The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe :: essays papers

The Collapse of collectivism in eastern EuropeCommunism is like Prohibition - its a good idea that it wont work(Will Rogers, 1927) (1)This essay will give a brief entrance to communism. It will thendiscuss the various factors which combined to bring about the recrudesce ofCommunism in Eastern Europe. It will examine each of these factors and pronounce the effect of each. Finally it will attempt to assertain whetherRogers opinion (see above quotation) on Communism is true, that is,whether communism was truly doomed to fail from the start, or whether itscollapse was a result of external influences.Communism is based on the ideas and teachings of Karl Marx as modified byLenin. At its most basic, the ideal of communism is a system in which eitherone is seen as equal and wealth is distributed equally among thepeople. There is no private ownership. The assign owns and controls allenterprises and property. The evidence is run by one leading elite. The Sovietmodel of communism was bas ed on these ideals. All opposition parties werebanned although parties who were humane to communism and who sharedthe commie ideals were allowed. All power was concentrated into the hold of the Communist party. Free press and civil liberties weresuppressed. Censorship and propaganda were widely used. There was stateownership of the economy. No private enterprise was allowed. There was a collectivisation of agriculture. The Communist Party invaded and controlledevery aspect of political, social, cultural and economic life. It was a undemocratic state with complete Communist control over all facets of life.In the early years, and up until Gorbachevs new regime, the use of forceand terror as a means of maintaining control was widespread. The first factor which contributed to the failure and ultimate collapse ofcommunism was the fact that the Communist partys domination wasillegitimate from the beginning. Lenin came to power aft(prenominal) a bloody CivilWar between those who support ed Lenin and those who unconnected the Sovietregime. To Lenin, defeat was unthinkable and he was prepared to make anyand every sacrifice to win the war and save the revolution. The forciblerequisitioning of feed and supplies was approved by Lenin. This could onlybe achieved by enforcing strict and absolute field of battle at every level ofsociety. Terror was to become the chief factor of power and Lenin wasto assume the role of dictator. This was a phenomenon which was to become asymbol of communist regimes throughout their lifetime.This trend was followed when Stalin came to power as leader of theThe Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe essays papersThe Collapse of Communism in Eastern EuropeCommunism is like Prohibition - its a good idea but it wont work(Will Rogers, 1927) (1)This essay will give a brief introduction to communism. It will thendiscuss the various factors which combined to bring about the collapse ofCommunism in Eastern Europe. It will examine each of thes e factors andevaluate the effect of each. Finally it will attempt to assertain whetherRogers opinion (see above quotation) on Communism is true, that is,whether communism was truly doomed to fail from the start, or whether itscollapse was a result of external influences.Communism is based on the ideas and teachings of Karl Marx as modified byLenin. At its most basic, the ideal of communism is a system in whicheveryone is seen as equal and wealth is distributed equally among thepeople. There is no private ownership. The state owns and controls allenterprises and property. The state is run by one leading elite. The Sovietmodel of communism was based on these ideals. All opposition parties werebanned although parties who were sympathetic to communism and who sharedthe communist ideals were allowed. All power was concentrated into thehands of the Communist party. Free press and civil liberties weresuppressed. Censorship and propaganda were widely used. There was stateownership of the ec onomy. No private enterprise was allowed. There was acollectivisation of agriculture. The Communist Party invaded and controlledevery aspect of political, social, cultural and economic life. It was atotalitarian state with complete Communist control over all facets of life.In the early years, and up until Gorbachevs new regime, the use of forceand terror as a means of maintaining control was widespread. The first factor which contributed to the failure and eventual collapse ofcommunism was the fact that the Communist partys domination wasillegitimate from the beginning. Lenin came to power after a bloody CivilWar between those who supported Lenin and those who opposed the Sovietregime. To Lenin, defeat was unthinkable and he was prepared to make anyand every sacrifice to win the war and save the revolution. The forciblerequisitioning of food and supplies was approved by Lenin. This could onlybe achieved by enforcing strict and absolute discipline at every level ofsociety. Terror was to become the chief instrument of power and Lenin wasto assume the role of dictator. This was a phenomenon which was to become asymbol of communist regimes throughout their lifetime.This trend was followed when Stalin came to power as leader of the