Category: Communism

Introduction

Clara explains the growth and development of the working class and conventional women movements from their homeland up to the 19th century to the beginning of the first quarter of the 20^th century. Zetkin shows the strengths and possibilities that arose from womens liberation in the revolution times. It focuses on specific interest for the present discussions and meetings on the females question together with the predictions of the ladies movement today from the cornerstone of historical experiences. It focuses majorly on the equality of all groups and women majored in because of the oppression they go through. They also show the link between the movement to the proletarian side and the stated role of the women in the struggle.

Zetkin further exposes the question of the unaffected ladies movement and linkage to the citizen and methods of supporting the struggle for communism. It also shows the influential prerequisite for the struggle of ladies and the prosperity of the action class liberation in the continuous fight against revolutionary egalitarianism. The economy has been centrally planned and managed to mobilize people and base resources quickly. While on the other side of Drakulic, the negative impact of communism included the restriction or suppression of peoples rights and freedom, antagonism not allowing the citizens have to follow the rules from a particular governing power. The nations are kept in total darkness without knowing what happens, workers wages and salaries are reduced, and many people live beyond poverty lines.

Clara Zetkins View on Feminism

Clara Zetkin has been one of the planners and organizers of the founding movement on the second international liberation alleged in Paris. Zetkin talked about the function of ladies in the activist association for communism and stressed the importance of a curriculum for working-class action. There was also the fact that women had to fight in support of the Maoist workforces and them being ready and willing to give as a portion of detriments and adversities. These planned actions and programs would result from the denial of gender equality at the global congregation. In the second international conference, Zetkin set the pace for activists from various states to fight against ladies interference with their rights.

These led to the drafting of the Erfurt programs of the Democratic Party that worked in demand for overall cost-effective, dogmatic, and authorized women equality. Zetkin and other stakeholders work entailed organizing women into forming unions that based their argument on achieving over the proletarian in the workers movement. In her speech on only with the working class ladies will communism be successful, the following got delivered. Firstly, nothing seems regarded as ladies liberation on its own, only a combination of the middle working class and proletarian that lack a common goal compared to the social participation with the bourgeois community.

The ladies in the high working class have attained their complete economic independence and neither as a woman who has the possibility of living a purposeful life. In the speech, a lady gets crumbs due to the industrialist inventions from the table. The main objective that Zetkin purposed to achieve is not precisely the free independence and opposition against men but bringing out the image and understanding the administrative function of the working cadres. The proletarian woman fights hand in hand with the man of her class against capitalist society (Zetkin, 2017, p. 80). The explanation goes further in joining together with men sharing the same class towards fighting the entrepreneurial society. The suppression of the industrialist movement and the formation of a socialist society will allow the freedom of women to take action. The Gotha congress stated that apart from having many contact points in the governmental and legal burdens for accomplishing reforms, the salaried class lacks a shared basis with other performing groups in line with conclusive entrepreneurial benefits.

Though the Die Gleichheit advocated for the interest of women activists, it is driven towards the most enlightened member of the high class regardless of whether they are enslaved by using their hands or mental capacities. It endeavours to make a realistic, clear understanding of the ancient cause of improvement and the capability not to perform deliberately in the fight of the working group. It also effectively clarified and educated their fellow mates about the clearly stated goal. There was also the documents drafting that keenly gave an address toward the protestors of the communist liberation rather than the overall women population. The work condition got revealed in the sectors where women preponderated and provided details of factory decree that had to be utilized for ladies benefit.

Women had to get the permission and authorization to become members of the political parties after the written document gave well-defined stipulations. Challenges befitted Zetkin, and they got removed from the leadership position. They joined together with Rosa Luxemburg and continued to initiate the womens actions that still gave firm victory. Zetkin concluded that the high-class German actor had to dram line in the Russian proletariat. Zetkin later advocated for the change of social democracy into a form that caters to all cadres. In addition, she has been the critical factor in supporting the ladies movement and a sequence of conferences to make sure that together with the democratic party of Germany, she achieves on the womens side. The woman had to be integrated in the radically changing system as a member of society with equal economic, political and social rights and duties  that is Zetkins opinion on womans participation in revolutionary cause (Zetkin 188). Zetkin got criticized by the British and French ideologies about the denominational attitude and her women supporters to feminist programs. The ladies also got support from Alexandra Kollontai, who was interested in supporting the movement.

Zetkin also showed interest in hostility, domination, and colonialism, affecting most nations. At the second international congress, she called all global workforces to get ready for the battle against the threat of imperialist war. The bourgeois women liberation upstretched the rudimentary petition that ladies have equal status as men in the power ranking. The leaders had to maintain the comprehension of the demand meant manumission of all females without being exempted. These social and human freedom actions or the enslavers acts did not align with what the suffragettes wanted. The determinant of life is if women were the membership in the two classes that protected the right of the women and it not according to sex. The enslavement actions primary cause would be eliminated if females were not exposed to exploitation closely connected to sound production and cultural advancement.

Zetkin explains that the equivalence of the advanced productions social characteristic means that the individual properties were to be used as social property and the community given the control of their actions (Zetkin 167). The above strategy could allow a revolutionized economy with new and increased social form development that guarantees the overall womankind, freedom of development, and action regarding full humanity. The middle-class ladies movement had limitations on its advocacy of female liberation to the fight against the freedom and power of the man in the state and family affairs. The disadvantage had been an overall character of the movement, and it proved the suffragettes failed to understand the enormous and complex question of female liberation. The primary demand and needs of the ladies movement are aimed at smashing the command and supremacy of males over women. It also stipulated the equal right to contract from other partners, the same right over children, a mutual sexual code, the right of a woman to dispose of her property and salaries.

Additionally, there also entailed equal rights and freedom over activities like movement, full administrative and political participation in the nation, and the sub-divisions. Zetkin also shows a more profound analysis of the worth and importance of the documented alterations that used to justify and abolish the slavery acts of females was reduced. The achievement of the bourgeois movement principally to the benefit of parsimoniously free women of the property-owning, governing and manipulating cadres. The middle-class movement must firmly stick on the ground and protect it against the developing proletarian. It attempted to restructure the liberation by relaxing the legal and social restraints that kept the ladies in suppression to benefit men.

Socially Independent Womens Liberation

The activity and performance of movement are directed towards citizens who have burdens subjugated by capitalism to raise and fight for their rights as an opposing group. The action by the communist is geared to touching a large mass of working women who have been mistreated and robbed by governing powers. It paved the way for the awakening of ladies from all social mistreatment. The rise of women acting has been brought about by understanding the global rebellion is the only technique from slavery. The collectivist liberation sketched valuable conclusions in action and theory from the world wars. The faithful adherence to the ancient understanding of radical Marxism and the continuous application to challenges for social development led to mistreatment. The international Leninist agreed that it could accomplish the tasks before the action and the success of the overall waged people. It had to do away with eliminating the capitalist structure, and the movements achievement needed support for interconnection between men and women struggle of the salaried class.

The socially independent ladies liberation came up with a strategy and framework from the leadership system under operation. The background assisted the movement to learn from the weaknesses and failures. The directorial opinion convincingly pointed out that the initial condition for liberation through collectivism is revolution. The guiding framework explains more about the reforms, and they remained with collaged solutions in a manipulative and dominating bourgeois community and offered nothing to the question under women. The principal also refused to organize women separately and had to join a communist coalition in their own countries.

