The history of the economy of the world socialist system 1945 1989. The world socialist system. The political system of socialism

An important post-war event was the "people's democratic revolutions" in a number of European countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, as well as in Asia: in Vietnam, China, North Korea and earlier - the revolution in Mongolia. To a large extent, their political orientation was influenced by the presence of Soviet troops on the territory of most of them. This also largely contributed to the fact that in most countries, radical transformations began in the political, socio-economic and other spheres in accordance with the Stalinist model. The departure of the socialist model beyond the framework of one country laid the foundations for the emergence of a community that received the name « world system socialism "(MCC). In the late 80s. XX century the MCC included 15 states, occupying 26.2% of the world's territory and accounting for 32.3% of the world's population.

The formation of the CMEA. The creation of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) in January 1949 can be considered a notable milestone in the history of the formation of the MCC. Military-political cooperation was carried out within the framework of the Warsaw Pact, created in May 1955. The socialist countries of Europe remained a relatively dynamically developing part of the ISS. At its other pole were Mongolia, China, North Korea, Vietnam. These countries most consistently used the Stalinist model of building socialism, within the framework of a rigid one-party system, decisively eradicating elements of market, private property relations.

Stages of MSS development. Most of the IMS countries have managed to achieve well-known positive results in the development of the national economy, ensuring an increase in the standard of living of the population. However, during this period, negative trends were also clearly visible. The socialist model, which had become entrenched in all ISS countries, fettered economic initiative and did not allow an adequate response to new phenomena and trends in the world. This became especially evident in connection with the beginning in the 1950s. NTR. As its development proceeded, the ISS countries lagged more and more behind the advanced countries in terms of the rate of implementation of scientific and technological achievements, mainly in the field of electronic computers, energy and resource-saving industries and technologies. Attempts to partially reform this model, undertaken in these years, have not yielded positive results. The failure of the reforms was caused by the strong resistance of the party and state nomenklatura to them, which basically determined the extreme inconsistency, and as a result, the failure of the reform process.

In the mid 70s. the socio-economic and political situation in the socialist countries began to deteriorate. At this time, in countries with market economies, under the influence of scientific and technological revolution, a structural restructuring of the economy began, associated with the transition from an extensive to an intensive type of development. The growing lag of the MCC countries in the scientific and technical sphere steadily led to the loss of the positions they had won in the world market. By the 80s. the lagging behind the industries producing goods and services from the mining and heavy industries that were still afloat, led to the emergence total deficit for consumer goods. The demand for radical political and socio-economic transformations is becoming almost ubiquitous.

The collapse of the MCC. In the late 80s. in the countries of Central and South of Eastern Europe a wave of democratic revolutions passed, eliminating the monopoly power of the ruling communist parties, replacing it with a democratic form of government. Revolutions unfolded almost simultaneously - in the second half of 1989, but took place in different forms... So, in most countries, the change of power took place peacefully (Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria), in Romania - as a result of an armed uprising. Market relations began to recover everywhere, the process of denationalization proceeded rapidly, and private capital began to play an increasing role. As a result of the collapse of the MSS, a line was drawn under the long period of totalitarianism in the history of most of the countries of Eastern Europe.

Topic: Analyze the stages of development of the world socialist system

University: VZFEI

Year and city: Omsk 2009

1. What did the creation of the world socialist system mean? 3

2. Stages of development of the world socialist system

2.1. Economic development of the socialist countries at the first stage (1945-1949) 4

2.2. Economic development of socialist countries at the second (1950-1960) and third (1960-1970) stages 8

2.3. Economic development of the socialist countries at the fourth stage (1970 - mid-1980s) 11

3. How did the disintegration of the world socialist system begin? 14

5. References 19

What did the creation of a world socialist system mean?

A significant historical event in the post-war period was people's democratic revolutions v a number of European countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Asia: Vietnam, China, Korea, and somewhat earlier - the revolution in Mongolia. To a large extent, the political orientation in these countries was determined under the influence of the presence of Soviet troops on the territory of most of them, carrying out a liberation mission during the Second World War. This also largely contributed to the fact that in most countries fundamental transformations began in the political, socio-economic and other spheres in accordance with the Stalinist model, characterized by the highest degree of centralization of the national economy and the dominance of the party-state bureaucracy.

The departure of the socialist model beyond the framework of one country and its spread to Southeast Europe and Asia laid the foundations for the emergence of a community of countries, which received the name "world socialist system" (MCC) ... In 1959 Cuba, and in 1975 Laos entered the new system, which existed for more than 40 years.

In the late 80s. the world socialist system included 15 states, occupying 26.2% of the world's territory and accounting for 32.3% of the world population.

The "plan for building the foundations of socialism" provided for the implementation of the proletarian revolution and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat in one form or another; concentration in the hands of the authorities of key positions in the economy (nationalization of industry, transport and communications, the bowels of the earth, forests and waters, the financial and credit system, external and wholesale internal trade, as well as most of the retail trade); industrialization; transformation of small peasant property into cooperative property, i.e. the creation of large-scale socialized production; cultural revolution.

Development stages of the worldsocialist system.

2.1. The economic development of the socialist countries at the first stage (1945-1949).

Eastern European countries.

As noted, an important prerequisite for the formation of the MSS was the liberation mission of the Soviet Army in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Today there are quite heated discussions on this issue. A significant part of the researchers is inclined to believe that in 1944-1947. there were no people's democratic revolutions in the countries of this region, and the Soviet Union imposed the Stalinist model of social development on the liberated peoples. One can only partially agree with this point of view, since, in our opinion, it should be borne in mind that in 1945-1946. in these countries, broad democratic transformations were carried out, and bourgeois-democratic forms of statehood were often restored. This is evidenced, in particular, by the bourgeois orientation of agrarian reforms in the absence of nationalization of the land, the preservation of the private sector in small and medium-sized industry, retail trade and the service sector, and finally, the presence of a multi-party system, including the highest level of government. If in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, immediately after the liberation, a course of socialist transformations was taken, in the rest of the countries of South-Eastern Europe the new course began to be carried out from the moment when the essentially undivided power of the national communist parties was established, as was the case in Czechoslovakia (February 1948). Romania (December 1947), Hungary (autumn 1947), Albania (February 1946), East Germany (October 1949), Poland (January 1947). Thus, in a number of countries within one and a half to two post-war years the possibility of an alternative, non-socialist path remained.

