Global Communism: Rise, Rivalry, and Impact

1. Chapter 21: Introduction & Global Communism

2. Introduction • Communism was surrounded by ideas of equality and abundance for all. • Ex: Liberation from inequality, oppression, and exploitation. • However, it made a dismal and uncertain economic life for many. • It was seen as a threat to the Western world of capitalism and democracy. • Rivalry developed between the United States and Soviet Union (USSR) • Arms race in nuclear weapons • Collapse of communism came in the late 1980s-early 90s -- still some communist countries

3. Global Communism Modern Communism • Modern communism was rooted in the teachings of Karl Marx. • “True” communists believed that uncompromising revolution was the only way to a socialist future. • social equality, collective living, no private property. • The Soviet Union was the first country to become communist. Communism Around the World • By the 1970s, about ⅓ of the world population lived under communist regimes. The most prominent countries being Russia and China.

4. Global Communism (cont.) • Eastern Europe: Communism spreads in the wake of WWII and the presence of the Soviet military there. • Korea: The northern half went under Soviet control, therefore communist. • Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh lead a successful communist movement. • Cuba: Fidel Castro lead a revolutionary nationalist movement against the repressive government. Castro moved towards communism once he gained power. • Afghanistan: A shaky communist regime takes control in 1979. • United States: A small communist party caused fear and political repression called McCarthyism.

5. Global Communism (cont.) Warsaw Pact & NATO Alliance • Warsaw Pact brought together Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states • In a military alliance against Western Capitalist of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance • An organization named Council on Mutual Economics held Eastern European economics and Soviet Union’s economy together • Treaty of Friendship between Soviet Union and China in 1950 • Made West to believe communism was a movement aimed at their destruction.

7. Revolutions as a Path to Communism: Russia • Communist movements of 20th century self-consciously influenced by previous revolutions They borrowed the French Revolution’s idea that new and better worlds can be constructed by humans • Communist revolutions were highly organized • Committed to industrial future, economic and political equality, and abolishment of private property • Claim to act on behalf of lower classes • Communist send message of gender equality

8. Complaints of the People during WW I • Soldiers wanted an end the the Great War and hated their upper-class officers, so many deserted. • Soviets, or workers and soldiers, Spoke out publically against exploitation of the common man. • After Tsar abdicates, the Provisional Government (consisting of middle class politicians and moderate socialists) was set in place • The soviets showed more authority than the Provisional government with the famous Order No.1, which directed the military to obey only the orders of the Soviet and not those of the Provisional Government. • The provisional government wouldn’t back out of the great war, so outrage grew amongst the people. What would they do about it?

9. Impatience and outrage against Russia’s Provisional Government provided an opening for more radical groups The most effective of these groups was the Bolsheviks, who were lead by Vladimir Lenin The Bolsheviks believed a socialist revolution in Russia would be a catalyst for further revolutions in Europe Their program of “peace, land, and bread” was popular with the hungry workers Lenin’s message of an end to the war, land for peasants, and workers control of factories resonated with the growing rebellious public mood - particularly in major cities The Bolsheviks seized power in late October 1917, by staging a coup in St. Petersburg The Bolsheviks Seize Power

10. Seizing power was one thing, holding onto it was another, a three year civil war followed the Bolsheviks rise to power They harshly regimented the economy, took grain from angry peasants, and suppressed rebellions, but they also integrated lower class men into their Red Army and into the new local governments, providing them with social mobility By battling foreign troops, the Bolsheviks claimed to be defending Russia from Imperialists and protecting the downtrodden masses from their exploiters Shortly after the war ended, they renamed their country the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or Soviet Union) and set about its transformation The Russian Civil War

11. Results • For years the Soviet Union remained a communist island in a capitalist sea • Communist control moved to Eastern Europe in aftermath of WWII • Stalin acted to install fully communist governments • Both positive and negative effects as spread

12. Revolutions as a Path to Communism: China

13. China: A Prolonged Revolutionary Struggle • The Chinese Imperial system collapsed due to its own internal conflicts and foreign imperial oppression from other countries. • Karl Marx’s ideas were barely known throughout China until 1921 when the first Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was founded. • The Party mainly focused on the organization of the miniscule working class. • Over the next 28 years it grew enormously and changed strategy while adopting a new leader, Mao Zedong.