Slavenka Drakulic View on Communism Compared to Clara Zetkins Opinion

Drakulics perceptions on the negative impact of collectivism are based on the sufferings and difficulties in the communist period. Her passionate explanation of life included the absence of daily products, the overcrowded survival conditions in Eastern Europe, and the overbearing and suppressive characters of the Stalinist government towards the personal level. For example, Drakulic says that privacy was a bad word, the peering was even safe, meaning the lack of privacy and confidentiality in Warsaw Pact countries (97). These give full details of why Drakulic focuses on the opposing sides of the deeds (Davis, 2020). People surviving under the Stalinist side would have enough and adequate resources, but a change occurred on the promised plans. Communist people majored mostly in manufacturing weapons and could not possess the ability and capability to produce rudimentary products. In her book, Drakulic remembers, how men hoped to buy a new refrigerator or a new car (xv). Also, differences occurred when the newly formed countries in Europe tried to improve their living standards and condition by creating gender equality.

Drakulic gives a driving point that the ideas of the communist of gender equality by describing the defects it has concerning men, females, and activities. Despite the government giving a trial in promoting the equality act, questions about the type of work seemed challenging to get answers to them. For instance, Drakulic says that women still didnt have time to be involved in politics (xv). Women proposed to have the ability to undertake tasks like laundry, floor scrubbing, and ironing clothes for the bosses. The equality plan has never been established as planned because of women being overloaded and mistreated. For instance, in Poland, Womens Communism and Industrialism describe the syndicalist vision on fairness. The act by Fidelis portrays a female manufacturing laborer who wears a both-gender uniform that makes it difficult for identification from men. Chauvinism against ladies in the collectivist countries was prevalent, and it posed a challenge by the government on what needs action to save the female gender.

The Impact of Women on Eastern European Communism

The impacts of societal deterioration of gender functions get noted in the individual lives of men and women. Their life experiences make them lack everything and say on the matter that needs to be addressed by their means. There is the reliance of order from the above governing powers on what needs attention and who to participate. The ruling system seems dictatorial since the city has nothing to share with the controllers. The mode of operation is working under control or even enslavement in many activities. Drakulic also uses more examples to drive the main key points; for the case of couples getting separated, it is noticed that female fights for survival and bigotry together with suppressed personality lead to dissociation. In addition, Slavenka also contradicted the myths that the female gender is logically obedient and their best place to live be home. Drakulic also argued that one of the womens challenges was make-up, hair products and experts, and specific clothes they could wear to differentiate them from others.

The worker in the manufacturing and production sectors were heavily overloaded with many jobs that affected their health and inflicted stress on their lives. The payment they received from their activities was taxed, and they got a tiny amount. These activities drove the women and their families to live below the poverty line. The communist government could also delay the payment or even assume that ladies need to offer their services for free. The struggle for communalism and feminism has been considered the same since both parties act for what they deserve. Drakulic also explains that the rise of the feminist group was considered a threat to the government, the formed groups by female organizations got attacked by other women. These actions led to the repetitive suppression of ladies choices and decisions in line with not being able to come up with any life-changing idea.

There was also limited access to knowledge for women since it has been assumed that ladies should work under control. The denial of information led to the inability to come up with feminist organizations that were likely to challenge the communist powers. It forms the reasons as to why they could not allow women to gang up. Oppression and slavery have dominated the communist side and developed a negative attitude towards women. The lack of data and information led to more advanced life-changing forms for ladies to benefit from despite going through challenges and staying in the dark. Many ladies had high intellectual capacity, but suppression formed the barriers. Some feminists like Clara Zetkin faced many challenges despite having achieved the primary goal of the womens movement.

The increased poverty and suffering led to the increased demand for products that could not be available, and starvation affected them. They could work in the firms and produce a harvest, but they lacked the permission to carry food from the firms. The day-to-day activities made them weaker and formed the strength of communist society (Gaido & Frencia, 2018). Women could change their life, but limitations affected them wholly. The limited access to commodities leads to women changing their life patterns and behavior to get what they feel is necessary for their families. They had to engage in illegal activities to get support which later made many of them live in single lives, and others joined the egalitarian groups. The main aim of joining the cadres entailed; getting support from fellow women and getting rid of the lifestyle with Leninists that oppressed them. These improved enslavement actions led women to form associations to fight for their rights.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both sides of communism and feminist have variant ideas about womens liberation of their rights and freedom. It is about the balance of genders and being given equal rights and prospects on the ladies side. It shows concern in respecting womens life experiences and appreciation for what the ladies do to save their families. They need to get knowledge and skill to further their plans and even promote the countrys economic status. Their strengths and weaknesses should alert all they need overall protection from mistreatment. Empowerment has to take action, enabling them to understand their full rights.

Feminist organizations that protect the ladies from exploitation and slavery have to raise and fight for their needs. Suppression has to be eliminated, and consequences have been taken for those who violate the set. The allowance of the female gender to participate in the political decision needs to get support from both the citizens and the governing bodies, and it will ensure that their interests are well represented. The rules and regulation change has to be done and fixed with the supporting formats. The basis of freedom is on the gender balance and non-discrimination. The slogan of no human is limited to any action that must adopt. The transition from one era to another depends on how women are valued and their contribution to economic development. Feminism and communism have remarkable similarities in that they pose critical information about womens lives and how they survive through the process.

References

Drakuli, S. (1992). How we survived communism and even laughed. Hutchinson.

Davis, D. (2020). The Hitler Youth & Communism: the impacts of a brainwashed generation in post-war politics in Eastern Germany. Saber and Scroll, a Publication of the APUS Historical Studies Honor Society Journal, 8(3). Web.

Gaido, D., & Frencia, C. (2018). A Clean break: Clara Zetkin, the socialist womens movement, and feminism. International Critical Thought, 8(2), 277-303. Web.

Zetkin, C. (2017). Rosa Luxemburgs views on the Russian revolution. Red Star Publishers.

Karl Marx was a German philosopher, currently known for such works as Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto. During his lifetime, he was not that popular among his contemporaries, however, later, he gathered a large number of followers. In the latter work, Marx criticizes the current system and current ruling class. In the following text, I will review one of the passages from The Communist Manifesto.

In the first chapter, where Marx depicts the differences between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat and how their lives are affected by the domination of the former as a ruling class. In one of the paragraphs, he states how the use of machinery and the classification of labor deprives the work of the proletarians of its individuality and appealing features. The philosopher then emphasizes the severity of the situation by stating that the member of the working class becomes a part of one complicated system, while being defined solely by it and confining them to the equality of the cost of production and commodity (Jacobus, 2017). The paragraph is concluded by describing the further deterioration of the proletariats working conditions.

In a way, with this statement, the philosopher implies that in capitalism (which is then stated explicitly in other paragraphs) turns the worker into a slave. Obviously, this opinion suggests that the person will then be deprived of the required number of means to survival (Jacobus, 2017). This position attempts to strengthen itself by claiming that with the further classification of labor and more frequent use of machinery, the working conditions may then become more unjust and inhumane.

However, this perspective is rather inaccurate due to a couple of reasons: personal bias and pessimism. Marx seems rather biased towards his perspective of what is right. This, in a way, makes him reminiscent of the very people he criticizes in his manifesto. The second reason is intertwined with the first, as Marx believes that if his viewpoint is not supported, disaster will follow. Certainly, no one can predict the future, though, as time progressed, more emphasis was later placed on human rights as a result of activism. This statement by no means implies that the required progress has already been made. Nonetheless, it should be achieved with a more emotionally neutral perspective. That way, the problem that Marx depicts in this passage, can find a better solution.