The year 1949 can be considered a kind of pause that drew a line under the prehistory of the MSS, and the 50s were singled out as a relatively independent stage in the forced creation of a "new" society, following the "universal model" of the USSR, the constituent features of which are well known. This is a comprehensive nationalization of industrial sectors of the economy, compulsory cooperation, and in essence the nationalization of the agricultural sector, the ousting of private capital from the sphere of finance, trade, the establishment of total control of the state, higher bodies ruling party over social life, in the field of spiritual culture, etc.

Evaluating the results of the course of building the foundations of socialism in the countries of South-Eastern Europe, one should state, on the whole, rather the negative effect of these transformations. Thus, the forced creation of heavy industry led to the emergence of national economic imbalances, which affected the rate of elimination of the consequences of the post-war devastation and could not but affect the growth of the living standards of the population of countries in comparison with countries that did not fall into the orbit of socialist construction. Similar results were obtained in the course of compulsory cooperation in the countryside, as well as the ousting of private initiative from the sphere of crafts, trade and services. The powerful socio-political crises in Poland, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia in 1953-1956, on the one hand, and a sharp increase in the state's repressive policy towards any dissent, on the other, can be considered as an argument confirming such conclusions. Until recently, a fairly widespread explanation of the reasons for such difficulties in building socialism in the countries we are considering was their leadership's blind copying of the experience of the USSR without taking into account national specifics under the influence of Stalin's cruel dictate against the communist leadership of these countries.

Self-governing socialism of Yugoslavia .

However, there was also another model of socialist construction, which was carried out in those years in Yugoslavia - model of self-governing socialism. She assumed in general outline the following: economic freedom of labor collectives within enterprises, their activity on the basis of cost accounting with an indicative type of state planning; refusal of compulsory cooperation in agriculture, a fairly widespread use of commodity-money relations, etc., but subject to the preservation of the monopoly of the Communist Party in certain areas of political and public life... The departure of the Yugoslav leadership from the "universal" Stalinist construction scheme was the reason for its practical isolation from the USSR and its allies for a number of years. Only after the condemnation of Stalinism at the XX Congress of the CPSU, only in 1955, the relations of the socialist countries with Yugoslavia began to gradually normalize. Some positive economic and social effect obtained from the introduction of a more balanced economic model in Yugoslavia would seem to confirm the argument of the supporters of the above point of view on the causes of the crises of the 1950s.

The formation of the CMEA .

An important milestone in the history of the formation of the world socialist system can be considered the creation Of the Council Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) in January 1949. Its goal is to promote the organization of systematic economic and cultural cooperation of the participating countries. The CMEA included Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Albania (from the end of 1961 it did not participate in the CMEA work). Subsequently, the CMEA included the GDR (1950), Vietnam (1978), Mongolia (1962) and Cuba (1972).

The CMEA was called upon not only to facilitate the reorientation of foreign trade of the countries of Eastern Europe, whose main partner until 1939 was Germany, but also served as a channel for economic assistance to the less economically developed socialist countries from the Soviet Union - as opposed to the Marshall Plan.

It should be noted that the socialist countries of Europe remained a relatively dynamically developing part of the ISS. At the other extreme - Mongolia, China, North Korea, Vietnam - most consistently used the Stalinist model of building socialism, namely: within the framework of a rigid one-party system, they decisively eradicated elements of market, private property relations.

The creation of the CMEA was also motivated by political considerations - it was supposed to cement the interdependence of the countries of Eastern Europe and the USSR.

Mongolia.

Mongolia was the first to take this path. After the coup of 1921, the power of the people's government was proclaimed in the capital of Mongolia (Urga), and in 1924 - the People's Republic. The country began to transform under the strong influence of its northern neighbor - the USSR. By the end of the 40s. in Mongolia, there was a process of departure from the primitive nomadic way of life through the construction, mainly, of large enterprises in the mining industry, the spread of agricultural farms. Since 1948, the country has embarked on the accelerated construction of the foundations of socialism on the model of the USSR, copying its experience and repeating mistakes. The ruling party has set the task of transforming Mongolia into an agrarian-industrial country, regardless of its peculiarities, essentially a civilizational base that is different from the USSR, religious traditions etc.

Vietnam.

The most authoritative force leading the struggle for Vietnam's independence was the Communist Party. Her leader Ho Chi Minh(1890-1969) headed in September 1945 the interim government of the proclaimed Democratic Republic of Vietnam. These circumstances determined the Marxist-socialist direction of the subsequent course of the state. It was carried out in the conditions of an anti-colonial war, first with France (1946-1954), and then with the United States (1965-1973) and the struggle for reunification with the south of the country until 1975. Thus, the construction of the foundations of socialism for a long time proceeded in military conditions, which had a considerable influence on the peculiarities of the reforms, which more and more acquired a Stalinist - Maoist coloration.

2.2.

at the second (1950-1960) and third (1960-1970) stages.

Eastern European countries.

At the second stage of economic development, after the nationalization of the overwhelming part of industry, the first plans of national economic development were adopted, the main task of which was industrialization. Agrarian transformations consisted in limiting the size and rights of private land tenure, allotting land to the land-poor. Co-operation of the peasantry was carried out, completed in most of the countries of Eastern Europe by the beginning of the 60s. The exceptions were Poland and Yugoslavia, where the state structure in the agricultural sector did not acquire decisive importance. The industry in the 50s experienced rapid development, its growth rate was about 10% per year. The countries of Eastern Europe have turned from agrarian (except for the GDR and Czechoslovakia) into industrial-agrarian. The methods of forced industrialization determined the formation of a monopolized structure of the national economy, independent of the characteristics of specific countries (in a market economy, expressed through the prices of factors of production), an administrative system of management. Nevertheless, despite the predominantly extensive type of development, the economic results of this decade were favorable in most of the countries of Eastern Europe.

China.

China remains the largest socialist country in Asia to this day.

