Chapter 9

Front 1

communism

Back 1

(1) A political-economic system in which all wealth and property are shared so as to eliminate exploitation, oppression, and, ultimately, the need for political institutions such as the state; (2) A political ideology that advocates such a system

Front 2

base

Back 2

The economic system of a society, made up of technology (the means of production) and class relations between people (the relations of production)

Front 3

superstructure

Back 3

All noneconomic institutions in a society (e.g., religion, culture, national identity); These ideas and values derive from the base and serve to legitimize the current system of exploitation

Front 4

bourgeoisie

Back 4

The property-owning class

Front 5

dialectical materialism

Back 5

Process of historical change that is not evolutionary but revolutionary; The existing base and superstructure (thesis) would come into conflict with new technological innovations, generating growing opposition to the existing order (antithesis)-- This would culminate in revolution, overthrowing the old base and superstructure (synthesis)

Front 6

proletariat

Back 6

The working class

Front 7

vanguard of the proletariat

Back 7

Lenin's argument that an elite communist party would have to carry out revolution, because as a result of false consciousness, historical conditions would not automatically lead to capitalism's demise

Front 8

nomenklatura

Back 8

Politically sensitive or influential jobs in the state, society, or economy that were staffed by people chosen or approved by the Communist Party

Front 9

Politburo

Back 9

The top policy-making and executive body of a communist party

Front 10

Central Committee

Back 10

The legislature-like body of a communist party

Front 11

party-state

Back 11

A political system in which power flows directly from the ruling political party (usually a communist party) to the state, bypassing government structures

Front 12

central planning

Back 12

A communist economic system in which the state explicitly allocates resources by planning what should be produced and in what amounts, the final prices of goods, and where they should be sold

Front 13

glasnost

Back 13

Literally, openness. The policy of political liberalization implemented in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s

Front 14

perestroika

Back 14

Literally, restructuring; The policy of political and economic liberalization implemented in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s

Front 15

shock therapy

Back 15

A process of rapid marketization