When looking at political philosophy, the most
interesting one to me is the Communist philosophy. The Communist philosophy was
created by Karl Marx in his Communist
Manifesto. The philosophy is also called Marxism. The Communist philosophy
has ten essential beliefs in the platform: 1) abolition of private property, 2)
heavy income tax, 3) abolition of rights of inheritance, 4) confiscation of
property rights, 5) a central bank, 6) government ownership of communication
and transportation, 7) government ownership of factories and agriculture, 8)
corporate farms and regional planning, 9) government control of labor, and 10)
government control of education.
The inspiration for all of these ideas came from world
events like the Industrial Revolution which introduced capitalism to the world.
Capitalism gave birth to people to make money and only increased the previous
class system. This reinforced Marx’s idea that people should be on a fair and
equal playing level. People were taking advantage of the lower classes in order
to make themselves rich. Marx’s reasoning putting things in control of the
government was because the people directly control the government. This would
essentially put these categories into the hands of the people. Followers like
Vladimir Lenin used tactics to over throw the Russian Tsar Nicholas II to
implement the outlined beliefs of Karl Marx in the Communist Manifesto.
In 1917, Russia pulled out of World War I due to a
revolution in the empire. The Bourgeoisie versus the Proletariats. This was
also categorized as the Red versus the White. This philosophy inspired
thousands to rise up against their government to take back power for
themselves. Leninism developed from Karl Marx’s Communism. Lenin took over
Russia after the revolution and implemented his style of Communism dubbed
Leninism. His idea for creating a communist country was somewhat perverted from
the original Communism idea.
After Lenin, Joseph Stalin took over the Soviet Union.
Stalinism is a philosophy that is centered on policies of centralization,
totalitarianism, and the pursuit of communism. Stalin locked in Stalinism from
1922-1952 when he ruled the Soviet Union as General Secretary. He made a culture
using his philosophy that echoed a terror state. He implemented a personal cult
culture in the Soviet Union that made him an idol to the people. He made Gulags
that punished 22 million of his own citizens including his own son that died in
a Gulag.
Philosophies can have an impact on peoples’ lives in
different ways. Philosophies can brainwash civilians to carrying out
atrocities. They can also develop on each other like Communism, Leninism, and
Stalinism did. Communism was used to spark a revolution within the Russian
people. What started out as throwing over a corrupt government and founding a
Communist society and government, was manipulated into a totalitarian ruled
regime that oppressed human rights, economic rights, and other freedoms. The
power of a philosophy can uplift a culture or destroy a people. Personal
thoughts and philosophies can be influential to people. The lesson to take from
political philosophies would be to be careful what you believe and who you
follow. Keep leaders in check because what they preach and how they act don’t
always line up.
Here is a link discussing Stalinism and how it is being embraced.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/russia/article/The-Embrace-of-Stalinism
"Keep leaders in check because what they preach and how they act don’t always line up" - there's some timely advice!
ReplyDeleteLeaders typically say and do different things. In order to keep them in line we must be aware and active in how we view them.
ReplyDeleteLooking at what Lenin and Stalin did, Do you think that people are capable of forming the communist country Marx dreamed of?
ReplyDelete