ADVENTURES WITH LENINISM

Monday, September 29
15. Karl Marx and the Emergence of Marxism.

Today's Assumption: Marxism represents a different response to the challenges of modernity than Liberalism.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels:  The Communist Manifesto, sections, 1, 2, and 4.

The Communist Manifesto is one of the most important works of modern times.  Read it over and over.  How is this essay different than you imagined it?

Wednesday, October 1
16. The Russian Revolution as an Unintended Consequence of Czarist Ambitions

Today's Assumption: The Russian Revolution had more to do with its Russian setting than with Karl Marx's prophecies. Otherwise, there would have been no revolution in 1917.

R. Tucker: “Marxism and Modernization” (Reader)

Friday, October 3
17. Discussion Section.

Discussion #6. Why is The Communist Manifesto really about us (and not about early twentieth-century Russia)?

Monday, October 6
18. Karl Marx meets Vladimir Ilych Lenin.

Today's Assumption: Leninism defined Marxism and not vice versa.

Josef Stalin:  Foundations of Leninism, selections (Reader).
If you like, you can read Foundations of Leninism in its entirety HERE

Listen and sing along to The Internationale. I sang it to my North Korean tour guides and it drove them crazy.

Wednesday, October 8
19. Stalinist Terror emerges from Leninist Utopia

Today's Assumption: Stalin's regime of terror was intrinsically, if not inevitably, rooted in the goals and institutions of Marxism-Leninism.

Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin

Friday, October 10
20. Discussion Section.

Discussion #7. What is the Leninist path and why did it lead to Stalinism?

Monday, October 13
21. The Communist Empire.

Wednesday, October 15
22. In-Class Film.

Film II: “A Journey to Russia ” This in-class film chronicles the experiences of an American debate team as its members travel around the pre-Gorbachev Soviet Union in 1983. Do not be late for class.  We will start promptly at 9:35.

Friday, October 17
23. No Discussion Section.

 

MID-TERM BREAK: October 18 - 26

Monday, October 27
24. The Leninist Challenge to Liberal Democracy.

Today's Assumption: Marxism-Leninism was initially a credible challenge to Liberal democracy. Its lasting appeal was reinforced by a variety of factors.

Václav Havel, “Power of the Powerless,” sections I-VI.

The "Power of the Powerless" is challenging reading. I am pleased to provide you with the challenge.

For background: my comments on Charter 77 and Havel's life

Wednesay, October 29
25. Leninism Collapses (Finally and Forever).

Today's Assumption: Rumors to the contrary, Marxism-Leninism was not destined to collapse when it did.

Gorbachev and Leninist Reform: HERE

On Perestroika
On Glasnost

Finish reading Havel : “Power of the Powerless"

Friday, October 29
26. Discussion Section.

Discussion #8. What is Havel 's argument about the green grocer? Should we expect the green grocer to revolt?

Monday, November 3
27. From Communism to Post-Communism. From Post-Communism to Liberal Democracy?

Today's Assumption: Sometimes, Leninism can be transformed into liberal democracy. But it won't remain Leninist. Conversely, sometimes, it has the appearance of liberal democracy. But it's definitely not.

Michael McFaul and Kathryn Stoner-Weiss: “The Myth of Putin’s Success,” Foreign Affairs (Reader)

Andrew Kramer: "A $50 Billion Bailout in Russia Favors the Rich and Connected," New York Times, October 31, 2008: HERE

Ming Xia: "China Rises"

 

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