Marx’s Vision vs. USSR
The Soviet Union had its roots in the Russian Revolution in 1917 in which the Bolsheviks, the majority of the Marxist Social Democratic Labour Party, defeated the provisional government and formed the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic. This sparked a civil war in which the pro-revolutionists, or Communists who were former Bolsheviks, eventually prevailed over the counter-revolutionists in 1922 and established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The leader of the Bolsheviks, Vladimir Lenin, assumed the position as head of the government. Lenin implemented many policies stemming from Marxist ideology, but they failed to come to full effect because of his death. Lenin hoped for a troika to replace him and continue with his policies, however, Joseph Stalin became the undisputed ruler and instituted his own policies, which in turn, abolished Lenin’s plans for the Soviet Union. Although life in the USSR under both Lenin and Stalin did not achieve the Marxist dream of a communist society, Lenin’s society progressed further towards it. …show more content…
First, the division of labor has come to an end, indicating that workers no longer have a single occupation, but rather people feel the need to and have the capability to perform many tasks. The second characteristic is that every person’s main desire is to interact with others during work and free time. The reason for this is because every person is considered equal, and therefore they will want to cooperate with everybody. There is also no separation of race or religion. Next, all individual ownership is abolished, indicating that all previously owned goods such as clothing and food are communally owned. According to Marx, with these points, people will live in a classless, moneyless society. As the class struggle ends, the State withers away, achieving Marx’s ultimate goal of a fully communist
The Soviet Union had its roots in the Russian Revolution in 1917 in which the Bolsheviks, the majority of the Marxist Social Democratic Labour Party, defeated the provisional government and formed the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic. This sparked a civil war in which the pro-revolutionists, or Communists who were former Bolsheviks, eventually prevailed over the counter-revolutionists in 1922 and established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The leader of the Bolsheviks, Vladimir Lenin, assumed the position as head of the government. Lenin implemented many policies stemming from Marxist ideology, but they failed to come to full effect because of his death. Lenin hoped for a troika to replace him and continue with his policies, however, Joseph Stalin became the undisputed ruler and instituted his own policies, which in turn, abolished Lenin’s plans for the Soviet Union. Although life in the USSR under both Lenin and Stalin did not achieve the Marxist dream of a communist society, Lenin’s society progressed further towards it. …show more content…
First, the division of labor has come to an end, indicating that workers no longer have a single occupation, but rather people feel the need to and have the capability to perform many tasks. The second characteristic is that every person’s main desire is to interact with others during work and free time. The reason for this is because every person is considered equal, and therefore they will want to cooperate with everybody. There is also no separation of race or religion. Next, all individual ownership is abolished, indicating that all previously owned goods such as clothing and food are communally owned. According to Marx, with these points, people will live in a classless, moneyless society. As the class struggle ends, the State withers away, achieving Marx’s ultimate goal of a fully communist