USSR stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.It is logical to assume that all those who lived in a little of the country, well imagine what is socialism.The definition in the textbook - a thing, of course, useful, but it is a theory.But life in the Soviet Union - is the practice!Is it a lot in common?
theory of socialism
Socialism as a philosophical concept, there is not one millennium.It was not invented by Karl Marx.About Socialism wrote Plato, it was very popular in ancient Greece the concept.Very appreciated the ideas of socialism Thomas More and Campanella.And then your opinion on this issue expressed by Karl Marx.
What are the basic ideas of socialism?The denial of the idea of private property and centralized redistribution of wealth.According to theorists, socialists, that such an organization will allow the community to create the most just and free society in which all citizens are equal.However, the question arises: who will distribute the accrued benefits between equal citizens?Even more equal citizens?And would not it be in their hands the power of focus is much more significant than any monopolist bourgeois or an absolute monarch?
Disadvantages theory
this question - is not the only one.Such logical inconsistencies in the theory of socialism set.That is why it has always existed only as a philosophical concept, and the authors of works devoted to her were called idealists and utopians.Most accurately describes the classic, refined socialism definition of "unsustainable."
Karl Marx himself, a staunch supporter of this philosophical trend believed that for the implementation of this theory in the life of mankind should make the evolutionary leap.And in fact, the basic ideas of existing socialism in its pure, primordial form apply.Because come into direct conflict with the fundamentals of the human psyche.Unfortunately, people are not perfect, they have no place in utopia.
countries trying to build socialism
idealistic philosophical concept - the most accurate definition characterizes socialism.In the history of this movement it can be concluded that the attempts of its practical application - it is very risky.Very few countries have chosen this path, have been successful.
More precisely, only one - Sweden.The countries of South America and Africa may serve as a more practical anti-advertising of socialism and the Soviet Union, although it has had some success, but too far departed from the basic principles of teaching.
Sometimes, as an example of countries that have achieved success in this area is called China.But hardly Maoism is one of the branches of socialism.The Chinese have always considered themselves communists and nationalists.And the ideas of humanism, which is based on the classic socialism, Maoism alien.
Therefore, considering the experience of the practical implementation of the theory of universal equality in life, it is better to rely on the experience of the two countries: Sweden and the USSR.They went separate ways and have a different interpretation of the doctrine of socialism.And the results were achieved just the opposite.But the more curious to compare them.
economics and government regulation
Any political theory is always based on the economy.It is - flesh and blood system, the roof and walls.The role of the economy in society - is determined.And if the first political opinion may generate economic and financial relations, then the situation changed to the opposite.Economy in society plays a leading role, and the sooner the country's leadership understands this, the better.A classic example of such a situation - Russian 20-ies of the last century.The political will has destroyed the old economic order and tried to artificially create a new corresponding ideology.Indeed, for some time, this cadaver existed.But crisis erupts, and the government was forced to correct ideology and to take measures to revive the economy.NEP directly contradicts all proclaimed dogmas.But he had to enter.It should be.It was the only way to stabilize the situation.So in the battle of "money-idea" idea I lost.Marx was right, the matter is still primary.
planned economy as the state monopoly
But the means of production should be in collective ownership.And made good - distributed, and apparently centralized.It is, in fact, is socialism.The role of the state in the economy should therefore be decisive.
in the USSR things were so.After the collapse of the NEP policy was introduced a planned economy, based on direct state control over economic life of the country.The market in the Western sense of the word in the USSR as a phenomenon absent.There is no self-regulation of supply and demand, no competition.All it replaced central planning and artificial regulation.Such was the role of the state in economic life.Socialism in the Soviet Union understood as "accounting and control".And that expression had a literal meaning.Any demand, any need to carefully calculate and manufacturing facilities received a clear order.We need this much steel, so much of tractors and now many pairs of children's sandals.
Problems of state regulation
time ordered production standards took five years, and then the cycle repeats.The economy of this type of socialism did not exist by itself.It was as a performer at the state machine.