14. Japan’s invasion of China gave the CCP an opening • CCP grew from 400,000 (1937) to more than 1.2 million (1945) • People’s Liberation Army increased to 900,000 men and supported by 2 million militia troops • This support caused the CCP to waged war on the Japanese invaders • Communist mainly focused on fighting the invaders while Guomindang fighted the communist • CCP actually helped the Chinese population • As war drew to a close more radical actions followed • CCP finally addressed China’s major issues - foreign imperialism and peasant exploitation • Expressed Chinese nationalism and radical social change • Gained better reputation than Guomindang • 1949: Communist swept in victory over Guomindang • Many followers fled to Taiwan

15. Building Socialism in China • In China, Mao Zedong led the transformation to socialism. • China had to modernize their society by doing things like diminishing the long standing inequalities of gender and class and projecting ideas of selflessness and collectivism. • This helped the process of creating a political system that was predominantly Communist. • Unlike the Soviet Union, China had more people and didn’t have tons of land to occupy, most people were illiterate, and its industrial base was far smaller than that of the Soviet’s, so they really had to build their socialist society from the ground up.

16. Recruiting Women • Communism made a theoretical commitment on their liberation • In some areas under their control they established Marriage Laws • Outlawed arranged or “purchased” marriages, made it easy to divorce, and gave women right to vote and own property • Women associations enrolled thousands of women • Promoted literacy, fostered discussion of women’s issues, and promoted handicraft production such as clothing, blankets, etc. that were essential for the revolutionary forces • But male peasants and soldiers from traditional rural villages disagreed • Since communism depended on these types of males they had to modify these measures • Women couldn’t seek divorce from men on active duty, their land deeds were to the male family heads and regarded as family property, and female party member were limited to work with other women or children

17. Communist Feminism and Socialism in the Countryside

18. Building Socialism • When communist parties came to power, they began the construction of socialist societies. • The Soviet Union began their efforts in the 1920s and 1930s with Joseph Stalin. • And the Chinese constructed the socialist societies between the 1950s and 1960s with Mao Zedong. • In order to build socialism, they had to modernize and industrialize their backwards societies. • These Communist parties made an effort to prevent the making of new class/gender inequalities. • Although top-ranking party members enjoyed many privileges, they were still expected to be exemplars of socialism and stay loyal to their countries Marxist ideology. • In 1917, Russian Bolsheviks faced a hostile capitalist world alone. • Chinese came to power 30 years later with an established ally...the Soviet Union. • Although they had much more experience than the Soviet Union, their efforts to “build socialism” would have more daunting tasks to overcome. They had a much bigger population, but a smaller industrial base by far. • Even more than the Soviets, Chinese communists had to build their modern society from the ground up.

19. Communist Feminism • Women’s movements started at top level, rather than grassroots groups. • Soviet Union issued new laws and regulations regarding women- • legal/political equality • divorce made easier • abortion legal • women not required to take husband’s surnames • pregnancy leave for mandated for employed women • In 1919, the Zhenotdel organization was formed. It was lead by only women, and trained women to run daycares, work in medical clinics, and published papers aimed towards the female audience. Outlawed by Stalin in 1930. • Communist China- Marriage Law of 1950, went against patriarchal, Confucian traditions. It declared free choice in marriage, relatively easy divorce, the end of concubinage and child marriage, permission for widows to remarry, and equal property rights for BOTH spouses. • Chinese women were much more active outside the home than USSR women were. By 1978, 50% of agricultural workers and 38% of non agricultural workers were women. • “Women Can Do Anything” was a famous slogan in Communist China in the 60s. • While women had more freedom at home, the political world was still male dominated.

20. Socialism in the Countryside • After efforts of the Soviet Union building socialism, they redistributed the land on a much more equitable basis to the peasants. • Before the time their confrontational meetings came to an end in 1952, approximately 1 to 2 million landlords were killed throughout this process. • In China, despite the small resistance from wealthier peasants, collectivization during the 1950s was a generally peaceful process, owing much to the close partnership between the Chinese Communist Party and the peasantry. • This contrasted with the earlier experience with the Soviet Union and collectivization. Peasants were forced into collective farms and violence was extensive. • China, however, pushed collectivization even further than the Soviet Union did, particularly in huge “people’s communes” during the Great Leap Forward in the late 1950s

21. Communist Party Application Poster “Red China” An American Communist Poster American Socialism Poster A Zhenotdel Poster