Reference

Jacobus, L. A. (2017). A world of ideas: Essential readings for college writers (10^th ed.). Bedford/St Martins.

Introduction

The 20^th century saw the passing existence of all the ideologies but socialism and communism lasted longer before giving in to democracy. Between the two, Communism has lasted longer than socialism in the 20^th century (Furet, 2000). Deeper roots and a widespread extension are evident in communism with its survived experience. Capitalism and the evolving history were instrumental in the establishment of socialism and communism. The new ideologies sought to eliminate the problems in capitalism. Socialism was first established but it soon underwent a transition to communism. However, later democracy took the upper hand. The word Socialism was first coined by Robert Owen, the father of the cooperative movement in Britain immediately following its introduction as Marxism in Russia (Russell, 1972). It is mainly concerned with the economy rather than politics. Emphasis began to be laid on the basic income which was the ideal situation envisaged by many philosophers and ideologists for the common man or the worker class to preserve his rights of an income sufficient for his survival. The origin of the Labour Party of Britain was a sequel to the clamor for workers rights. The unity of Trade unions and the Trade Union Congress saw the evolution of several conditions for employment and work contracts which assisted both the working class and their employers to a certain extent. The conflicts were managed by the leaders mostly to the benefit of workers.

The Ills of capitalism

Capitalism indicated a concentration of power and wealth in a handful of individuals with a working-class of people who suffered for this. The exploitation of these people was the main feature of capitalism. Inequality was a prominent problem with profits meant only for the capitalists (Einstein, 2000). The profits were enjoyed by a few individuals and further reinvestment brought further profits. Politicians could not totally abandon the capitalists as their money and muscle power were needed for their political survival. The working class had difficulty in securing the backing of the politicians. Even the media and education facilities were in the hands of the powerful capitalists. The frustration that capitalism produced, the unemployment, the poor pay, and the infringement of the rights of the working class together must have provoked the society into socialism and communism.

The reaction

Socialism was a reactionary move to capitalism. Freedom, justice, and equality were the catchwords. Those in power had difficulty obliging and surrender their power and wealth(White, 2008). White commented that socialism through a democratic change preserved freedom better than through a forcible manner (2008). Individual liberty included the right to vote, securing employment, and worshipping freely. Freedom from interference and the ability to be in charge of ones own life constituted the targeted feature. Inequities that arise due to physical or social class were to be removed through socialism. The fraternity was to offer their complete support to the transition increasing the feeling of belonging to a community. Real humanizing socialism was found in the poor working class who possessed the basic and simplest of values according to the opinion of George Orwell, the great thinker who was the prophet of Utopias (White, 2008).

Basic Income

The basic income is the first principle of Liberal neutrality (Howard, 2005). Any policy on employment includes the basic income and changes are inevitable according to the changing times and trends. Individuals strive for a good life whatever ideology they follow; they conform to the theory of justice with moral commitments to the priority of justice with ideas about the making of a person or goods or thoughts which are acceptable or condoned by most individuals (Howard, 2005). What was included as wages usually did not convey the real wages of manual labor as indicated by Mr.Giffen in the Associated Iron and Steel Workers (Spyers, 1894, p. 49). Much money out of the £867,000,000 represented their expenditure abroad; however, how much was spent on labor was hardly mentioned. It was difficult to differentiate wages from profit and the nature of interest. It was impossible to have the labor ability or capital investment diminished. The exact figures would have interested socialists who would have disapproved: the extent of money attained by the capitalists and the wages of the working class (Spyers, 1894, p.49). The minimum rates if mentioned, the employers would have refused to increase it during good times. Workers would prefer to have a fluctuating income based on the profits of the industry concerned but they yearn for stability. They believed that an Act of Parliament would influence the fluctuations.

The consensus opinion of the Socialist and Trade Unions was that they should lead the market rather than follow it (Spyers, 1894, p.55). The hours of labor was another bone of contention; the eight-hour day was a suggestion long spoken of. Many unionists protested that they would be unable to make up for the loss in money during the depression if the eight-hour schedule was imposed on them. They were the shoemakers, nut and bolt makers, and hand nail makers who were a small minority. The more modern of establishments had to conform to regulated hours with the innovations in technologies. Miners, blast-furnacemen, enginemen and firemen, locksmiths, whitesmiths and cutlers, dockers, seamen, omnibus and tram drivers, railway servants, workers in textile trades, hosiers, boat clickers, carpenters, masons, painters, cabinetmakers, chemical-workers, coach-makers, gas-workers, printers and bakers preferred regulated hours (Spyers, 1894, p. 69). Many wanted the regulated hours so that more vacancies were propagated and employment for more. In some of the industries, the shorter hours meant higher cost of production. Employers liability to the personal safety of his employees was another subject of discussion. The terms of the contract of service was to include the safety measures. The transition from the 19^th to the 20^th century had all the above ideas about employment for the working class with the ideas of socialism and communism incorporated on the way.

The Labour Party

This political party of Britain had its origins in the labour unions. It was believed to have originated from the TUC which has socialist affiliates in 1990 (Minkin, 1991, p. 3). Adverse conditions were prevailing over the nation when this happened. The Conservative Government was dominating and mostly indifferent to the needs of the people. The selection of the candidates from the labour unions was unacceptable by the middle class people. Organised labour was frowned upon by the judiciary then.

Trade union freedom which was not condoned by the judiciary was actually triggered into bigger proportions by their attitude and the Taff Vale judgement of 1901 (Minkin, 1991, p.3). In 1918, the adult Party officially embraced Socialism. Individual membership in the different parties which fed the adult party was recognized. In 1922, the strength of the Labour Party led it to become the Opposition Party formally. Minority Governments were formed by it in 1924 and 1929. In 1931 some of the leaders revolted and formed the National Government. In the next year, the Independent Labour party separated from the family of parties. The Trade Union Congress then attempted to facilitate a new relationship with the remaining parties. It also claimed the right of a parent to foster a new relationship within the family as frequent conflicts and the imminence of separation disturbed the harmony. The relationship survived as the family concept worked to a great extent. The participant unions provided the financial, electoral and organizational backing while the parent party protected them politically (Minkin, 1991, p. 4). The terms of contract, compact and partnership were more understood. The leadership of the TUC was believed to subject the political leaders to subordination. Soon a mafia movement was evident among the union leaders where votes were exchanged for political ambitions. The unions which were participants of the TUC were also members of the Labour party and controlled the Labour party permanently. The Labour Party had many dominant leaders. The trade unions contributed affiliation fees, donations and grants and sponsored many candidates for parliament. The constitutional rules of the Party incorporated the obligations to the unions. This automatically provided the unions sufficient scope for affecting the policies and composition of the Party. The cooperation between the unions and Party was necessitated by a constitutional rule and considered a duty. Members of the Party who intended to be members of the TUC had to be trade unionists after 1924. The party was taken to be the political loudspeaker of the Trade Unions. The movement came to be known as the Labour movement. It had a series of institutions which protected the interests of the workers in their roles as producers, consumers and political citizens (Minkin,1991, p. 4). The Movement evolved into a strong one with motives described as producers. The real interests of the consumers were missed. The cooperative institutions were not given an equal status. In turn, they refrained from taking an active part in the Party. The Labour Movement demonstrated unity between the unions and Party, the former industrial and the latter political. The unwaged and the women were under-represented.