After the victory of the revolution, the defeat of the Chan army Kayshi ( 1887-1975) On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) was proclaimed. Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and with great help from the USSR, the country began to restore the national economy. At the same time, China most consistently used the Stalinist model of transformations. And after the XX Congress of the CPSU, which condemned some of the vices of Stalinism, China opposed itself to the new course of the "big brother", turning into the arena of an unprecedented experiment called the "Great Leap Forward" (1956-1958), the essence of which was an attempt to sharply raise the level of socialization of funds production and property. This period was characterized by the setting of unrealistic economic tasks and overestimated production targets, the elevation to the absolute of the revolutionary enthusiasm of the masses as the main factor of economic growth. The principle of material interest was completely rejected - it was condemned as a manifestation of revisionism. The concept of the forced construction of socialism Mao Zedong(1893-1976) was essentially a repetition of the Stalinist experiment, but in an even harsher form. The ultimate task was to strive to catch up and overtake the USSR by drastically breaking social relations, using the labor enthusiasm of the population, barracks' forms of work and life, military discipline at all levels social relations and so on. As a result, already at the end of the 50s, the country's population began to experience hunger. This caused ferment in society and among the party leadership. Mao and his supporters responded with the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). That was how she was called "the great helmsman" - a large-scale campaign of repression against dissidents, stretching right up to the death of Mao. Until that moment, the PRC, being considered a socialist country, nevertheless, was, as it were, outside the borders of the MSS, as evidenced by, in particular, even its armed clashes with the USSR at the end of the 60s.

North Korea, Cuba.

Korea, which gained independence from Japan in 1945 and was divided into two parts in 1948. North Korea was in the zone of influence of the USSR, and South Korea- USA. Dictatorial regime established in North Korea (DPRK) Kim il sung(1912-1994), who carried out the construction of a barracks society, closed from the outside world, based on the most severe dictate of one person, the total nationalization of property, everyday life, etc. Nevertheless, the DPRK managed to reach in the 50s. certain positive results in economic construction thanks to the development of the foundations of the industry laid down by the Japanese conquerors and a high work culture combined with the most severe industrial discipline.

At the end of the period under review in the history of the MSS, an anti-colonial revolution took place in Cuba (January 1959). The hostile US policy towards the young republic and the decisive support for it by the Soviet Union determined the socialist orientation of the Cuban leadership.

In the late 50s, 60s, 70s. most of the ISS countries have managed to achieve certain positive results in the development of the national economy, ensuring an increase in the living standards of the population. However, during this period, negative tendencies were also clearly identified, primarily in the economic sphere. The socialist model, which had become entrenched in all countries of the ISS without exception, fettered the initiative of economic entities and did not allow an adequate response to new phenomena and trends in the world economic process. This became especially evident in connection with the beginning in the 50s. scientific and technological revolution. As its development proceeded, the ISS countries lagged more and more behind the advanced capitalist countries in terms of the rate of introduction of scientific and technological achievements into production, mainly in the field of electronic computers, energy and resource-saving industries and technologies. Attempts to partially reform this model, undertaken in these years, have not yielded positive results. The reason for the failure of the reforms was the strongest resistance of the party and state nomenklatura to them, which basically determined the extreme inconsistency and, as a result, the failure of the reform process.

2.3. Economic development of the socialist countries

at the fourth stage (1970 - mid-1980s).

Contradictions within the MCC.

V to a certain extent, this was facilitated by internal and foreign policy the ruling circles of the USSR. Despite criticism of some of the most ugly features of Stalinism at the XX Congress, the leadership of the CPSU left intact the regime of the undivided power of the party-state apparatus. Moreover, Soviet leadership continued to maintain the style of authoritarianism in relations between the USSR and the MSS countries. To a large extent, this was the reason for the repeated deterioration of relations with Yugoslavia in the late 1950s. and the protracted conflict with Albania and China, although the ambitions of the party elite of the latter two countries had no less effect on the deterioration of relations with the USSR.

The dramatic events of the 1967-1968 Czechoslovak crisis demonstrated most vividly the style of relations within the MCC. In response to the wide social movement citizens of Czechoslovakia for economic and political reforms, the leadership of the USSR, with the active participation of Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic and Poland, sent troops into the sovereign state on August 21, 1968 under the pretext of protecting it "from the forces of internal and external counter-revolution." This action significantly undermined the authority of the MSS and clearly demonstrated the opposition of the party nomenclature to genuine, not declarative, transformations.

It is interesting in this regard to note that against the background of serious crisis phenomena, the leadership of the socialist countries of Europe, assessing the achievements of the 50-60s. in the economic sphere came to the conclusion about the completion of the stage of building socialism and the transition to a new stage - "construction developed socialism"This conclusion was supported by the ideologists of the new stage, in particular by the fact that the share of the socialist countries in world industrial production reached approximately one third in the 1960s, and in the global national income - one quarter.

The role of the CMEA.

One of the essential arguments was the fact that, in their opinion, the development was quite dynamic. economic relations inside the ISS along the CMEA line. If in 1949 the CMEA was faced with the task of regulating foreign trade relations on the basis of bilateral agreements, then in 1954 it was decided to coordinate the national economic plans of the countries - its participants, and in the 60s. followed, a series of agreements on the specialization and cooperation of production, on the international division of labor. Major international economic organizations such as the International Bank economic cooperation, Intermetall, Institute of Standardization, etc. In 1971, a Comprehensive Program was adopted - cooperation and development of the CMEA member countries on the basis of integration. In addition, according to the ideologues of the transition to a new historical stage in the building of communism, the majority European countries MSS, a new social structure of the population has developed on the basis of completely victorious socialist relations, etc.

In the first half of the 1970s, in most of the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, very stable rates of industrial production growth were actually maintained, averaging 6-8% annually. To a large extent, this was achieved by an extensive method, i.e. an increase in production capacity and an increase in simple quantitative indicators in the field of electricity production, steel smelting, mining, engineering products.

By the 80s. the impermissible lag of the industries producing goods and services from the mining and heavy industries that were still afloat, led to a total shortage of consumer goods. This caused not only a relative, but also an absolute deterioration in the living conditions of the population and, as a result, became a reason for the growing discontent of citizens. The demand for radical political and socio-economic transformations is becoming almost ubiquitous.

Within the CMEA framework, "greenhouse" conditions were formed for the development of mutual ties. Closed from the rest of the world (though not always for reasons dependent on them), the manufacturers of the CMEA countries did not experience the impact of the main engine of scientific and technological progress - competition. The CMEA also played a strategically negative role during the fuel and energy crisis of the 1970s.

The cessation of CMEA activities was also facilitated by the desire to return to the western market development path, which is organic for most Eastern European countries (especially such as Poland, the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, Hungary), which has intensified since the second half of the 1980s.

The crisis situation was clearly indicated in the sphere of interstate economic cooperation based on administrative decisions that often do not take into account the interests of the CMEA member countries, but also in a real reduction in the volume of mutual trade.

The termination of the CMEA activity took place in 1991.

began decay world socialist systems?