22. Communism and Industrial Development

23. Building Socialism • Constructed New Societies • Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin in the 1920s and 1930s • China under Mao Zedong in the 1950s and 1960s • Correcting old societies • Destruction of inequalities • Heavy modernization • Selflessness and collectivism • Totalitarian rule • No other parties • State controlled economy • Media heavily controlled

24. Russian Bolsheviks (Communists) gained power in hostile environment • Communists in a capitalist world • Little experience • Mostly in cities • Chinese communists had a very different situation • Russia already communists • Much more experience • Everywhere • Much larger population to convince • Little industrialization • Less available farm-land • Much better educated • Had to completely rebuild society

25. Communism and Industrial Development • The Soviet Union and China defined industrialization important to their government • It was necessary to end poverty, provide economic basis for socialism, and creating military strength • The Chinese and Soviet Union had begun to industrialize which boosted economic growth • Stalin was for industrialization because it brought in many talented and privileged people that became the ruling class • Mao Zedong was against it because he thought it would lead China toward inequality

26. Communism and Industrial Development continued • Mao Zedong (leader of China): wanted to stop industrialization, revive revolutionary spirit because it fueled Communist Party. • Mao and followers realize: Soviet Industrialization- leading China away from Socialism, towards inequality. • Mao stops it with The Great Leap Forward (1958-1960)-small industrialization, ed. for all • Leads to full communism and then famine because not enough industrialization to produce food • Then Mao starts The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution to stop capitalism, new policies to help industrialization under local control (not central control) • Creates a different model of modern socialism from Soviet Union

27. Communism and Industrial Development continued • Cultural Rev. also Rejects Feminism, says genders are equal, - Males still higher • “Iron Girls”- short hair, army clothes, curse, strong, seen as revolutionaries • Factories want women- patience, dexterity • Women sexually abused by male officials in rural areas • *Maoist efforts to equalize rural/urban and men/women FAIL (End of Chinese section) • Most communist industrialists put trust in that people will build big factories, farms, etc. • Soviets- anti-environment/nature, causes environmental destruction, bad legacy • Magnitogorsk- air/water pollution, Extreme Cultivation ruins soil, Diverting rivers runs the Aral sea loses 90% water *Erosion, Salinization, Swamping- ruin ½ of country land • Food contaminated, surface water polluted, cites extremely polluted

28. The Search For Enemies Chapter 21: Rise and Fall of Communism

29. Introduction • Old regime remnants and high-ranking party officials were considered the “enemies” for being corrupted • Both revolutions attacked holdouts from the pre-revolutionary order. • They also turned on the revolutionaries themselves, arguing that they were betraying the true revolution or were being corrupted by power. • The search for enemies in Soviet Union was controlled by the state, but in China is was more of a public process

30. Conspiracies • With both Stalin and Mao in control, conspiracy theories grew that seemed impossible. • Said many old revolutionaries were aiming to wreck the revolution, and were talking to countries hostile to communism. • A lot of the theories involved high ranking members of the party. • Class struggle continued and intensified with socialism growing closer.

31. Stalin’s Terror and Great Purge, 1936-1941 • Stalin launched a bloody attack on his perceived enemies within the party. • Cores of party members were arrested and sometimes put on trial but most were often shot or sent to Siberia. • Close to 1 million people were executed in Stalin’s attack. While an additional 4 or 5 million were sent to the gulag (labor camps) where they were forced to work in horrendous conditions and died in appalling numbers • the Terror consumed huge corps of officials, investigators, interrogators, informers, guards, and executioners, most of them were arrested, exiled, or executed in the the purges.

32. Mao’s Red Guards in the Cultural Revolution 1966–1969 • Mao launched his attack on the party by mobilizing youth groups known as Red Guards who attacked local party and government officials, teachers, intellectuals, factory managers, and others they defined as enemies. • His assault on the party combined elements of a power struggle, an ideological conflict, and a generational conflict. Rival revolutionary groups soon began fighting with one another, violence erupted throughout the country, and civil war threatened China. • Mao was forced to call in the military to restore order and the Communist Party control. Mao’s and Stalin’s actions discredited socialism in the eyes of many around the world.

