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?
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?