Until the mid 80s. the ruling communist parties still had the opportunity to keep the situation under control, there were still some reserves of containing the economic and social crisis, including the power ones. Only after the beginning of transformations in the USSR in the second half of the 80s. the reform movement in most ISS countries has grown markedly.

Democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe.

V late 80s. in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, a wave of democratic revolutions took place, eliminating the monopoly power of the ruling communist parties, replacing it with a democratic form of government. Revolutions unfolded almost simultaneously - in the second half of 1989, but took place in different forms. So, in most countries, the change of power took place peacefully (Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria), in Romania - as a result of an armed uprising.

Democratic revolutions were a prerequisite for subsequent transformations in the field of economic relations. Market relations began to be restored everywhere, the process of denationalization was proceeding rapidly, the national economic structure was changing, and private capital began to play an increasing role. These processes continue today, strengthened by the victory of the democratic forces in our country in August 1991.

However, their course is rather tortuous, often inconsistent. If we leave aside the national costs of reforms, the blunders of the new leadership of each country, then the mistakes associated with the deliberate line of economic disintegration of the former allies of the MSS and CMEA, against the background of an integrating Europe, are incomprehensible and difficult to explain. The mutual repulsion of former partners hardly contributes to a faster entry one by one into new economic and political alliances, and also hardly has a positive effect on the internal reform of each of the former socialist countries.

China's policy.

After the death of Mao Zedong, his successors faced the task of getting out of the deepest crisis into which the "cultural revolution" plunged the country. It was found on the path of a radical restructuring of the structure of socio-economic relations. In the course of the economic reform, which began in the fall of 1979, significant results were achieved in economic development. On the basis of the liquidation of communes, the distribution of land to the peasants, the worker's interest in the results of labor was restored. The introduction of market relations in the countryside was accompanied by no less radical reforms in industry. The role of state planning and administrative control over production was limited, the creation of cooperative and private enterprises was encouraged, the system of financing, wholesale trade, etc. underwent changes.The directors of state-owned enterprises received fairly broad independence in the issue of free disposal of unscheduled products, up to entering the foreign market. , issue of shares and loans in order to expand above-planned production. The system of the state and party apparatus, power structures and, above all, the army have undergone some reform. In other words, the softening of the harsh totalitarian regime began.

The result of the reforms of the 80s. in the PRC there were unprecedented rates of economic growth (12-18% per year), a sharp improvement in living standards, new positive phenomena in public life. Distinctive feature Chinese reforms were the preservation of the traditional socialist model of government, which inevitably highlighted the problems of a socio-political and ideological nature in the late 80s. Today, the Chinese leadership adheres to the concept of building "socialism with Chinese characteristics", apparently trying to avoid deep social upheavals and collisions experienced by Russia and other countries of the former MSS. China is following the path of building market relations, bourgeois liberalization, but taking into account its civilizational characteristics and national traditions.

Vietnam. Laos. Mongolia. North Korea.

Vietnam and Laos are following the path of economic and social reform in China. The modernization has brought certain positive results, but less tangible than in China. Perhaps this is due to their later entry into the band of market transformations, a lower baseline, a heavy legacy of a long military policy... Mongolia is no exception. Following in the wake of market reforms and liberalization of social relations, it not only actively attracts foreign capital, but also actively revives national traditions.

North Korea remains a completely immobile, unreformed country from the former camp of socialism. The system of essentially personal dictate of the Kim Il Sung clan is preserved here. It is obvious that this country will not be able to remain in a state of practical self-isolation and even confrontation with most of the world's states for a long time.

Cuba.

The situation in yet another former MSS country, Cuba, remains quite difficult. During the short history of socialism, this island state, in general terms, repeated the path traveled by most of the MSS countries. Having lost their support, its leadership continues to adhere to the concept of building socialism, remains faithful to the Marxist ideals, while the country is experiencing growing economic and social difficulties. The situation in Cuba is also aggravated as a result of the confrontation with the powerful United States, which has continued since the liberation revolution.

As a result of the collapse of the world socialist system, a line has been drawn under more than 40 years of totalitarianism in the history of most of the countries of Eastern Europe. The reasons for the collapse of the ISS can be briefly indicated: the decline in the economic growth rates of the ISS countries; lagging behind high-tech industries; imbalances in the social sphere; violation of the financial proportions of macroeconomic development; the growth of external debt; the low standard of living of the population by European standards; unemployment, national problems and emerging crises in the economy. V different countries there were, of course, their own specific features: "shock therapy" in Poland; The velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia; self-governing radicalism in the transformation of property relations in Yugoslavia; severe economic and structural crises that culminated in the overthrow of the ruling regime in Romania; soft pluralism of forms of ownership in Bulgaria; "Opening of borders" in the GDR.

After the collapse of the MSS, the balance of power has undergone significant changes not only on the European continent, but also in Asia. Apparently fades into oblivion block system relations on the world stage as a whole.

However, the relatively long period of coexistence of countries within the framework of the ISS, in our opinion, cannot pass without a trace. Obviously, in the future, it is inevitable to establish relations between former allies, and often close neighbors with common geographic boundaries, but on the basis of a new balance of interests, the indispensable consideration of national, civilizational specifics and mutual benefit.

4. Test

Align timeline and major achievements
bourgeois revolutions in foreign countries:

1. England a. Application of the machine system on industrial

enterprises.

2. France b. The formation of large private capital in

production.

3. USA c. Destruction of the feudal system and its remnants.

A. 1861 - 1865 B. 1642-1649 B. 1789-1794

As a result of considering the test question, we get:

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. World history: Textbook for universities / Under the editorship of G.B. Polyaka, A.N.

Pleasantly ).

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In the late 80s. in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, a wave of democratic revolutions took place, eliminating the monopoly power of the ruling communist parties, replacing it with a democratic form of government. Revolutions unfolded almost simultaneously - in the second half of 1989, but took place in different forms. So, in most countries, the change of power took place peacefully - Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, in Romania - as a result of an armed uprising.

“These processes continue today, strengthened by the victory of the democratic forces in our country in August 1991. However, their course is rather tortuous, often inconsistent. If we leave aside the national costs of reforms, the blunders of the new leadership of each country, then the mistakes associated with the deliberate line of economic disintegration of the former allies of the world socialism system and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, against the background of an integrating Europe, are incomprehensible and difficult to explain. The mutual repulsion of former partners hardly contributes to a faster entry one by one into new economic and political alliances, and also hardly has a positive effect on the internal reform of each of the former socialist countries. " ...

