Communism

¤  From Latin communis – common, universal

¤  A social, political, economic ideological, and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society.

¤  A communist society is structured on the common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and the state.

Hammer and Sickle: Symbolic representation of workers and farmers working together in communist societies.

¤  Communists believe that society is ordered around the economic system of capitalism, and in two social classes: the working class and the capitalist class. ¤  They believed that the social and economic conflict

between the two classes would lead to a fundamental change in the economic system, which would also transform society.

¤  The primary means that would enable this transformation would be social ownership of the means of production.

Key Figures in Communism

¤  Karl Marx: Influential German philosopher who, with Friedrich Engels, co-wrote The Communist Manifesto (1848).

Key Figures in Communism

¤  Vladimir Lenin: Russian communist revolutionary, theorist, and politician that led the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution to victory, and established the Soviet Union in 1922. His policies and interpretation of Marxism became known as Leninism.

Key Figures in Communism

¤  Joseph Stalin: leader of the Soviet Union (1922-1952) after Vladimir Lenin withdrew from politics due to poor health. He implemented policies that came to be known as Stalinism, which featured state terror, rapid industrialization, a centralized state, collectivization of agriculture, and a cult of personality.

Key events of Communism (to 1949).

¤  1917 Russian Revolution: Russian monarchy is overthrown and the Bolshevik party led by Vladimir Lenin begins to take control of Russia, eventually creating the Soviet Union (1922).

¤  Chinese Civil War (1927-1949): China is engulfed in a civil war between the Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. Japanese invasion of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937- 1945) forced an uneasy truce between the ROC and CPC, but resumed hostilities after the war. The victory of the Communists in 1949 led to the creation of the People’s Republic of China.

¤  Ukrainian Famine (The Holodomor): Part of the greater Russian famine of 1932-3 that was exacerbated by forced collectivization. An estimated 2.5-7.5 million people died of starvation in the Ukraine alone.

George Orwell

¤  Born in British India in June, 1903

¤  Attended Eton College

¤  Served in the Indian Imperial Police from 1922-1927

¤  Taught from 1932-1934

¤  Took on the non de plume “George Orwell” after being inspired by the River Orwell in England

¤  Volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and served until he was shot in the throat in 1937.

¤  Animal Farm published in 1945

¤  1984 Published in 1948

¤  Died of Tuberculosis in 1950

Animal Farm

¤  Reflects on events from the Russian Revolution to the Stalin era in the Soviet Union.

¤  Orwell described Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin.

¤  Written between 1943-1944.

¤  Initially rejected by publishers during the war, but enjoyed massive success and popularity after the war as the Cold War began.