sign in sign up
<<
Home , Communism in France

Diffusion of Democracy and Part 2: Communism

In order to frame the diffusion of communism, it is important to understand the historic and economic contexts of the origins and growth of communism. First of all, it is necessary to identify Adam Smith as a Scottish moral philosopher and political economist. He published a book in 1776 titled An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, commonly known as The Wealth of Nations. The essence of Smith’s economic theory was that if the government does not interfere with the marketplace, an “invisible hand” will assure that the correct amount and variety of products will be produced to meet the needs of the people. He believed that competition in the free market would keep the prices of goods and services low for consumers while still allowing producers a reasonable profit, or income. What is the “invisible hand”?

Part 2: Communism

Another important factor in understanding the origin of communism is the Industrial . Having started in England in 1750, industrialization and mechanization spread throughout Europe in the 19th century. During this time, the economy in many European and North American countries shifted from being based on primary economic activities, such as fishing and agriculture, to secondary economic activities, such as manufacturing and mass-producing goods with the help of machines. Along the way, some people made a disproportionate amount of money compared with the amount of physical work they did. Entrepreneurs invested money in an economic idea or activity, and some of them reaped large profits when their ideas were successful. That wealth was not evenly distributed throughout society, however. Often the entrepreneur kept the profit for himself rather than distributing it evenly to his employees. With the excess money, the entrepreneur could reinvest some of the money into his business, spend it on himself or his family, or possibly even start a new company. In any case, the profits of the entrepreneur would not necessarily trickle down to the employees who worked in the fields, factories, or shops.

Highlight.

Part 2: Communism

Karl Marx was a German historian and philosopher. His social and political theories influenced fewer people during his life than after his death in 1883. Marx co-authored Manifesto of the , more commonly known as The Communist Manifesto, with fellow German . This publication outlined their analysis of the class struggle throughout history and specifically the problems of . Marx focused his economic arguments on the belief that rarely did the profits of entrepreneurs ever trickle down to workers. In essence, entrepreneurs benefited because of the hard work of employees. Marx believed that workers ultimately would rise up and there would be a revolution against the harsh working conditions and low wages imposed upon them by entrepreneurs. He believed that capitalism eventually would implode because individual greed would sabotage any positive aspects of competition in a free market. Why did Marx believe capitalism would implode? Part 2: Communism

The ideas in The Communist Manifesto were theory, just as Adam Smith’s ideas in The Wealth of Nations were theory. Living and working conditions in industrializing Russia in the late 1800s and early 1900s were especially harsh, however. The czar, or ruler of Russia, and his family seemed to have unrealistic expectations and did not understand how bad life was for the majority of people in Russia. After enduring an embarrassing and humiliating defeat by the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, Russia was still struggling to become fully industrialized while meeting the basic needs of its people. In fact, during most of World War I, Russian soldiers were allotted just three bullets a day. On the home front, more and more people were living in slumlike conditions, having barely enough food for their families and inadequate access to medical care. What is a theory? Part 2: Communism

These harsh conditions gave Vladimir Ilyich Lenin the opportunity to try to move Marx’s communist ideas from theory to reality. In 1917, Lenin and others started the Russian Revolution. After several years of civil war, the communists won, and Lenin consolidated Russia and several other states into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or the . This was the first time in history that communism had been attempted. The government, led by Lenin until his death in 1924 and continued by into the 1950s, was an autocratic dictatorship. In other words, whatever the Soviet leader dictated a political policy to be, all people of the Soviet Union were required to follow it. There were no opportunities for people to express their individual thoughts, beliefs, or feelings without possible retribution from the government. In Soviet society, the state (government leaders) ruled supreme, and compliance with Soviet policy was mandatory. In this way, the government attempted to ensure that no individual greed could corrupt the they aspired to re-create according to Marx’s philosophy. Highlight. Part 2: Communism

In a similar conflict in China, the Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party battled in a civil war. This conflict started in 1927 and continued through 1936. When the Japanese invaded China, both warring factions put aside their struggle for control in China in order to fight a common enemy, the Japanese. Once World War II ended in 1945, the civil war resumed in 1946. The communists eventually won, and in 1949, announced the creation of the People’s Republic of China. Mao ruled China until his death in 1976.

Highlight. Part 2: Communism

Mao ran his government similarly to the way Stalin ran the Soviet Union, as a dictator in an autocratic dictatorship. Whatever economic, social, or political policy Mao wanted implemented was enacted, regardless of consequences. If anyone spoke out against the dictator or his policies, the punishment was severe. Mao attempted to institute many social and economic reforms in China that he believed were in the people’s best interest. Time and again, however, these policy initiatives were failures.

How were the Soviet Union and China similar? Part 2: Communism

For example, the Great Leap Forward was an aggressive social and economic program to help transform China from a society based on agriculture to one centered on industrialization and collectivization. Individual farming became an illegal activity; all food production was organized for the state to redistribute as it deemed most appropriate. As food shortages become imminent, food rationing was introduced. Things did not get better, however, and widespread starvation became an issue throughout China.

Highlight. Part 2: Communism

In addition to economic reforms of the Great Leap Forward, social policies that were implemented significantly altered how the Chinese lived their daily lives. Any religious gatherings or ceremonies were banished. Buddhism had been practiced throughout most of China for almost 2,500 years prior to the Great Leap Forward, and people resisted this sudden shift in social policy. Those who resisted Mao’s ideas initially were sent to re-education camps and given an opportunity to reconsider their reliance on religion.

What is the communist stance on religion? Part 2: Communism

Another social program of Mao’s that had unintended and harsh consequences was the Cultural Revolution. In order to rid China of its reliance on the past and its dependence on Western influence, Mao closed schools from 1966 to 1976. He allowed artifacts from schools, libraries, and museums to be destroyed. In a very simplistic way, he wanted to mold the Chinese people in his image. The social chaos that ensued, however, resulted in economic disaster and stagnation.

What was the goal of the Cultural Revolution? Part 2: Communism

Mao influenced the diffusion of communism throughout East and Southeast Asia. During his reign in China, Mao supported the communist movements in North Korea and Vietnam. North Korea’s initial prime minister and eventual president was Kim Il-sung. Kim is referred to as “The Great Leader” and “The Eternal President.” Like Mao, Stalin, and Lenin before him, Kim ruled North Korea as a dictator. Through World War II and the years immediately after, the Soviet Union was pleased to help Kim establish and maintain a communist party in Korea. Through the 1950s, however, North Korea sided more with Mao and the Chinese communists rather than with the Soviets. Until his death in 1994, Kim maintained his relationship with both the Soviet Union (until 1989) and China. Highlight. Part 2: Communism

Hồ Chí Minh was the first communist leader of Vietnam. He was introduced to communism in France and later traveled to the Soviet Union and China, where he furthered his study of communism. After living with other exiles in China in the 1930s, Hồ returned to Vietnam to lead the Democratic Republic of Vietnam beginning in 1945. Hồ led the communists during the Vietnam War but never saw a resolution to the conflict and Vietnamese independence because he died in 1969. Vietnam was reunited under one communist government in 1975.

Highlight.