The directors of state-owned enterprises received fairly broad independence in the issue of free disposal of unscheduled products, up to entering the foreign market, issuing shares and loans in order to expand over-planned production. The system of the state and party apparatus, power structures and, above all, the army have undergone some reform. In other words, the softening of the harsh totalitarian regime began.

The result of the reforms of the 80s. in the PRC there were unprecedented rates of economic growth of 12-18% per year, a sharp improvement in living standards, new positive phenomena in public life. A distinctive feature of the Chinese reforms was the preservation of the traditional socialist model of government, which inevitably brought to the fore the problems of a socio-political and ideological nature in the late 1980s.

Today, the Chinese leadership adheres to the concept of building "socialism with Chinese characteristics", apparently trying to avoid deep social upheavals and collisions experienced by Russia and other countries of the former world socialist system. China is following the path of building market relations, bourgeois liberalization, but taking into account its civilizational characteristics and national traditions.

Vietnam and Laos are following the path of economic and social reform in China. The modernization has brought certain positive results, however, less tangible than in China. This is due to their later entry into the period of market transformations, a lower baseline level, and a difficult legacy of a long-term military policy. Mongolia is no exception. Following in the wake of market reforms and liberalization of social relations, it not only actively attracts foreign capital, but also actively revives national traditions.

“The situation in yet another country of the former world socialist system, Cuba, remains rather complicated. During the short history of socialism, this island state, in general terms, repeated the path traveled by most of the countries of the world socialist system. Having lost their support, its leadership continues to adhere to the concept of building socialism, remains faithful to the Marxist ideals, while the country is experiencing growing economic and social difficulties. The situation in Cuba is also aggravated as a result of the confrontation with the powerful USA, which has continued since the liberation revolution ”.

As a result of the collapse of the world socialist system, a line has been drawn under more than 40 years of totalitarianism in the history of most of the countries of Eastern Europe. The balance of power has undergone significant changes not only on the European continent, but also in Asia. Apparently, the bloc system of relations on the world stage as a whole is disappearing into oblivion.

However, a relatively long period of coexistence of countries within the framework of the world socialist system cannot pass without a trace.

Obviously, in the future, it is inevitable to establish relations between former allies who have common geographic boundaries, but this time on the basis of a new balance of interests, the indispensable consideration of national, civilizational specifics and mutual benefit.

18.1. Formation of the world socialist system

A significant historical event in the post-war period was people's democratic revolutions in a number of European countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Asia: Vietnam, China, Korea, and somewhat earlier - the revolution in Mongolia. To a large extent, the political orientation in these countries was determined under the influence of the presence of Soviet troops on the territory of most of them, carrying out a liberation mission during the Second World War. This also largely contributed to the fact that in most countries fundamental transformations began in the political, socio-economic and other spheres in accordance with the Stalinist model, characterized by the highest degree of centralization of the national economy and the dominance of the party-state bureaucracy.

The departure of the socialist model beyond the framework of one country and its spread to Southeast Europe and Asia laid the foundations for the emergence of a community of countries, which received the name "world socialist system"(MCC). In 1959 Cuba, and in 1975 Laos entered orbit new system, which existed for over 40 years.

In the late 80s. the world socialist system included 15 states, occupying 26.2% of the world's territory and accounting for 32.3% of the world population.

Taking into account even just these quantitative indicators, one can speak of the world socialist system as an essential factor in post-war international life that requires more in-depth consideration.

Eastern European countries

As noted, an important prerequisite for the formation of the MSS was the liberation mission of the Soviet Army in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Today there are quite heated discussions on this issue. A significant part of researchers are inclined to believe that in 1944-1947. there were no people's democratic revolutions in the countries of this region, and the Soviet Union imposed the Stalinist model of social development on the liberated peoples. We can only partially agree with this point of view, since, in our opinion, it should be borne in mind that in 1945-1946. in these countries, broad democratic transformations were carried out, and bourgeois-democratic forms of statehood were often restored. This is evidenced, in particular, by the bourgeois orientation of agrarian reforms in the absence of nationalization of land, the preservation of the private sector in small and medium-sized industry, retail trade and the service sector, and finally, the presence of a multi-party system, including the highest level of government. If in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, immediately after the liberation, a course of socialist transformations was taken, in the rest of the countries of South-Eastern Europe the new course began to be carried out from the moment when the essentially undivided power of the national communist parties was established, as was the case in Czechoslovakia (February 1948). Romania (December 1947), Hungary (autumn 1947), Albania (February 1946), East Germany (October 1949), Poland (January 1947). Thus, in a number of countries during the one and a half to two post-war years, the possibility of an alternative, non-socialist path remained.

The year 1949 can be considered a kind of pause that drew a line under the prehistory of the MSS, and the 50s were singled out as a relatively independent stage in the forced creation of a "new" society, following the "universal model" of the USSR, the constituent features of which are well known. This is a comprehensive nationalization of industrial sectors of the economy, compulsory cooperation, and in essence the nationalization of the agricultural sector, the ousting of private capital from the sphere of finance, trade, the establishment of total control of the state, the supreme bodies of the ruling party over social life, in the field of spiritual culture, etc.

Evaluating the results of the course of building the foundations of socialism in the countries of Southeastern Europe, it should be noted that, on the whole, rather the negative effect of these transformations. Thus, the forced creation of heavy industry led to the emergence of national economic imbalances, which affected the rate of elimination of the consequences of the post-war devastation and could not but affect the growth of the living standards of the population of countries in comparison with countries that did not fall into the orbit of socialist construction. Similar results were obtained in the course of compulsory cooperation in the countryside, as well as the ousting of private initiative from the sphere of crafts, trade and services. The powerful socio-political crises in Poland, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia in 1953-1956, on the one hand, and a sharp increase in the state's repressive policy towards any dissent, on the other, can be considered as an argument confirming such conclusions. Until recently, a fairly widespread explanation of the reasons for such difficulties in building socialism in the countries we are considering was their leadership's blind copying of the experience of the USSR without taking into account national specifics under the influence of Stalin's cruel dictate against the communist leadership of these countries.

