviet

Military was substantially increased. The citizens during this period

endured great hardship. Agricultural production output diminished

resulting in food shortages, these shortages were enha! nce by the

mass exportation of food, this was done to pay for industrial imports.

Stalin also put the production of what he called production goods such

as manufacturing machinery over basic consumer goods such as clothes

and other staples. During this period the Second World War broke out

and drained most of what was left of the already impoverished state.

Yet after the war national unity was strengthened as well is the

Soviet military machine. The Soviet Union became a super power, the

U.S. being the only country more powerful than it.

After the death of Stalin in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev became First

Secretary of the Communist party. Stalin’s death marked the end of

supreme power for the head of the party, and Khrushchev condemned

Stalin’s actions as unnecessary and harmful to the process of moving

the Socialist government to it’s goal of pure Communism. During this

period the public was given a say in the government, albeit an

extremely minor one, and the judicial system eased it’s aggressiveness

allowing a defendant a better chance of defending themselves.

Khrushchev concerned himself with bettering the plight of the

individual, attempting to increase the supply of food and making goods

such as home appliances, making automobiles somewhat available, and

providing more housing. A new policy of efficiency and quality control

was brought in. Leadership was somewhat decentralized to allow common

managers and directors

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