The trade union relationship with the Labour party was maintained with restraint. Each functioned with care within its own focus. The leaders were careful in restricting their activities within their own circle and never interfered in the internal affairs of the other (Minkin, 1991, p. 26). In the 1920s and 1930s, efforts were made to rejuvenate the relationship and the functions of each. A committee for bridging and rebuilding the two was formed. Many obligations and guidelines were refreshed. The relationship of the TUC with the Labour Party was one of self control and was acceptable to the democracy of Britain. The trade union values included freedom, democracy, unity and solidarity (Minkin, 1991, p. 27). Their operative principle was priority.

Industrial freedom was of significant value. Subordination of an employee would be questioned and the management will be approached for arguing the employees position. The collective move enhances the liberty of the individual employees. They have a control over their workplace. Where previously they would have starved or been sick or gone hungry, their living style would have changed. Hurdles, internal or external, are handled better. Individuals sometimes have to face difficulties in one direction when trying to grow better in another. Maximum membership within the trade unions was necessary to fight for their rights. Collective freedom was incorporated in the Labour Movement. Hostility from the employers and judiciary was evident. The Party took care to protect industrial freedom (Minkin, 1991, p. 28). Autonomy and collective capacity were also protected. Limitations had therefore to be placed on the party activity of the leaders. The TUC was considered a separate body with a different function. Around 1925 the unified relationship ended. The TUC reserved the right to meet the Government on matters of representation in its integrity as a distinct body and decided to be the agency to be consulted by the Government. The TUC set aside its constitutional obligations to the Labour Party (Minkin, 1991, p. 29). The finances of the TUC were since then not used for the Labour party. TUC developed its own bureaucracy and philosophy. The autonomy of the constituent unions and the TUC as a whole were protected from the Party. The leaders of the member unions had their activities restricted. TUC realized that the party had their own functions and needed some freedom of discretion. Adopting a defensive attitude and status protectiveness, the trade unionists remained the administrators of the party. Party autonomy was crucial in that none of the affiliated associations or the TUC could use the sanctions of the Party against the Government so that the movement could continue. After 1931 there was a period of misunderstanding between the TUC and the Party. On several occasions, the TUC showed their reluctance to participate by attempting to reverse the decisions of the Party. The unions did not want to be taken fore granted. Initiative and power showed a transition. Activities which were being done together were now avoided. The autonomy of each institution was preserved. Simultaneously attempts at join together and share their activities were also being done. The TUC tried to assert its right to initiate matters for discussion and participate in them (Minkin, 1991, p. 30). There were frequent issues of conflict which were attempted to be resolved.

Democracy indicates a chain of representation which takes one to the national policy makers in a proper channel. Trade unions would be committed to democracy just as there is parliamentary democracy. Both the Labour movement and the Parliamentary democracy were believed to reinforce one another. However the Hastings Agreement of 1933 which restricted the level of union financial sponsorship was a practice reform. The needs of the party were recognized by the union leaders. Fusion was attempted; the unions joined in the selection of Parliamentary candidates. Trade union finances were restricted. The union understood the party requirements. The candidates had to refrain from speaking of financial support before the selection process was complete (Minkin, 1991, p. 33). However it was always possible to guess at the extent of contribution possible when a candidate from a particular union participated. All knew that cash considerations were significant but the issue was under-played. Accusations were already underway about the cash involvement. The union contributions to the Party were restricted or prohibited. Later another rule came into being: delegates were not to be considered as representatives of unions; they were all individuals. Unions tried to influence their candidates though the ballot was secret. The rules continued as such and accepted till 1987 when another reform was established. Party requirements were thereby adhered to by quiet acceptance. There was a problem with the constitutional authority of the Party: the Party Conference which had a majority of union candidates oversaw the Party constitution and Standing orders. The policy and principles were laid down by the Conference. Bones of contention were decided by them. The decisions made were implemented at the Party level and Parliament level (Minkin, 1991, p. 35).

Socialist groups considered this Party Conference as essential for the growth of the movement. Other groups of leaders used to question the propriety of the Conference. After there was a weakening of the authority of the Conference in the 1920s, a reaffirmation was made in the 1930s.

Unity, which was essential to the movement, was to be preserved. Occasions of conflicts between managers and unions cultivated hostilities between the two groups.

The Bridlington Agreement of 1939 attempted to root out the problems. The TUC was strong in the 1920s as the national centre of the industries. Election processes were performed in a correct manner. Canvassing or buying of votes were forbidden. Industrially based rules allowed the unions to oversee the NEC elections. Left radicalisation of the NEC was not possible however (Minkin, 1991, p. 36).

Solidarity was a feature of trade unionism and marked the loyalty of the working class leaders to the collective community. The workers were assisted when they had any disputes. The Party supported the trade unions in their efforts. The attempt to observe majority decisions could hurt the opinions of minority groups or be insensitive to them. Trade unions have been known to back a disciplinarian in their union. Issues have never required the services of an outside union. In 1931, there was a reinforcement of the TUC with the Party. Close collaboration between the TUC and the NEC with exchange of policy papers was initiated.

Priorities was a working principle in relationship to the Labour Party. The union activity and the political activity were coordinated by the principle of priority. Most of the union leaders had become socialists. The socialists supported public ownership rather than private (Minkin, 1991, p. 40). The priorities were the immediate problems of the Industrial workers. Collective bargaining and negotiation were the techniques involved in problem solving.

Changes which were significant occurred in the unions in the 1960s (Minkin, 1991, p.159). Many of the leaders became Leftwing and this transition threatened the relationships earlier formed and strengthened between the TUC and the Labour Party.

Changes in behaviour and institutional loyalties were evident. An upheaval of issues was observed. This raised the question as to how the Labour party could withstand the change. They could adopt the socialist ideology and elicit a change in the rules and leadership and weaken the Parliamentary leadership. Another change could be that trade unionism could be in itself a radicalizing force in the transition to Socialism.

After 1967, Leftwing leaders were recognized in 4 of the 5 large unions. The Rightwing block vote completely floundered (Minkin, 1991, p. 162). The unions kept moving from right to left and then back to right. These cross currents were significant for the Socialist leaders who became outnumbered many times. The Popular Front period, the Cold War hostile incidents and the emergence of communism were the immediate experiences. Even the prominent two Socialist leaders had arguments and differences of opinion based on personal experience, union tradition, union composition and ideological values (Minkin, 1991, p. 163). The two Socialist leaders retired and soon changed their ideology to that of the right. New socialist leaders were watching their frequent changes of behaviour. The changed leaders attempted to support the Labour Party. The issues of wages, protection of real living standards, price controls, rents and food subsidies were the problems mentioned in the Social Contract (Minkin, 1991, p. 166). Union leaders refrained from providing strong opinions.

Prices rose by 17% while wages rose by 24 % and very disproportionately. This caused inflation. In the mid 1970s, a steep rise in unemployment was noticed. Excessive wages were thought to be the cause of the problem. Leaders including the retired Socialists attempted to prevent the mass unemployment and restore the confidence of the international community. A new policy for incomes was drawn up. Soon a gap was noted between the Labour Party policy and the TUC economic policy. After 1977 a deflationary policy was adopted. The policies of the union leaders who kept changing their ideologies produced many problems in the economy of Britain in the 20^th century.

