Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 9, 10
- Lesson
- Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)
Option 1: Examine the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1980s. Include the following in your discussion:
- What were the main reasons for the collapse?
- What role did the constant state of militarism and the costs of keeping up with the U.S. military buildup have on the Soviet economy?
- What role did uprisings and rebellions in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and East Germany (among others) have on the sudden collapse of the USSR?
Option 2: Examine communism and socialism.
- We hear so often today that socialism and communism are the same thing. Examine the similarities and differences between the two.
- Why do so many Americans seem to hate even the word “socialism”?
- We already employ some socialism in this country today (and for the past several decades). Examples include libraries, police departments, public education, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, public parks, roads/highways, and so on. How do these services factor into arguments for or against socialism?
ANSWER
Politics have always been hard for me to grasp, specifically the terminology; however, based on what we learned in this class, combined with my research for this discussion, I would say the most prominent similarity between socialism and communism is their hatred towards the increasing gap between social classes that capitalism promotes. The foundation of both communism and socialism is based on lessening the gap between the rich and the poor; however, their differences lie within how they plan to lessen this gap, and to what extent they plan to go. Karl Marx defined … To access full answer, click on the purchase button below.