Self-governing socialism of Yugoslavia

However, there was also another model of socialist construction, which was carried out in those years in Yugoslavia - model of self-governing socialism. It assumed in general terms the following: economic freedom of labor collectives within enterprises, their activity on the basis of cost accounting with an indicative type of state planning; rejection of compulsory cooperation in agriculture, fairly widespread use of commodity-money relations, etc., but subject to the preservation of the monopoly of the Communist Party in certain spheres of political and public life. The departure of the Yugoslav leadership from the "universal" Stalinist construction scheme was the reason for its practical isolation from the USSR and its allies for a number of years. Only after the condemnation of Stalinism at the XX Congress of the CPSU, only in 1955, the relations of the socialist countries with Yugoslavia began to gradually normalize. Some positive economic and social effect obtained from the introduction of a more balanced economic model in Yugoslavia would seem to confirm the argument of the supporters of the above point of view on the causes of the crises of the 1950s.

The formation of the CMEA

An important milestone in the history of the formation of the world socialist system can be considered the creation of the Council Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) in January 1949, through the CMEA, economic, scientific and technical cooperation of the initially European socialist countries was carried out. Military-political cooperation was carried out within the framework of the established in May 1955. Warsaw Pact.

It should be noted that the socialist countries of Europe remained a relatively dynamically developing part of the ISS. At its other pole were Mongolia, China, North Korea, Vietnam. These countries most consistently used the Stalinist model of building socialism, namely: within the framework of a rigid one-party system, they decisively eradicated elements of market, private property relations.

Mongolia

Mongolia was the first to take this path. After the coup of 1921, the power of the people's government was proclaimed in the capital of Mongolia (Urga), and in 1924 - the People's Republic. The country began to transform under the strong influence of its northern neighbor - the USSR. By the end of the 40s. In Mongolia, there was a process of moving away from the primitive nomadic way of life through the construction of mainly large enterprises in the mining industry, the spread of agricultural farms. Since 1948, the country has embarked on the accelerated construction of the foundations of socialism on the model of the USSR, copying its experience and repeating mistakes. The ruling party has set the task of transforming Mongolia into an agrarian-industrial country, regardless of its peculiarities, essentially different from the USSR civilizational base, religious traditions, etc.

China

China remains the largest socialist country in Asia to this day.

After the victory of the revolution, the defeat of the Chan army Kayshi ( 1887-1975) was proclaimed on October 1, 1949. People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and with great help from the USSR, the country began to restore the national economy. At the same time, China most consistently used the Stalinist model of transformations. And after the XX Congress of the CPSU, which condemned some of the vices of Stalinism, China opposed itself to the new course of the "big brother", turning into the arena of an experiment on an unprecedented scale called the "Great Leap Forward." The concept of the forced construction of socialism Mao Zedong(1893-1976) was essentially a repetition of the Stalinist experiment, but in an even harsher form. The super task was to strive to catch up and overtake the USSR by drastically breaking social relations, using the labor enthusiasm of the population, barracks forms of work and life, military discipline at all levels of social relations, etc. As a result, already at the end of the 50s, the country's population began to experience hunger. This caused ferment in society and among the party leadership. Mao and his supporters responded with a "cultural revolution." This was how the large-scale campaign of repression against dissidents, which stretched until the death of Mao, was named "great helmsman". Until this moment, the PRC, being considered a socialist country, nevertheless was, as it were, outside the borders of the MSS, as evidenced by, in particular, even its armed clashes with the USSR at the end of the 60s.

Vietnam

The most authoritative force leading the struggle for Vietnam's independence was the Communist Party. Her leader Ho Chi Minh(1890-1969) in September 1945 headed the interim government of the proclaimed Democratic Republic of Vietnam. These circumstances determined the Marxist-socialist direction of the subsequent course of the state. It was carried out in the conditions of an anti-colonial war, first with France (1946-1954), and then with the United States (1965-1973) and the struggle for reunification with the south of the country until 1975. Thus, the construction of the foundations of socialism for a long time proceeded in military conditions that had a considerable influence on the peculiarities of the reforms, which more and more acquired a Stalinist-Maoist tinge.

North Korea Kuba

A similar picture was observed in Korea, which gained independence from Japan in 1945 and was divided into two parts in 1948. North Korea was in the zone of influence of the USSR, and South Korea -

USA. Dictatorial regime established in North Korea (DPRK) Kim il sung(1912-1994), who carried out the construction of a barracks society, closed from the outside world, based on the most brutal dictate of one person, total nationalization of property, everyday life, etc. Nevertheless, the DPRK managed to reach in the 50s. certain positive results in economic construction thanks to the development of the foundations of the industry laid down by the Japanese conquerors and a high work culture combined with the most severe industrial discipline.

18.2. Stages of development of the world socialist system

Contradictions within the MCC

V To a certain extent, this was facilitated by the domestic and foreign policy of the ruling circles of the USSR. Despite criticism of some of the most ugly features of Stalinism at the XX Congress, the leadership of the CPSU left intact the regime of the undivided power of the party-state apparatus. Moreover, the Soviet leadership continued to maintain the authoritarian style in relations between the USSR and the MSS countries. To a large extent, this was the reason for the repeated deterioration of relations with Yugoslavia in the late 1950s. and the protracted conflict with Albania and China, although the ambitions of the party elite of the latter two countries had no less effect on the deterioration of relations with the USSR.

The dramatic events of the 1967-1968 Czechoslovak crisis demonstrated most vividly the style of relations within the MCC. In response to the broad social movement of the citizens of Czechoslovakia for economic and political reforms, the leadership of the USSR, with the active participation of Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic and Poland, introduced its troops into an essentially sovereign state on August 21, 1968, under the pretext of protecting it "from the forces of internal and external counter-revolution ". This action significantly undermined the authority of the MSS and clearly demonstrated the opposition of the party nomenclature to genuine, not declarative, transformations.

It is interesting in this regard to note that against the background of serious crisis phenomena, the leadership of the socialist countries of Europe, assessing the achievements of the 50-60s. in the economic sphere came to the conclusion about the completion of the stage of building socialism and the transition to a new stage - "the construction of developed socialism." This conclusion was supported by the ideologists of the new stage, in particular by the fact that the share of socialist countries in world industrial production reached in the 60s. about one third, and one quarter of the world's national income.

The role of the CMEA

One of the essential arguments was the fact that, in their opinion, the development of economic relations within the MSS along the CMEA line was quite dynamic. If in 1949 the CMEA was faced with the task of regulating foreign trade relations on the basis of bilateral agreements, then in 1954 it was decided to coordinate the national economic plans of the countries - its participants, and in the 60s. followed, a series of agreements on the specialization and cooperation of production, on the international division of labor. Large international economic organizations were created, such as the International Bank for Economic Cooperation, Intermetall, the Institute for Standardization, etc. In 1971, a Comprehensive Program was adopted for cooperation and development of the CMEA member countries on the basis of integration. In addition, according to the estimates of the ideologists of the transition to a new historical stage in the building of communism in most European countries of the ISU, a new social structure of the population has developed on the basis of completely victorious socialist relations, etc.