Usually the economy compared with the organism.Healthy or not, strong or weak.But - the living, not in need of guidance, "Heart beysya blood - theca!" Functions of the state in the economy of the Soviet Union were so extensive that about any similarity of body and speech could not be.Is that it - not quite a living organism that is connected to the dialysis machine, artificial light and pacemaker simultaneously.And, continuing the analogy, instead of blood in it - some sterile plasma.Because the Soviet ruble was not just a non-convertible.He existed outside of the course, the economic vacuum.
artificial currency market
functions of the state in the economy of the USSR was so extensive that the official rate of the national currency had nothing to do with any real purchasing power of the currency, nor to external quotations.The ratio of 1 ruble - $ 1 exist only inside the country, nowhere outside to exchange rubles at this price was impossible.And in the Soviet Union, this ratio was real only in the official transactions.Prices of the black market were quite different.And as soon as the country abandoned the policy of tight regulation of the currency market, the ruble collapsed - or rather, took the position that, and had to borrow without artificial support.
this trouble artificial regulation of the economy - the existence within the incubator isolated from the sterile environment makes the body completely unviable.You either do not leave the safe area, or prepare for that reality shatter the fragile world of glass.
Excessive static production
same problems and the economy, the current mode of strict regulation.Of course, it is stable - market crises it almost do not touch.But the fee for resistance - exceptional stiffness.This economy is not able itself to respond to the inevitable changes reality.And production and consumption are regulated in manual mode and, therefore, do not correspond to valid requests, and ideas about these queries, living in the imagination of the governing structure.It is the role of government in economic life.Soviet-style socialism could provide citizens with free apartment, but could not produce the means of female hygiene.Just because the demand for apartments is significant on a national scale, and the need to run - it's the little things that from a height of administration and should not be considered.
Social guarantees in the USSR
But along with such obvious shortcomings, the socio-economic system of the USSR was in its own way unique.Yes, seals were not - but the apartments were once!The level of social guarantees in the Soviet Union was at an extremely high level.
free housing, free medical care, free education, guaranteed employment for graduates ... There was a curious paradox: on the one hand, the average standard of living in the Soviet Union was significantly lower than in Europe or the United States.On the other, he was really mean - that there were no luxury villas for millionaires, no homeless people in cardboard boxes.You can say that the quality of care in the hospital for the ordinary Soviet privileged patient was lower than in France or England.But you can, and remember that in France or England, people without insurance almost lose the right to medical care, and in the Soviet Union it was one of social guarantees for all.
Many graduates in the Soviet Union were dissatisfied with the distribution of: the distant regions, run-down businesses.Now, perhaps, not one student would have envied this practice.Guaranteed work, free accommodation, albeit in a hostel, the prospect of getting his own apartment.
existing Soviet economic and social system, for all its faults, he asked very high standards in care of the state of the person.And simply unattainable ideal.
Swedish alternative
But the role of socialism in the economic life can be different.Sweden is not refused by either private property or the market economy.But they built a "socialism with a human face ', reached the goal, to which more than 70 years was the Soviet Union.
Swedes took the philosophical concept of the best - taking care of the person and attention to his needs and requirements.And abandoned potentially hazardous due to its impracticability objectives: the abolition of private property and centralized distribution.The Swedish model involves state control over social and economic life - but only in the area of social guarantees.After all, it does not need to monopolize the means of production and to destroy the free market.It is enough to create an effective system of redistribution.
support entrepreneurship
to this and reduced the role of government in economic life.Socialism in Swedish - is a fair tax system and a reasonable, justifiable reallocations.
In contrast to the Soviet Union, the country most encouraging private enterprise, particularly small and medium.After all, this is the perfect option!Man self-sufficient and work and livelihood, and even pay taxes.I do not need anyone to dictate how to grow cabbage, but how to sew shirts.With this excellent handle consumer demand.The more money, the wealthy citizens, the more they will be able to pay taxes and, consequently, the greater will be pouring into the social sphere.At the same time the tax system is designed so that businesses profitable to increase production volumes, modernize and expand the company.
Socialism Swedish
But this does not mean that the Swedes eliminate regulatory role of the state in economic life.Socialism as a concern for people is not achieved by means of monopolization of production, and through the optimization of the legal framework.The idea of equality in Sweden has found practical expression.Skilled and unskilled workers, men and women - any person performing a specific job, receives money for it strictly according to objective factors such as the complexity of the task and the quality of the result.This is - the result of the activity of the Swedish trade unions, which works closely state.
In addition, the country is extremely high overall level of tolerance.Discrimination based on gender, race, religious beliefs almost impossible - in this case the punishment is not only harsh but also inevitable.
In Sweden, there is no system of universal social security, both in the Soviet Union, but there is a system of state social insurance, which applies to all residents.Every citizen, regardless of their income, can count on public support if necessary.
In this way, the Swedes were able to realize a utopian theory of universal equality and security, without sacrificing any of the private property of any of the ideas of free trade and entrepreneurship.