Conclusion

Socialism and communism were the political thoughts which tried to replace the socioeconomic problems of capitalism in the 20^th century. The attempt was successful only to a certain extent in that there were many new problems with the new ideologies. Moreover individuals who were the leaders themselves changed their thoughts so that disunity fell into the previous united front that the Trade Union Congress offered. The transition that was triggered through democratic means was found to produce better results than that through forcible methods. Conflicts began to break out between employers and employees. Public ownership was preferred but leaders preferred not to make strong contentions for issues. Inflation was the result seen as a 17% rise in prices when the wages rose by 24%. Economic problems changed but resolutions could never completely satisfy anyone.

References

Einstein, A. (2000). Why socialism? Monthly Review, Vol. 52, Issue 1, p. 56, Monthly Review Foundation Inc.

Furet, F. (2000). The passing of an illusion: The idea of communism in the twentieth century University of Chicago Press, London

Howard, M. W. (2005).  Basic Income, Liberal Neutrality, Socialism and Work. Review of Social Economy, Vol. 63

Minkin, L. (1991). The contentious alliance:Trade unions and the Labour Party, Edinburgh University press, Edinburgh

Russell, B. (1972). A history of Western philosophy, Touchstone, p. 781

Spyers, T.G. (1894). An epitome of the evidence and the report of the Royal Commission on Labour Published by Swan Sonneschein and Co.Ltd.:London, Royal Commission on Labour

White, R. (2008). George Orwell: Socialism and Utopia Utopian Studies, Vol. 19, Issue 1, Society for Utopian Studies

Introduction

Joseph McCarthy was famous for his anti-communist rhetoric that resulted in the emergence of a trend called McCarthyism. In one of his speeches, the politician outlines his anti-communist agenda and calls for immediate measures that had to be undertaken by the government and by the people of the United States. In the speech delivered in West Virginia on February 9, 1950, McCarthy expressed his concerns regarding the major threats associated with the spread of communism in the world and within the USA.

Main body

When describing communist nations, McCarthy stated that those were atheistic countries ready to attack due to their ideology. The politician stressed that those people and especially their leaders had no morality and longed for the destruction of the Western world (McCarthy, 1950). The congressman referred to Stalins words concerning the world revolution and the future collision of the communist and Christian states. It is noteworthy that McCarthy focused on faith rather than economic or political agendas. This choice may be explained by his desire to appeal to his audience and gain peoples support.

One of the peculiarities of this speech is its emotional load, exaggeration, and lack of evidence. He provided figures as to the spread of communism and named several traitors (as he put it). However, when mentioning the number of people pertaining to the communist camp, he spoke about millions of people who were under the direct influence of communists. His estimates were far from being true, and he never noted the exact countries or nations.

When referring to the words of Soviet leaders, McCarthy did not provide the context, which makes his conclusions questionable or even invalid. Due to these weaknesses, his speech can be seen as a set of threats rather than an analysis of the political situation in the world.

It is possible to draw parallels between McCarthys words regarding communism and Islam especially in the aftermath of the 9/11 bombings. Politicians often distort facts and exaggerate the role this religion plays in US society. They describe various threats associated with Islam and concentrate on potential wars in the Christian world. They do not bother explaining the essence of the religion and the way the vast majority of people practicing it live. They do not shed light on the values those people share. American politicians draw public attention to extremists and their acts, which contributes to the development of anti-Islamic rhetoric in the United States.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is necessary to note that drawing lines between anti-communist and anti-Islam rhetoric is valid. People who lived in the 1950s and people living in the 2010s are bombarded with similar messages that artificially divide the world into different camps. This approach is detrimental as it prevents nations from collaborating and being committed to a common goal. It is important to abandon this practice and try to focus on similarities between individuals and religions that can bring unity rather than things that make people hostile.

Reference

McCarthy, J. (1950). Enemies from within speech delivered in Wheeling, West Virginia (1950). Web.

Thesis Statement

The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels was claimed to argue about social division and class exploitation. In spite of the fail of communistic regimes in most parts of the world, and the democratization of the former Socialistic camp, the division of the society is still present.

Discussion

It is necessary to emphasize that the manifesto itself starts from the essence of the word problem (as Marx saw it). The class struggle was regarded as the basis of social relations all over the world, and, Marx considered that every epoch in the world is featured with the exploitation of the lower classes by the upper. Marx felt that the end of this process is quite possible, and the working class will be able to eliminate all the other classes, which exploit it. If there is only one class in the society, there will be no more exploitation, and the progress would be much faster. Originally, Marx was right as for the social division and class exploitation, however, he misunderstood the further process, and gave wrong forecast as for the dominating class.

As for the nowadays, it is necessary to mention that the social division is clear and fully coincides with the tendency, which was described by Marx in his manifesto. Marxism is one of the leading schools in the International relations theory, and the followers of this paradigm claim that social division is inevitable for the progress. Moreover, neo-Marxism by Wallerstein has also gained popularity within the social and political theorists. This theory argues that the world is divided into three areas: Center, Semi-periphery and Periphery. This paradigm is essentially relevant in the conditions of world globalization, appearing of the transnational corporations, international outsourcing etc. Thus, representatives of the Center create the industrial areas in Periphery and Semi-periphery. These two areas strive to become a center of the world system, while the finances (capitals) are flown into the center from Periphery and Semi-periphery. It is also necessary to mention that the world division according to neo-Marxism presupposes the buffer role of the semi-periphery (classical Marxism does not have any notion of the buffer), and protects center from periphery. Furthermore, the Semi-periphery is used as the source for highly-estimated working power, which will be working in the center, and increase the financial flows from periphery and semi-periphery to the center. This division is more contemporary in comparison with classical Marxism, however, it proves the essence  Marxism is still relevant to the political and economic challenges of our time. As the highly developed countries aim to take the industrial production off their own territories, create the possibility to get protected from the countries of the third world, and search for talented workers in the developing countries.

Conclusion

The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels can still be regarded as relevant to the nowadays political social and economic situation; however, there is no more class struggle. In spite of this absence, the class division may still be observed. The Marxism theory developed into neo-Marxism, which is even more relevant to the contemporary world situation. The country of the Center is the contemporary bourgeoisie, which exploits the working class of Periphery, and uses the brain sources of semi-periphery. The overall picture has changed, however, the essence stayed the same.

References

Love, Nancy, S. Understanding Dogmas And Dream. CQ Press, 2006

Introduction

Within his speech in the State Department, Joseph McCarthy defined communist nations as a significant threat to the USA. He stated that world domination is the ultimate goal of communist leaders. Thus a global conflict between two political systems becomes inevitable. At that time, the Soviet Union was expanding its influence to more and more states in Europe and Asia. Therefore arguments declared by Senator McCarthy seemed reasonable for American citizens.

Despite the increasing military power of the Soviet Union, McCarthy said that the primary danger to national security was domestic communism. He brought charges to those who have been treated so well by this Nation (McCarthy, 1950), members of the U.S government. McCarthy claimed that he possesses an inclusive list of infiltrators who intent to undermine political order and overthrow democracy in the USA. He did not call them by their names and provoked by that an overwhelming public interest in identifying the secret enemies of the state.

