Chapter 5REJECTIONS OF

LIBERALISM: 20TH CENTURY

A. Totalitarianism Seeks complete control over every aspect of the people’s lives – both public and private Hierarchy Single political party One leader (or small group of elite) Radical: (Soviet Union) move towards the far left side of the economic spectrum (equality, classless

society) and complete rejection of the traditions of the past Reactionary (Nazi Germany – Fascism): move toward an idealized past and an acceptance of

economic inequality (some are naturally better than others) As an ideology, it used all the elements (past, present, future) to target the needs/desires of the

peopleo Also used: propaganda, coercive power, strict control of citizenso Conformity (and acceptance of beliefs) were achieved using:

Secret police and terror Youth groups and other organizations to promote the ideals Extensive organization: locally, regionally, nationally Indoctrination (education) Censorship Redirecting popular discontent (scapegoats) – more extensively used in Nazism

• Attempted, at all costs, to hold off/reject the values in Liberalism and the worth of the individual

B. Communism vs. Nazism: Theory and Practise

Nazi Germany and Communist Russia, although both using totalitarian ideas, were very different in their ideologies and beliefs about human nature

Fascism – supports totalitarian government World is divided into good and evil with nothing in between Nation must work together for common and spiritual goals – individually they cannot survive Need a strong leader (dictator) to achieve this

Similarities

• Dictatorship• Both often arise when

democratic gov’ts fail (Mussolini) – crisis theory

• Leader is the bearer of collective good

Differences

• Communism – people are rational (Rousseau), Fascism – people are irrational (Hobbes)

• Communism – uses reason to motivate people, accept technology and science as a means to building the future

• Fascism – emotions, hate, rejects reason and science and looks to the past for its model

C. Karl Marx

Developed his political and economic ideals that attempted to provide an overall philosophy of life

Wrote the Communist Manifesto (with Fredrich Engels) and Das Kapital The story of humanity was a history of class conflict between the owners of the means of

production and the workers All aspects of life are determined by how you are related to the means of production (owner,

worker) Believed that the Industrial Revolution caused inhumane treatment of the lower class or

workers Created 2 classes of society

1. Proletariat – workers Exploited

2. Bourgeoisie – ruling class Exploiters Selfish, owned the courts, police, media, government Believed that the proletariat should rise up in revolt against the ruling class to create

ONE class (equality)

D. Karl Marx – view on Capitalism

Central feature of capitalist system was that workers must “sell” their labour to those who owned the means of production

Bourgeoisie became wealthy because they didn’t pass the profits onto the workers Condemned the profit motive and private property – caused conflict between the classes It exploited and degraded workers Prevented humanity from achieving its potential - humans are creative and capitalism doesn’t

allow for this to be fostered Lead to economic depression, imperialism (taking of land), wars, and revolution by the

proletariat

E. Karl Marx – Role of Government One class, dictatorship of the proletariat The state would have:

- Central planning, increase production, equality (distribution, economically), work for society- “from each according to his ability to each according to his need” – motto

after transition period crime/poverty would stop, state would “wither away” (bourgeoisie power – not in structure)

Pure Communism No capitalism Would work because you wanted to work – to better society No need for a formal government structure with no more ruling class – live in a voluntary and

cooperative society

Lenin – used Marx ideas to rise the peasants up in revolt against the Tsars in Russia – Russian Revolution of 1917

USSR: UNION OF THE SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

A. The Russian Revolution: 1917

Marxist theory: Russia was an unlikely place for revolution because it was only in the process of industrialization and had not completed it

Tsars (before 1917) and Russian Government was authoritarian, inefficient, and repressiveo Problems that sparked revolution

only in beginning stages of industrialization - poor working/living conditions, low standard of living, poor economy

famine WWI: hundreds of thousands of lives lost,

starvation of people and soldiers, soldiers poorly trained and equipped, continued to fight for 3 years of war

High food prices, rising inflation, striking workers, many soldiers deserted army and/or would not stop protestors

Lenin and Bolsheviks promised “peace, land and bread”o made peace with Germany in WWI - Brest-litsovik Treatyo crushed civil war in Russia in 1918 to take controlo 1921: founded 1st communist party in Russia

Lenin is considered “Father of Communism” 1922 : Union Of Soviet Socialists Republics formed (USSR)

B. Joseph Stalin

Ruled 1927-1953: Made the Soviet Union the second most powerful nation

most “successful” dictatorship:-TOTALITARIANISM: using terror, force and propaganda to

control all aspects of peoples lives and all aspects of country

greatest achievement: rapid industrial development of Soviet Union (SU)

to industrialize, SU needed 3 factors of production - land, labor, capital

In 1928, Russia had: Increasing population (labor) Abundant amount of resources (land, cotton, minerals, oil, gas,

lumber etc.) Russia did not have the money to industrialize – Stalin needed to

find the money to do complete industrialization (no capital) with goal of increasing standard of living of people believed capitalist powers would try to crush Soviet Union -

developed and strengthen military/control

C. Stalin’s 5 year plans:

Stalin created five 5 year plans dating 1928-1953 in order to industrialize his country

The Third plan was interrupted by WWII – concentrated on the war effort instead

The Fifth plan was stopped by his death Main goals of his 5 year plans:

- Build up heavy industry- steel, coal, machinery, production of weapons- changed to oil, air crafts, chemical

Came at the expense of consumer goods – no choice, very few products for everyday life were created

Standard of living fell – especially for farmers

Collectivization of Farms (collectives) Peasant farmers had to give all production to the state Tried to rebel - were quickly stopped/killed Execution/exiling of all “enemies of the state/people” Anyone opposed to his rule As well, millions of peasants were dying from starvation

Fall in standard of living – hunger, fear, rising prices of goods Defended country from Western Capitalists and created a strong state by controlling and

owning all means of production

Note that between 1922 and 1953, Europe was being lead by 3 of most notorious leaders: Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler

CENTRALLY PLANNED ECONOMIES

A. Centrally Planned Economy - Theory

Also called: Command economy, planned economy Public or state ownership of all factors/means of production Based on Socialism – governments owns all ‘for the people’ – to create more equality Two main types of Socialism:

1. Democratic Socialism – Sweden – free elections, some individual rights, profit motive, but gov’t ownership of key industries and high taxes

2. Communist system – total public ownership, no democratic rights Politically - 3 “isms” that fall under umbrella – Communism, Fascism (mixed), democratic

socialism (mixed)

B. Centrally Planned Economy – Key Characteristics: Collective Property: Property is owned by an entire group of people (gov’t), not individual Cooperation Collectivism – produce and distribute goods together Group Incentive: Incentive refers to planning which offers the group a reward, not the

individual Central Planning Committee of economic experts (elected or not) makes all economic decisions Either the government themselves or a group acting on behalf of the government Answer the economic questions - employment, who gets goods/what to produce rather than

supply and demand Must consider scarcity