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Wednesday, June 17, 2020 1:50:00 AM
Was the Soviet Union really a left-wing state?
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8 Answers
Luke Drace, Love history more than any topic
Answered October 27, 2016 · Upvoted by Jaris Almazani, studied
History & Social Sciences at Al-Azhar Syifa Budi (2018)
Yes, the USSR was a far left state, but politics aren't so simple, they never are. What you're missing is the other axis of the spectrum:
The political spectrum isn't so simple as left and right. Instead, in this model, there are two axis. The left-right axis and the authoritarian-libertarian axis. Groups and people higher up support a strong central government, while those lower support more popular control. People on the left want a controlled economy, and those on the right want a free economy.
So where are Democrats? Republicans? The USSR?
I like this representation personally, though some might disagree, which is perfectly valid.
The US Democrats fall under liberalism, right in the center. This is because they support a free market economy, but also support welfare and strong regulations on businesses. As for the Y axis, they support most social freedoms of expression, and are strongly anti-racism, but support the federal government and prohibition of drugs and guns.
The founders of the USSR were center left, the box labeled Socialism. They wanted a democracy with an economy run completely by the government. Unfortunately for the citizens of Soviet Russia, the democracy became a one party system. In the US, it would be like if your only option was the democrats, or your only option was the republicans. The Bolshevik party consolidated their power and by the time Lenin retired, Stalin became essentially a dictator. That places the USSR dangerously close to the top left corner. Retaining a completely government run economy, now the USSR also had an absolute government who would not tolerate criticism.
I hope that explains everything somewhat, but keep in mind that the two axis model isn't perfect, as some other political beliefs can't really fit.
An example of this is anarcho-transhumanism, which holds that extreme technological progress can create a utopia where government is unnecessary. Technically you can put this at the bottom right but then there's anarcho-primitivism, which holds the exact opposite; that technology should be abandoned and we should return to hunter gathering. Think Amish: extreme edition. They also belong in the bottom right but are completely different from anarcho-transhumanists who appear in the same spot.
Some other explanations if you're still having trouble:
The Republican Party is in the conservative box because they support a regulation free economy but also support more traditional social structures.
Hitler is in the very top center, and Mussolini sits to his right.
The 10th to 18th century kings are in the box called fundamentalism.
Those spooky ‘socialist’ European countries are closer to left libertarianism, activism, or democratic socialism. It varies depending on the country obviously.
The classic hippie-pacifists who want a conflict free society where everyone lives in harmony? We call them anarcho-collectivist.
You should get the idea by now. I recommend you take one of the many political compass tests out there, see where you stand and where your political candidates might stand.
Here's a few to check out
politicalcompass.org .. https://www.politicalcompass.org/
isidewith.com .. https://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz
spekr.org .. http://spekr.org/
I hope this answers your question!
12.3K views View Upvoters
3 comments from Kevin Burnett
Anix Orov
Answered October 30, 2016
The US labeling of who is left or right is quite weird. Issues like LGBT rights, abortions and capital punishment were not considered political in the USSR at all. All these things were either legal or illegal in the USSR at different times.
If anything, the pro-gay attitude was considered more right wing because pro-gay activists were usually pro-Western, bohème-connected and alien to the interests of the worker class.
I also want to warn you that in most of Europe “liberal” means right-wing, the US meaning of “leberal” as “left-wing” is specific to the USA and is not undestandable globally. So, the USSR was never liberal and never claimed they were liberal.
In European (and Soviet) view, liberalism is to the left of fascism and monarchism, but to the right of social democracy, who in turn is right of communism. In other words, liberalism is associated with capitalism, free market and the interests of the rich.
https://www.quora.com/Was-the-Soviet-Union-really-a-left-wing-state
"Is Donald Trump a Fascist? Part 2 of Interview with Robert Paxton, Father of Fascism Studies"
Bumped into this while worrying about Putin's problems, chuckle (inside Trump's head) and
though it feels odd posting from this site, from a non-expert view it looks to deserve being here.
8 Answers
Luke Drace, Love history more than any topic
Answered October 27, 2016 · Upvoted by Jaris Almazani, studied
History & Social Sciences at Al-Azhar Syifa Budi (2018)
Yes, the USSR was a far left state, but politics aren't so simple, they never are. What you're missing is the other axis of the spectrum:
The political spectrum isn't so simple as left and right. Instead, in this model, there are two axis. The left-right axis and the authoritarian-libertarian axis. Groups and people higher up support a strong central government, while those lower support more popular control. People on the left want a controlled economy, and those on the right want a free economy.
So where are Democrats? Republicans? The USSR?
I like this representation personally, though some might disagree, which is perfectly valid.
The US Democrats fall under liberalism, right in the center. This is because they support a free market economy, but also support welfare and strong regulations on businesses. As for the Y axis, they support most social freedoms of expression, and are strongly anti-racism, but support the federal government and prohibition of drugs and guns.
The founders of the USSR were center left, the box labeled Socialism. They wanted a democracy with an economy run completely by the government. Unfortunately for the citizens of Soviet Russia, the democracy became a one party system. In the US, it would be like if your only option was the democrats, or your only option was the republicans. The Bolshevik party consolidated their power and by the time Lenin retired, Stalin became essentially a dictator. That places the USSR dangerously close to the top left corner. Retaining a completely government run economy, now the USSR also had an absolute government who would not tolerate criticism.
I hope that explains everything somewhat, but keep in mind that the two axis model isn't perfect, as some other political beliefs can't really fit.
An example of this is anarcho-transhumanism, which holds that extreme technological progress can create a utopia where government is unnecessary. Technically you can put this at the bottom right but then there's anarcho-primitivism, which holds the exact opposite; that technology should be abandoned and we should return to hunter gathering. Think Amish: extreme edition. They also belong in the bottom right but are completely different from anarcho-transhumanists who appear in the same spot.
Some other explanations if you're still having trouble:
The Republican Party is in the conservative box because they support a regulation free economy but also support more traditional social structures.
Hitler is in the very top center, and Mussolini sits to his right.
The 10th to 18th century kings are in the box called fundamentalism.
Those spooky ‘socialist’ European countries are closer to left libertarianism, activism, or democratic socialism. It varies depending on the country obviously.
The classic hippie-pacifists who want a conflict free society where everyone lives in harmony? We call them anarcho-collectivist.
You should get the idea by now. I recommend you take one of the many political compass tests out there, see where you stand and where your political candidates might stand.
Here's a few to check out
politicalcompass.org .. https://www.politicalcompass.org/
isidewith.com .. https://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz
spekr.org .. http://spekr.org/
I hope this answers your question!
12.3K views View Upvoters
3 comments from Kevin Burnett
Anix Orov
Answered October 30, 2016
The US labeling of who is left or right is quite weird. Issues like LGBT rights, abortions and capital punishment were not considered political in the USSR at all. All these things were either legal or illegal in the USSR at different times.
If anything, the pro-gay attitude was considered more right wing because pro-gay activists were usually pro-Western, bohème-connected and alien to the interests of the worker class.
I also want to warn you that in most of Europe “liberal” means right-wing, the US meaning of “leberal” as “left-wing” is specific to the USA and is not undestandable globally. So, the USSR was never liberal and never claimed they were liberal.
In European (and Soviet) view, liberalism is to the left of fascism and monarchism, but to the right of social democracy, who in turn is right of communism. In other words, liberalism is associated with capitalism, free market and the interests of the rich.
https://www.quora.com/Was-the-Soviet-Union-really-a-left-wing-state
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