Main body

Investigation of subversive actions in the USA was in the sphere of activity of The House Un-American Activities Committee, a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Approximately three million government employees were tested on their allegiance to the state within the frame of the Federal Employee Loyalty Program. Thousands of people were marked as communist sympathizers, fired from their jobs, and arrested. Investigative hearings conducted by McCarthy were concerning not only politicians but also artists, scientists, and other public figures. Charlie Chaplin, Leonard Bernstein, Orson Welles, and many other talented Americans were blacklisted and harassed by the FBI. Those who cited the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination or refused to appear to hearings were accused of contempt of Congress and often sent to prison. Some chose to cooperate with authorities and testified against their friends and colleagues.

Political paranoia gained further momentum in the USA due to some real evidence of the growing military power of the Soviet Union and its allies. Nuclear weapons were successfully tested that increased fear and contributed to the strengthening of McCarthys influence on public opinion. According to Oshinsky (2019), Americans portrayed the Communists as evil people and supported the extreme measures like the deportation to Russia (p.92). Aggressive rhetoric was also fueled by the fast spread of communist supporters in the world, from Eastern Europe to the Middle East.

Although some State Department employees were implicated in real espionage for the Soviet Union, most of the accusations turned out to be falsified. Panic in the society was used by authorities to defame political opponents within the US government. Gradually people in the USA recognized that measures taken to prevent the spread of hostile activity caused more damage than communists themselves. As authorities faced public pressure supported by a number of journalistic investigations, they had to stop bringing unjust accusations.

McCarthy proved his professional incompetence and resigned in 1954. He never presented to the public that list of Kremlins agents which triggered panic among the American populace in 1950. Soon it became clear that the danger of the red threat was exaggerated. Unfortunately, by that time, a great number of lives had been irrevocably destroyed. Although innocent people were rehabilitated after Red Scare ended, their reputations had been seriously damaged. The political climate was characterized by total mistrust and unbalance as leftist groups were suppressed, and everyone in the government feared accusations of espionage.

The paradox of the Red Scare was in the fact that the government was fighting for democracy using non-democratic tools. Political intimidation led to limitations of freedom and violations of the civil rights guaranteed by the US Constitution. The atmosphere of conspiracy and suspicion was a symptom of profound instability in American society (Feffer, 2019). Even after McCarthyism subsided, the consequences of mass persecutions continued to reverberate in the USA for a few subsequent decades. The authorities were totally discredited in the eyes of Americans and had to come up with a new political agenda.

Similar processes of mass prosecutions took place in other countries throughout history, but as a rule, they occurred in states with totalitarian regimes. Governments in those cases neglected principles of liberty in the name of national power. Thousands of innocent people were prosecuted and condemned to death in the Soviet Union during The Great Terror when Stalin was a leader. Nowadays, public executions for dissidence and espionage are still carried in North Korea where the government uses propaganda to manipulate public opinion and retain power. Discrimination and deprivation of basic human rights and freedoms is a common feature for a high number of regimes in the Middle East.

Conclusion

In modern times Red Scare and McCarthyism are synonyms for unfair prosecutions and witch hunts. This phenomenon proved that even a democratic society might experience destructive processes in case panic and fear takes precedence over justice. The lesson is that propaganda and manipulation of public opinion may not be efficient if citizens are learned to think critically. Therefore civic education appears to be a necessary component in the development of any democratic state.

References

Feffer, A. (2019). Bad Faith: Teachers, Liberalism, and the Origins of McCarthyism. New York, NY: Fordham University Press.

McCarthy, J. (1950). Speech on Communists in the State Department. Web.

Oshinsky, D. (2019). A Conspiracy So Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Dave Eggerss The Circle is a novel about a same-name web organization that offers innovative products and services to ordinary citizens. Even though the literary piece considers the American context in the present time, it introduces some dystopian principles because the organization, the Circle, has a few features of a communist nation. Thus, Eggers uses many allusions to communism in his novel to criticize this social and political order and highlight the importance of personal freedoms.

The book under analysis presents many features of a communist society. Firstly, the Circle insists on the fact that personal privacy is outdated and even criminal. This statement refers to the case when Mae Holland, the main character, finds that her sexual encounter was uploaded to the Circles cloud (Egger 143). Even though Mae is in anger, she is convinced that nothing wrong has happened because personal privacy is not very important. This feature is characteristic of communist societies where people are motivated to disregard their rights and freedoms to achieve common goods. Secondly, another allusion to the political system under analysis is found when Mae suggests that the Circle membership should be mandatory for all citizens (Egger 266). Many communist countries have ruling parties that oblige people to enter them. Finally, the organization itself can be considered an example of such a party that wants to gain control over the masses. The justification of this claim is found when Mae offers to use the organizations website to provide various government services, including voting and licensing (Egger 267). It demonstrates that the Circle is an example of a communist country.

There is specific reasoning behind providing the Circle with numerous communist features. On the one hand, the novel reveals that this political order can be dangerous for individuals. A suitable example justifies this statement when Mercer, Maes ex-boyfriend, decided to commit suicide to escape the Circles users and search tools (Egger 315). This situation demonstrates that depriving people of fundamental freedoms and rights can be similar to killing them. On the other hand, the book under analysis reveals that a personal tragedy is not a reason for the communist system to limit its pressure on individuals. When Mae visits her best friend Annie, who is lying in a coma, she decides that the Circle needs to know her thoughts (Egger 335). This decision seems logical for the organization that wants to control everything and everyone, but it means that the Circle does not have any moral or social barriers in achieving this goal. This information demonstrates that Egger uses the given organization to reveal that a communist country subjects individuals to specific threats and limitations.

In conclusion, The Circle by Dave Eggers is a dystopian novel depicting an Internet organization that wants to control everything and everyone. Even though the book describes modern American society, the latter is full of communist allusions. For example, they include the understatement of personal privacy, the implication of mandatory membership in the organization, and the desire of the Circle to provide governments functions. These details were described in the novel to reveal that communist systems are harmful to individuals. When a person is deprived of their personal freedoms and rights, death can be a possible solution to escape this situation. Egger also concludes that this political order is dangerous because it does not have any moral limitations, implying that real-world societies should refrain from it.

Work Cited

Eggers, Dave. The Circle. Knopf, 2013.

Communism is an economic system that promotes a classless society where the public or community controls and owns the primary means of production. Globally, only a few countries, including China, Laos, Cuba, and North Korea, adopt this economic ideology. China is the most famous country due to its economic and political reliance on communist principles. According to Li (2021), communists in China adopted the Soviet model to strengthen their Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During the first few decades of the reign of the CCP, China faced various challenges as the leadership sought to transform economic and social institutions. In the 1960s, the country witnessed a political upheaval and financial crisis, which disrupted its economic performance (Li, 2021). Afterward, communist leaders led by Mao Zedong formulated measures that focused on transforming agricultural sectors while embracing new technologies in pursuit of industrialization and eradicating poverty. Currently, China is the second superpower worldwide after the United States. Despite this economic prosperity, the communist system has led to mixed reactions among Chinese and diverse views on its impact on Chinas relationship with other countries.

The communist economic system has inspired Chinese happiness in different ways. Firstly, they attribute the economic prosperity evident in China today to communism. The CCP has invested substantially in technology, urbanization, agriculture, and industrialization. Proper planning and economic stimulation through the communist approach have helped end internal conflicts that often hurt development and growth. As a result, China has enjoyed progressive growth in the last 6 or 7 decades and is currently competing economically with the United States (Li, 2021). The ability to outshine many Western economies demonstrates the effectiveness of communism in facilitating equal distribution of resources and investments in infrastructure, industries, finance, and commerce, among other sectors. Chinese are happy with their nations leadership in ensuring its progress towards becoming a superpower and inspiring its expansion in the global market, especially in Africa.