In the first half of the 70s, in most of the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, very stable rates of industrial production growth were actually maintained, averaging 6-8% annually. To a large extent, this was achieved by an extensive method, i.e. an increase in production capacity and an increase in simple quantitative indicators in the field of electricity production, steel smelting, mining, engineering products.

However, by the mid-70s. the socio-economic and political situation began to deteriorate. At this time, in countries with market economies, under the influence of scientific and technological revolution, the structural restructuring of the national economy began, associated with the transition from an extensive to an intensive type of economic development. This process was accompanied by crisis phenomena both within these countries and at the global level, which in turn could not but affect the foreign economic positions of the subjects of the ISS. The growing lag of the MCC countries in the scientific and technical sphere steadily led to the loss of the positions they had won in the world market. The internal market of the socialist countries was also experiencing difficulties. By the 80s. the impermissible lag of the industries producing goods and services from the mining and heavy industries that were still afloat, led to a total shortage of consumer goods. This caused not only a relative, but also an absolute deterioration in the living conditions of the population and, as a result, became a reason for the growing discontent of citizens. The demand for radical political and socio-economic transformations is becoming almost ubiquitous.

Complications since the mid-70s.

Events in Poland

Poland became a kind of detonator of the subsequent reform process. Already in the early 70s. there there were massive protests of workers against the economic policy of the government, there was an independent trade union association of workers Solidarity. ”Under his leadership, the demonstrations of Poland took place in the 70-80s.

The manifestation of the growing crisis was observed in other countries as well. But until the mid-80s. the ruling communist parties still had the opportunity to keep the situation under control, there were still some reserves of containing the economic and social crisis, including the power ones. Only after the beginning of transformations in the USSR in the second half of the 80s. the reform movement in most ISS countries has grown markedly.

18.3. The collapse of the world socialist system

Democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe

V late 80s. a wave of democratic revolutions took place in the countries of Central and Southeastern Europe, eliminating monopoly power

ruling Communist Parties, replacing it with a democratic form of government. Revolutions unfolded almost simultaneously - in the second half of 1989, but took place in different forms. So, in most countries, the change of power took place peacefully (Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria), in Romania - as a result of an armed uprising.

However, their course is rather tortuous, often inconsistent. If we leave aside the national costs of reforms, the blunders of the new leadership of each of the countries, then the mistakes associated with the deliberate line of economic disintegration of the former allies of the MSS and CMEA, against the background of integrating Europe, are incomprehensible and difficult to explain. The mutual repulsion of former partners hardly contributes to a faster entry one by one into new economic and political alliances, and also hardly has a positive effect on the internal reform of each of the former socialist countries.

China policy

After the death of Mao Zedong, his successors were faced with the task of getting out of the deepest crisis into which the "cultural revolution" plunged the country. It was found on the path of a radical restructuring of the structure of socio-economic relations. In the course of the economic reform, which began in the fall of 1979, significant results were achieved in economic development. On the basis of the liquidation of communes, the distribution of land to the peasants, the worker's interest in the results of labor was restored. The introduction of market relations in the countryside was accompanied by no less radical reforms in industry. The role of state planning and administrative control over production was limited, the creation of cooperative and private enterprises was encouraged, the system of financing, wholesale trade, etc. underwent changes.The directors of state-owned enterprises received fairly broad independence in the issue of free disposal of unscheduled products, up to entering the foreign market. , issue of shares and loans in order to expand above-planned production. The system of the state and party apparatus, power structures and, above all, the army have undergone some reform. In other words, the softening of the harsh totalitarian regime began.

The result of the reforms of the 80s. in the PRC there were unprecedented rates of economic growth (12-18% per year), a sharp improvement in living standards, new positive phenomena in public life. A distinctive feature of the Chinese reforms was the preservation of the traditional socialist model of government, which inevitably brought to the fore the problems of a socio-political and ideological nature in the late 1980s. Today, the Chinese leadership adheres to the concept of building "socialism with Chinese characteristics", apparently trying to avoid deep social upheavals and collisions experienced by Russia and other countries of the former MSS. China is following the path of building market relations, bourgeois liberalization, but taking into account its civilizational characteristics and national traditions.

Vietnam. Laos, Mongolia. North Korea.

Vietnam and Laos are following the path of economic and social reform in China. The modernization has brought certain positive results, but less tangible than in China. Perhaps this is due to their later entry into the period of market transformations, a lower initial level, and a difficult legacy of a long-term military policy. Mongolia is no exception. Following in the wake of market reforms and liberalization of social relations, it not only actively attracts foreign capital, but also actively revives national traditions.

Cuba

As a result of the collapse of the world socialist system, a line has been drawn under more than 40 years of totalitarianism in the history of most of the countries of Eastern Europe. The balance of power has undergone significant changes not only on the European continent, but also in Asia. Apparently, the bloc system of relations on the world stage as a whole is disappearing into oblivion.

Self-test questions

1. When the world socialist system was formed, what are the main stages in its development?

2. What factors caused the slowdown in economic growth in the socialist countries in the 70s? What caused the intensification of the contradictions between them?

3. What features can you name in the socio-economic development of the countries that were part of the world socialist system at the present stage?

ESSAY

in the discipline "History"

on the topic "The causes and course of the collapse of the world socialist system"

Completed: student gr. TX-9-12 Aliev S.Z.

Checked by: teacher Serebryakov A.V.

Naberezhnye Chelny

2015 g.

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………… .1

The collapse of the world socialist system - Formation and stages of development of the world socialist system …………………………………………… ... 2-5

Contradictions within the world socialist system ………………… .6-8

The collapse of the world socialist system ………………………………… ..9-11

Conclusion …………………………………………………………… ..12-13

References ………………………………………………………… ... 14

Introduction

The end of the 20th century ended with the collapse of the "socialist" society, which caused numerous consequences:

1) the collapse of the world socialist system was interpreted as an indicator of the infidelity or obsolescence of Marx's formational theory;

2) the only model of "socialism" remained in force - the "market"

3) the term "socialism" broke away from the formation theory, began to mean simply a kind of "social state" in the spirit of European social democracy.

Socialism, as a formation that arose as a result of the scientific and technological revolution, underwent evolutionary formation and development throughout the entire XX century.

