HIST 410N Week 7 Discussion: Cold War and Communism (Option 2: Examine Communism and Socialism)

Week 7 Discussion: Cold War and Communism 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?  I chose option 2: Examine communism and socialism. I feel as if this topic has been integrated into many of our assignments for this course. But, it is a very important topic in the world today.  Similarities and differences between communism and socialism According to Magstadt, socialism is “an ideology favoring collective and government ownership over individual or private ownership” (Magstadt, 2010, p.666). The definition of communism is, “A political system based on radical equality; the antithesis of capitalism” (Magstadt, 2010, p.652). In my opinion the main difference between communism and socialism is, with communism, most of the property and other resources are owned by the state instead of an individual. With socialism it would be owned and operated by an individual or it is shared. In a way I view socialism as democratic and communism as republican