political timed test
POLI -103 Contemporary political ideologies
Maryanne Cliche
Mcliche@coquitlamcollege.com
PLAN FOR TODAY
• 1. RECAP • 2. SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM
2a) Origins and evolution 2b) Key Features 2c) Challenges
• 3. HOMEWORK
HOMEWORK
1- Read Chapters 5-6 2- Consult the resources on C4
3- Answer the following question: Name and explain two differenced between Socialism and Communism?
4- Copy the definition of these words: A) Alienation B) Social class C) Proletariat D) Bourgeoisie E) Exploitation F) Revolution
RECAP
DEFINITION – SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM
Socialism and Communism Social Community
DEFINITION - SOCIALISM
« Socialism is a body of Western teaching and practice resting upon the belief that most social evils can be cured by the transference, gradual or immediate, total or partial of the ownership of property and of the means of production, exchange and distribution from private to public control. »
Source: Sir Isaiah Berlin ( Textbook, p.147)
DEFINITION - COMMUNISM
« A political belief advocating for a classless society in which private ownership has been abolished and the means of production and subsistence belong to the community. »
Source: Collins dictionary
What is the difference between Socialism and Communism ?
• Socialism is a precursor and is considered a necessary foundation and transition in the establishment of Communism
Socialism
Did Communism ever existed in practice?
?
Human beings are; 1.Social or communal creatures 2.Caring and cooperative
SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM ON HUMAN
NATURE
VAGENT OBSTACLE
GOAL
FULFILLEMENT OF HUMAN NEEDS, SATISFYING WORK, FAIR SHARE OF PRODUCT AND PROFIT
SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM ON FREEDOM
THE COMMON OR WORKING PEOPLE
CLASS DIVISIONS, $ INEQUALITIES, UNEQUAL LIFE-CHANCES
ORIGINS
Liberalism in the 19th century Thomas More (1478-1535)
Saint-Simon (1760-1825)Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Marx’s heritage
SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM – PART 2
Early thinker
Friedrich Engels (1820-1895)
Modern thinkers or contributors
Ulyanov Lenin (1870-1924) Joseph Stalin ( 1879-1953) Mao Zedong ( 1893-1976)
Soviet Marxism- Leninism
Russian revolution – 1917
• Lenin and the Bolshevik government took power and attempted to restructure the Russian society.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION & SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM
Soviet Marxism- Stalinism
Death of Lenin – 1924
• Stalin ruled the Soviet Union and the Communist Part from 1929-1953 where he is recognized to have maintained a rule of terror and political and ideological oppression.
SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM UNDER STALIN
Chinese Communism
The Chinese Revolution – 1949
• Mao ruled China and the Communist Party where he is recognized to have experimented large- scale social and economic transformation that had disruptive results on many institutions and the Chinese population.
SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM UNDER MAO
KEY FEATURES OF SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM
1. Communism never existed in practice
• Communism is an ideal that never existed in practice. Every country that experimented with this political ideology was implementing a transitioning from Socialism.
KEY FEATURES
2. Communism & the command economy
• = Communism promotes an authoritarian command economy system that controls the wages, prices, production and distribution.
KEY FEATURES
2. Communism & the command economy – EXPLAINED
KEY FEATURES
3. Communism is dying
• = Communism lost its claim to speak for and in the name of the proletariat and Communist parties became rigid bureaucratic institutions more interested in maintaining power than ending exploitation and alienation.
KEY FEATURES
4. But Socialism is not dead
• = Socialism is still very present in the modern political landscape, and the globalization of capitalism and recent economic crisis have fueled the renewed interest for this ideology.
SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM AND THE 4 FUNCTIONS
4 Functions & Socialism and Communism
1 Explanation
1 Explanation = Class divisions ultimately always explain why things are the way they are.
4 Functions & Socialism and Communism
2 Evaluation
2 Evaluation = Conditions are good if the divisions among social classes are slight or non-existent.
4 Functions & Socialism and Communism
3 Orientation
3 Orientation = The sense of identity is based on the individual’s position in the class structure.
4- Political Program
4 Political Program
= Programs will vary, but they should always promote equality and cooperation among all members of the society.
KEY FEATURES- SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM ON DEMOCRACY
• Democracy will only happen if wealth and resources are shared and controlled equitably for the benefit of the whole community.
•Peoples’ democracy applies only to Communist countries that claim to abolish social classes.
CHALLENGES/CRITICS
• 1. Communism is an ideal that has never been implemented, the transition from socialism, never led to communism.
• 2. Communism in practice is repressive and oppressive and more closely akin to dictatorship over the proletariat than a dictatorship by the proletariat.
3. Market socialism may be the future of socialism.
DEMOCRATIC OR SOCIALISM EXPLAINED
HOMEWORK
1- Read Chapters 5- 6 of your textbook & review the resources on C4
2- Watch the VIDEO on democratic socialism from NBC and Mashable and take notes.
3- Review the political platform of the NDP party of Canada. Note 2 political actions that are in line with Socialism and explain why. ( (half a page)
4- Answer the 3 following questions: A) Why is Communism considered a dying ideology? B) Has Communism ever existed in practice? Explain your answer. C) What is democractic socialism and why can it be considered the future of Socialism? Use the videos on C4 to help you.
Preparation for group projects
1- Research your topic
2- Prepare your timeline for the next weeks
PREPARATION FOR THE MID-TERM