Secondly, the Chinese are also delighted with communism due to its contribution to poverty reduction. By the time CCP came to power, millions of Chinese were impoverished, mainly arising from constant civil wars and administrative bureaucracies (Li, 2021). However, adherence to communist principles by various leaders led to an agrarian revolution and citizen empowerment. Opponents of the CCP also agree that communism has played an indispensable role in eliminating poverty among hundreds of millions of Chinas residents. Recently, President Xi Jinping proclaimed a victory in achieving one of the CCPs goals of eradicating rural poverty (Li, 2021). Therefore, the Chinese are glad about their improved living standards, although some still live below the poverty line.

The communist economic system has also enhanced the Chinese culture and universal social welfare. According to Li (2021), communist philosophy supports the extensive improvement of education, healthcare, childcare provision, labor productivity, and state-directed social services. For example, the treatment of people equally under communism has led to the incorporation of all Chinese, irrespective of their gender, age, and other classifications, in nation-building. Significantly, the Chinese are happy because the government, as the custodian of the means of production, offers most citizens jobs. Communisms economic system has also enhanced the Chinese culture by strengthening traditional values such as benevolence, honesty, courtesy, harmony, and loyalty. Family emphasis has led to economic empowerment of the basic unit of society. Consequently, the Chinese appreciate government efforts to provide essential social services and unify China as a communist society.

Nevertheless, the Chinese are also unhappy with the communist economic system, mainly due to the lack of democracy. While the communist leaders emphasize establishing peoples democracy, they seem to implement contradicting principles. In reality, communist leaders, from Mao Zedong to President Xi Jinping, have interrupted Chinas progress to constitutional democracy by establishing a totalitarian state. Under President Xi, the Chinese government maintains its grasp on authority by fighting all efforts toward achieving universal values, thus eliminating any chance of a peaceful transformation to a constitutional democracy (Li, 2021). Indeed, the recent suppression of democratic institutions in Hong Kong demonstrates the violation of peoples democratic rights, including their freedom of association and free press. Therefore, the Chinese also feel that the government uses communism to disguise its dictatorial leadership, which infringes on human rights relating to their social lives and participation in economic activities.

Additionally, communism has resulted in positive and negative relationships between China and the rest of the world. Economists claim that Chinas exposure to other nations globally has decreased while that of the rest of the world to China has increased (Li, 2021). The exposure index means China is still a closed economy compared to other developed countries. However, many states are relying on Chinese products and services. China increased its trading activities with other nations after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2000 (Li, 2021). China decreased its tariffs to facilitate trade with regional partners in Asia and other parts of the world, thus becoming the leading exporter globally. The Chinese government also imports a substantial proportion of goods from its partners. In the recent past, China has been targeting developing nations in expanding its trading activities, which has led to an influx of Chinese products in many countries worldwide. The ability of the Chinese government to control factors of products has been significant in facilitating trade relations because it can limit demand and supply.

Notwithstanding, a negative relationship between China and most Western countries exists. The developed nations believe China is using communism to control globalization and extend neocolonialism among developing countries. For instance, they accuse China of granting unregulated and high-interest loans to developing nations in exchange for trade favors or using valuable resources as collateral. According to Western countries such as the United States and Germany, China is overburdening underdeveloped states with loans to compel them into trade agreements (Li, 2021). Further, the Chinese government has conflicts with capitalistic countries in the West due to the pursuit of different economic and social ideologies that do not align with free market economics. Subsequently, China accuses capitalist nations of empowering the rich at the expense of the less privileged, while the latter also condemns the former for expanding totalitarianism disguised as communism to undermine constitutional democracy.

The CCP under communism has transformed China since the mid-20th century. Despite challenges in the initial stages of the CCP administration, communist leaders have invested in establishing a classless society in China. The governments ability to control production factors has been vital in the distribution of resources and citizen empowerment. Chinese are happy that communism has led to economic prosperity over the years that have helped eradicate poverty significantly and positioned China as the second superpower nation. Nevertheless, the people of China also criticize CCP for undermining constitutional democracy despite emphasizing the dire need to fight for peoples democracy. Many Chinese believe that leaders have used communism to transform China into a totalitarian state. China has also used communism to create excellent trade relations with the rest of the world. However, the country has problems with developed nations, especially the United States and Germany that accuse the Chinese government of overburdening developing countries with unregulated and high-interest loans and undermining constitutional democracy. These conflicts with the capitalistic countries are due to Chinas pursuance of a communist economic system that does not align with their ideologies.

Reference

Li, C. M. (2021). The statistical system of communist China. University of California Press.

Cold War issues remain relevant to contemporary geopolitical relations between the US, Russia, and Europe. It is a complex topic involving the economy, military operations, and a robust ideological machine that operated both in the USA and the USSR. The Cold War is the heritage of the end of World War II. However, after the World War I, US President Woodrow Wilson took significant steps toward establishing a strict regime of non-acceptance of Soviet ideology and political isolation.

Historians understand Woodrow Wilsons motivation to spread democracy in Russian territories. The views of the President and the desire to protect the working class, perhaps, outweighed common sense and allowed Woodrow Wilson to succumb to European influence, in particular the persuasion of the French government. It is how Woodrow Wilson acquired the status of the worlds first cold warrior, armed with a sophisticated strategy for the defense of western civilization against communist totalitarianisma strategy which triumphed in 1991 (Davis & Trani, 2018, p. 93). The landing of the American military on the territories of the USSR, where people waged a bloody civil war, became a manifestation of the confrontation between the US and the USSR.

The intervention near Arkhangelsk was a blow to the Soviet troops and the Bolshevik elites. The United States made it clear through this action that it would not tolerate the Bolshevik ideology (Trickey, 2019). The exhausted army and the impoverished society were not ready to fight in distant Arkhangelsk. Now such an act by the government would be considered unfair to American society. Meanwhile, a struggle of ideologies was brewing, and the United States was directly involved in this. The coalition of Europe and the United States was fueled by the fears of European countries that Soviet influence would suppress them. Unlike the US, Europe had objective reasons to fear for its security. Europe needed military and economic support, and Woodrow Wilson agreed to be the protector.

The end of the First World War harmoniously turned into the Civil War between the Bolsheviks and the champions of Tsarist Russia. It was a brutal war that had severe consequences for the entire USSR. At the end of this war, Joseph Stalin began to approach the formation of a complex cult of personality, which would be destroyed only in the 1960s with the rise of Nikita Khrushchev to power.

The cult of personality and ideological upsurge was accompanied by collectivization (creation of collective farms) and industrialization. The USSR and its citizens were torn apart by hunger and poverty and lived without hope for a better future (From World War I to World War II and Cold War. (n.d.)). The cruelty of Joseph Stalin is directly related to the work of the Soviet special services and the repressions of citizens. The intelligentsia (writers, poets, artists, scientists, and other figures of the arts) and ordinary citizens who had no education and devoted their lives to subsistence farming fell under these repressions. Collectivization in the aftermath only worsened the situation of Soviet citizens, and the United States remained confident in its course against the Bolsheviks. However, this will end two decades later, when the US (already with another president, Franklin Roosevelt) and the USSR will be able to create a powerful coalition in the fight against Nazism.