33. Chapter 21, pages 1054 - 1057 Military Conflict and the Cold War & Nuclear Standoff

34. Where was the Cold War? • Mainly Europe -- Soviet influences from Eastern Europe conflict with American/British democracy and capitalism in the west • Results in opposing military alliances -- NATO and Warsaw Pact • Iron curtain: the fortified border between Eastern and Western Europe • No projectile war happened, though tensions flared (especially in Berlin) • Communism in Asia led to the Cold War becoming global -- had “hot wars”: • North Korea’s invasion of South Korea in 1950 left the Korean Peninsula divided to this day

35. The Map of the Cold War

36. Communist North Vietnam and communists in South Vietnam attempted to form a single state in the 1960s, leading to American intervention to stop the spread of communism (which failed due to protest at home and Vietnam’s support from China and the Soviets) • Vietnam came under full communist control in 1975 Afghanistan: • Marxist party takes power in 1978 -- delights the Soviets with spread of communism -- land reforms and attempts to liberate women cause opposition from the largely conservative Muslim country --- Soviets launch military into a decade long war that was a “bleeding wound” -- Afghan forces supported by US • Soviets withdrew in 1989 and the communist regime in Afghanistan collapsed.

37. The Cuban Missile Crisis • Fidel Castro gained power in 1959 -- nationalized American assets -- US sought to overthrow him -- this pushed him closer to the Soviets -- began viewing himself as a Marxist • Soviets fear losing Cuba to the US -- Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev began to develop nuclear tipped missiles in Cuba to discourage the US • The bombs were discovered in 1962 -- for 13 days US forces blockaded and prepared to invade Cuba -- it seemed likely the two would fire on one another • The crisis was averted by a deal between Khrushchev and JFK: the US would not invade Cuba if the Soviet Missiles were removed from the island

38. Nuclear Standoff and Third World Rivalry • The Cold War gave rise to the arms race with Nuclear Weapons. • After U.S. placed monopoly on weapons, Soviet Union tried especially hard to acquire them (Succeeded in 1949). • Over the next 40 years, the world moved to 60,000 warheads. • People were afraid, cities could be destroyed at any moment. • No shooting happened between the superpowers for fear of Nuclear Warheads, both sides avoided nuclear warfare because they knew it could destroy the world. • Cold War fears of communist penetration prompted the U.S. intervention. • Neither superpower dominated over its “allies”. • The Indonesian Communist party destroyed in 1965. (Half million suspected communists dead) • Egypt developed close relationship with Soviet Union in 1950’s when U.S. wouldn't help with Aswan Dam, but later in 1972 expelled 21,000 Soviet Advisors and re - aligned with United States.

40. The Cold War & the Superpowers

41. U.S. in The Cold War • World War II and the Cold War were responsible for making the U.S. a global superpower • The Cold War was created when the U.S. attempted to stop the spread of Communism in Europe and Asia • The Cold War lead to a strong or “imperial” presidency and a “national security state” in the U.S. • The U.S. president during the Cold War was Dwight Eisenhower (1953-61) • In the U.S., armed services, military research labs, and private defense industries stimulated and benefited from increased military spending and the Cold War tensions • The U.S. was the only major country to avoid devastation during WW II on its own soil

42. U.S. in The Cold War Cont. • After WWII, the U.S. became the most productive country and was THE World superpower • Along with the U.S.’s political and economic penetration of the world, its popular culture expanded as well • *** Music (Jazz, rock n’ roll, rap), food chains (McDonald's), brand names (Kleenex, Coca-Cola), and language diffused throughout the world and became popular in many countries • American movies also held 70 % of the European Market • U.S. slang and new words (Cool, groovy, Crazy) were translated to other languages

43. The Communist Side of The Cold War • On the Communist side of The Cold War, turmoil was constant • Soviet Union and China are Communist Superpowers (“Two Communist Giants”) • Stalin died in 1953, his successor was Nikita Khrushchev, and he made speeches to the Congress about Stalin’s crimes • The Soviet Union invaded their supposed allies in Hungary and Czechoslovakia to crush the movements against socialism. This harmed the image of the Soviet Union’s communism as reasonable • The Soviet Union and China opposed a lot of things - China criticized Khrushchev for backing down during the Cuban Missile Crisis, whereas the Soviet Union was indifferent to it.

44. The Communist Side of The Cold War Cont. • The Soviet Union went against China and backed down from giving them a prototype of an atomic bomb. • China was on the brink of war with them, the Soviet Union threatened a nuclear attack on their military targets • The U.S. benefited from this, and formed the Triangular Diplomacy and signed an arms control agreement with the USSR and formed a relationship with China • Nationalism became more powerful than Communism • China just came out of the chaos of the Cultural Revolution • The Soviet Union matched the U.S. with their military power • U.S. began to build up their military force • Cuba remained Communist and achieved many great things such as good education and health systems