What was the Soviet System?
- The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917, which aimed to create an egalitarian society based on socialist ideals.
- The socialist revolution was inspired by the ideas of socialism, as opposed to capitalism. This was perhaps the biggest attempt in human history to abolish the institution of private property and consciously design a society based on principles of equality.
- The Soviet system gave priority to the state and the Communist Party, with no other political parties allowed. The economy was planned and controlled by the state.
- After World War II, the Soviet Union extended its influence over Eastern European countries, forming the socialist bloc. The USSR became a major world power, with a developed economy, extensive resources, and a comprehensive welfare system. However, it also became bureaucratic and authoritarian, stifling dissent and neglecting the needs of its citizens. State ownership was the dominant form of ownership: land and productive assets were owned and controlled by the Soviet state.
- The Soviet regime grew increasingly autocratic and bureaucratic, which made living extremely tough for its people. A lack of democracy and free expression repressed those who frequently used jokes and cartoons to voice their disapproval.
- The majority of the Soviet Union’s institutions required change since the one-party government, headed by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, had strict control over all of them and was answerable to the people.
- The desire of the people in the fifteen distinct republics that made up the Soviet Union to run their own affairs, including their cultural issues, was rejected by the party.
- Despite matching the US in some areas, the Soviet Union lagged behind in technology and failed to fulfil citizens’ aspirations. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan further weakened the system, leading to economic stagnation and shortages of consumer goods by the late 1970s.
What was the Soviet System?| Class 12 Political Science Notes
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917, which aimed to create an egalitarian society based on socialist ideals. In this article, we will delve deep into the topic of “What was the Soviet System?” from Chapter 1 of the NCERT Class 12 Political Science book. These notes are specially curated by an expert team at w3wiki for all the students.