The Soviet Union Communism and Socialism
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 9, 10
- Lesson
- Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)
Option 1: Examine the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1980s. Include the following in your discussion:
- What were the main reasons for the collapse?
- What role did the constant state of militarism and the costs of keeping up with the U.S. military buildup have on the Soviet economy?
- What role did uprisings and rebellions in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and East Germany (among others) have on the sudden collapse of the USSR?
Option 2: Examine communism and socialism.
- We hear so often today that socialism and communism are the same thing. Examine the similarities and differences between the two.
- Why do so many Americans seem to hate even the word “socialism”?
- We already employ some socialism in this country today (and for the past several decades). Examples include libraries, police departments, public education, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, public parks, roads/highways, and so on. How do these services factor into arguments for or against socialism?
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. At least one of your responses should be to a peer who chose an option different from yours. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
Writing Requirements
- Minimum of 3 posts (1 initial & 2 follow-up)
- Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside source)
- APA format for in-text citations and list of references
answer1:
Good afternoon Professor and class, I hope everyone is staying warm during these crazy times!
For this week’s discussion, I will talk about option 2.
Examine communism and socialism.
We hear so often today that socialism and communism are the same thing. Examine the similarities and differences between the two. Why do so many Americans seem to hate even the word “socialism”? We already employ some socialism in this country today (and for the past several decades). Examples include libraries, police departments, public education, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, public parks, roads/highways, and so on. How do these services factor into arguments for or against socialism?
There are many similarities between socialism and communism. They both seek an equal society where there are no social class privileges. Socialism is a “social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources…individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another” (Dagger & Ball, 2020). Communism also has a foundation of equality, where wages are set by the government, and there are no taxations. “Under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state” (Duiker, 2015). The difference between socialism and communism is that socialism involves democracy, where there is “a mixture of public sector and intervention and private enterprise” (Pettinger). Communism, on the other hand, requires an authoritarian state that controls all industries and strips individuals of their basic human rights and liberties. Socialism still upholds individual liberties and rights. So many Americans seem to hate the word socialism because it is “a word that evokes a weakened work ethic, stifled innovation, and excessive reliance on the government” (Pew Research Center, 2020). Americans find that socialism is a threat to capitalism, which they rely so heavily on. Americans love their right to be innovative and be self-made. We do have public programs that aid in our success. We have programs made for the underprivileged and elderly, like Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid for instance is for those who are underprivileged and cannot afford private health insurance. We get taxed as a whole, to contribute to pay for services those people cannot afford on their own.