Happened at the turn of the 80s and 90s. XX century fundamental changes in the world marked the beginning of a new geopolitical era. Their consequences and scale have not yet been fully comprehended by the world community. However, it cannot be denied that two events of a world-historical scale had a decisive influence on the formation of a new political picture of the world.

First, the bipolar world has disintegrated: the two-bloc, bipolar world order has turned, in principle, into a unipolar world system, and the boundaries of political influence and eco-political domination of the only US superpower have expanded significantly.

Second, globalization has declared itself in full force, it has entered an intensive phase of development, world integration processes have acquired a stormy and all-encompassing character.

The collapse of the world socialist system, the abolition of power and political structures not only removed the main obstacle to the growth of the economic, political and military expansion of financial monopolies throughout the planet, but also opened the floodgates for the boundless and uncontrolled boom of globalization in its imperialist terms.

The collapse of the world socialist system - Education and stages of development of the world socialist system

To a large extent, the political orientation in the countries was determined under the influence of the presence in the territory of most of them of the Soviet troops carrying out a liberation mission during the Second World War. This largely contributed to the fact that in most countries fundamental transformations began in the political, socio-economic and other spheres in accordance with the Stalinist model, characterized by the highest degree of centralization of the national economy and the dominance of the party-state bureaucracy.

The exit of the socialist model beyond the framework of one country and its spread to South-Eastern Europe and Asia laid the foundations for the emergence of a community of countries, which was called the "world socialist system". In 1959 Cuba, and in 1975 Laos entered the orbit of a new system that existed for more than 40 years.

In the late 80s. the world socialist system included 15 states, occupying 26.2% of the world's territory and accounting for 32.3% of the world population.

"Taking into account even just these quantitative indicators, one can speak of the world socialist system as an essential factor in post-war international life that requires more in-depth consideration."

An important prerequisite for the formation of the world socialist system was the liberation mission of the Soviet Army in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe. A significant part of researchers are inclined to believe that in 1944-1947. there were no people's democratic revolutions in the countries of this region, and the Soviet Union imposed the Stalinist model of social development on the liberated peoples. 1945-1946 in these countries, broad democratic transformations were carried out, and bourgeois-democratic forms of statehood were often restored. This is confirmed, in particular: the bourgeois orientation of agrarian reforms in the absence of land nationalization, the preservation of the private sector in the small and medium

industry, retail and service sectors, the presence of a multi-party system, including the highest level of government. If in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, immediately after the liberation, a course of socialist transformations was taken, in the rest of the countries of South-Eastern Europe the new course began to be carried out from the moment of the establishment of the essentially undivided power of the national communist parties, as was the case in Czechoslovakia in February 1948, Romania in December 1947 G.

Thus, in a number of countries during the one and a half to two post-war years, the possibility of an alternative, non-socialist path remained.

The departure of the Yugoslav leadership from the "universal" Stalinist construction scheme was the reason for its practical isolation for a number of years from the USSR and its allies. Only after the condemnation of Stalinism at the XX Congress of the CPSU, only in 1955, the relations of the socialist countries with Yugoslavia began to gradually normalize.

An important milestone in the history of the formation of the world socialist system can be considered the creation of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance in January 1949. Through the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, economic, scientific and technical cooperation of the initially European socialist countries was carried out. Military-political cooperation was carried out within the framework of the Warsaw Pact, created in May 1955.

The socialist countries of Europe remained a relatively dynamically developing part of the world socialist system. At its other pole were Mongolia, China, North Korea, Vietnam. These countries most consistently used the Stalinist model of building socialism, namely: within the framework of a rigid one-party system, they decisively eradicated elements of market, private property relations.

China remains the largest socialist country in Asia to this day.

After the victory of the revolution and the defeat of Chiang Kai-shek's army, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed on October 1, 1949. Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and with great help from the USSR, the country began to restore the national economy. At the same time, China most consistently used the Stalinist model of transformations. And after the XX Congress of the CPSU, which condemned some of the vices of Stalinism, China opposed itself to the new course of the "big brother", turning into the arena of an experiment of an unprecedented scale called the "Great Leap Forward." The concept of the forced construction of socialism by Mao Zedong was essentially a repetition of the Stalinist experiment, but in an even harsher form. The super task was to strive to catch up and overtake the USSR by drastically breaking social relations, using the labor enthusiasm of the population, barracks forms of work and life, military discipline at all levels of social relations, etc. As a result, already at the end of the 50s, the country's population began to experience hunger. This caused ferment in society and among the party leadership. Mao and his supporters responded with the Cultural Revolution. This was how the large-scale campaign of repression against dissidents, which stretched until the death of Mao, was named "great helmsman". "Until this moment, the PRC, being considered a socialist country, nevertheless, was, as it were, outside the borders of the world socialist system, as evidenced by, in particular, even its armed clashes with the USSR at the end of the 60s."

Thus, the construction of the foundations of socialism for a long time proceeded under military conditions, which had a considerable influence on the features of the reforms, which were increasingly acquiring a Stalinist-Maoist coloration.

In the late 50s, 60s, 70s. most of the countries of the world socialist system have managed to achieve certain positive results in the development of the national economy, ensuring an increase in the living standards of the population. However, during this period, negative tendencies were also clearly identified, primarily in the economic sphere. The socialist model, which had become entrenched in all countries without exception, hampered the initiative of economic entities and did not allow an adequate response to new phenomena and trends in the world economic process. This became especially evident in connection with the beginning in the 50s. scientific and technological revolution. As its development proceeded, the countries of the world socialist system lagged more and more behind the advanced capitalist countries in terms of the rate of introduction of scientific and technological achievements into production, mainly in the field of electronic computers, energy and resource-saving industries and technologies. Attempts to partially reform this model, undertaken in these years, have not yielded positive results. The reason for the failure of the reforms was the strongest resistance of the party and state nomenklatura to them, which basically determined the extreme inconsistency and, as a result, the failure of the reform process.

The history of the economy of the world socialist system 1945 1989. The world socialist system. The political system of socialism

18.1. Formation of the world socialist system

Eastern European countries

Self-governing socialism of Yugoslavia

The formation of the CMEA

Mongolia

China

Vietnam

North Korea Kuba

18.2. Stages of development of the world socialist system

Contradictions within the MCC

The role of the CMEA

Events in Poland

Democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe

China policy

Vietnam. Laos, Mongolia. North Korea.

Cuba

The last

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