Woodrow Wilsons actions at the end of World War I are not part of the Cold War but are rightly considered precursors by historians. Woodrow Wilson became the first American president to openly and eloquently speak against the Bolsheviks. He pursued the idea of protecting workers rights in the USSR and wanted to help Europe economically and provide military forces. The USSR was torn apart by poverty and hunger. Joseph Stalin built up his powers to form a personality cult and used the special services to repress Soviet citizens.

References

Davis, D. E., & Trani, E. P. (2018). The First Cold War: The legacy of Woodrow Wilson in U.S.  Soviet relations (1st ed.). University of Missouri.

From World War I to World War II and Cold War. (n.d.). The Free Speech Center. Web.

Trickey, E. (2019). The forgotten story of the American troops who got caught up in the Russian civil war. Smithsonian Magazine. Web.

Communism is a relatively new term but still holds its place across numerous societies across the world. Communism is a social and economic system in which all resources, such as property, are owned collectively by the classless society. This essay will look into what communism looked like in South East Asia in the 20th century and some of the various conflicts that saw the west fighting to keep their way of life and attempting to prevent the spread of communism which threatened western power and control. These battles such as the Vietnam War and the battle of Dien Bien Phu demonstrated western countries becoming involved in order to fight off the threat of communism spreading across the world. This western involvement in these conflicts was rationalized by the use of the domino theory developed by American politicians which will be analyzed in this essay to demonstrate the fear that the western world held around the potential power of communism.

Communism ideology was founded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels who both wrote and published The Communist Manifesto. They spoke of ending capitalism and felt as though people being assigned a social class was a means of exploitation, especially for the working class. In a communist society, all privately owned possessions, such as land and food, were eliminated and would belong to the community as a whole. Communism is most associated with people contributing what they can based on their ability and receiving in accordance with their needs and this promoted society being put first as opposed to the specific needs of a single person. Communism does not only focus on items or possessions but it also abolished distinct titles or categories, for example, communism promoted no difference between intellectual and manual labor. This not only extended opportunities to significantly more people but also opened up the way for unlimited human potential. While communism is still present today, there are still relevant criticisms but also elements of communism that appeal to individuals and societies. One of the main criticism of communism is the fact that some communist societies have little tolerance for other ideals, customs, and even religion which often leads to a totalitarian leadership that does not align with the traditional ideals of the communist ideology. From an economic perspective, there are also reproaches around trade and the impact a communist society could have on trade and production where there could be possible limitations on incentives to turn a profit. Alternatively, communism can also be effective in quickly achieving the goals of the society as a whole as the ideology overrides the self-interest of the individual. It is not difficult to imagine the threat that this ideology posed to the way of life in the west during the 20th century where the upper class was profiting and enjoying the advancements of the industrial revolution, the reformations in society, and having the capacity to enjoy lavish possessions. Communism threatened the very way of life and indulgence of the west and was almost considered insulting to think of a society where all were considered equal in standing and in possessions and wheat.

There are many reasons why the west did not like the idea of communism however the main fear was that of losing power and control.

World War II

A western presence has already been established in South East Asia in the 20t century and at the time of World War II. During this time, Japanese forces invaded Vietnam, and to fight them off, the political leader of Vietnam at the time formed the Viet Minh or the League for the Independence of Vietnam. This was inspired by Chinese and Soviet communism and it was hoped that this would not only push back the Japanese but would also expel the French colonial administration which had been present since the 19th century.

The Domino Theory

To justify its involvement in the Vietnam War and support South Vietnam’s non-communist ruler, the United States of America used the Domino Theory. The Domino theory was a notion to arise from the Cold War that suggested that a communist government or leadership in one country would quickly result in communist takeovers in neighboring countries and each subsequently falling to communism much like a game of dominos. It was feared that communist control in Vietnam would lead to communist victories in neighboring countries such as Thailand, Caboaid, and Laos and eventually reach Japan, India, and even Australia, and New Zealand. This theory was spread and stressed the strategic importance of the United States of America involving themselves in the war in order to prevent the successful spread of communism.

Vietnam War

The most prevalent example of this was the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War essentially pinned the communist government of North Vietnam again South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States of America. Over 50, 000 Americans were killed in this war and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. Communist forces put an end to the war by gaining control of South Vietnam in 1975 and the following year the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. After the Vietnam War, Vietnam is united under communism and Laos also becomes communist.

Dien Bien Phu

The battle of Dien Bien Phu is another example of communist societies threatening western ideals and controls. The battle took place in 1954 and was fought between the communist-led Viet Minh and the French at a valley bordering China call Dien Bien Phu. The battle ended with the French defeated and consequently also defeated the French colonial rule in Aisa. The French significantly underestimated the military strength of their counterparts and discounted the support and reinforcement of the communist campaign.

Soviet Union

What could arguably be the initial seeds of fear planted within the leadership of the western world during the 20th century was the formation of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union came about after Russia emerged from a civil war in the early 1900s. This Marxist-Communist state would become one of the largest and most influential nations in the world. The history of the formation speaks of revolutionaries overthrowing the autocratic rulers of Russia at the time and ending decades of Romanov leadership. A civil war was ensured until a treaty was formed by the official Union of Soviet Socualused Republics (USSR). The established communist party which was led by Marxist politicians took control of the government and would expand the USSR to include 15 Soviet Socialist Republics. The cessation of World War II saw the Soviet Union’s wartime alliance with the United States of America and Great Britain diminish and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was formed as a show of western power in the face of potential communist influence across America and Great Britain. This retaliated with the Soviet Union’s consolidated power with other Eastern countries to form a rival alliance called the Warsaw Pact which instigated the Cold War. The Soviet Union continued to gain power and wealth sometimes at the expense of the citizens and this inevitably led to its downfall with its dissolving in the early 1990s. The Soviet Union did not have a dominating presence in East Asia in the 20th century, it sets the scene as to what other communist influences in the world are impacting the western dislike of a communist society.

In summary, it is evident that the West was challenged by an idea of communism that diminished the power and control of the leaders and upper class. This threat not only came from South East Asia but also other powerful communist forces such as the Soviet Union in Russia. In attempts to maintain power and control, wars were waged and thousands of lives have been lost. This is best evidenced by the Vietnam War and World War II where communism appealed to many and threatened western ideals by spreading through the South East Asian countries. The battle of Dien Bien Phu is another example where communists were underestimated and thought of as nothing more than a bunch of farmers with handmade weapons which saw the embarrassing defeat of the French. Overall, it is clear that the idea of communism and eliminating the class system threaten the very way of life that was present in the west and would promote an ideal for all men to be equal.

Bibliography

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11. Cambodia suffers under the Khmer Rouge’s genocidal communism in the late seventies. Indonesia has a strong communist party, which is influential under its first president, Sukarno (1901–1970). However, the military purged thousands of suspected communists in 1965.
12. There were sixteen thousand American advisers in South Vietnam in 1963; during the next ten years, some three million American soldiers would serve there
13. With independence, several Southeast Asian countries turn to democracy or constitutional monarchy. However, struggles between communist and anticommunist factions plague the region for much of the 1960s and ’70s.
14. But many scholars believe Indonesia’s invasion was tacitly approved by the United States and Australia to prevent communists from taking control of East Timor. Indonesia occupied East Timor from 1975 to 1999.