Former "socialist" countries. In which countries is communism at the moment? Developed socialist countries

World system of socialism or World socialist system- social, economic and political community of free sovereign states, following the path and united by common interests and goals, bonds of international socialist solidarity. The countries of the world socialist system have the same type of economic basis - public ownership of the means of production; the same type of state system - the power of the people, headed by the working class and its vanguard - the communist and workers' parties; a single ideology -; common interests in the defense of revolutionary gains, in ensuring security from encroachment, in the struggle for peace throughout the world and in rendering assistance to peoples fighting for national independence; a single goal - communism, the construction of which is carried out on the basis of cooperation and mutual assistance.

The Rise and Rise of the World System of Socialism

The formation of the world socialist system in the middle of the 20th century was a natural result of the development of world economic and political forces during the period of the general crisis of capitalism, the collapse of the world capitalist system and the emergence of communism as a single all-encompassing socio-economic formation. The emergence and development of the world socialist system constituted the most important objective result of the international revolutionary workers' and communist movement, the struggle of the working class for its social emancipation. It is a direct continuation of the work that marked the beginning of the era of the transition of mankind from capitalism to communism.

The successes of the USSR in building socialism, its victory over fascist Germany and militarist Japan, the liberation of the peoples of Europe and Asia by the Soviet Army from the fascist invaders and Japanese militarists hastened the maturation of conditions for the transition to the path of socialism for new countries and peoples.

As a result of a powerful upsurge in the liberation struggle of peoples in a number of countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia), as well as the struggle of the Korean and Vietnamese peoples in 1944-1949. People's democratic and socialist revolutions won. Since that time, socialism has gone beyond the boundaries of one country and began the world-historical process of its transformation into a world economic and political system. In 1949, the GDR entered the path of socialism, and the revolution in China won. At the turn of the 50-60s. In the 20th century, Cuba, the first socialist country in the Western Hemisphere, entered the world system of socialism.

The countries of the world socialist system began the process of creating a new society from different levels of economic and political development. At the same time, each of them had its own history, traditions, national specifics.

The world socialist system consisted of countries that, even before the Second World War of 1939-1945, had a numerous proletariat hardened in class battles, while in others the working class was small at the time of the revolution. All this gave rise to certain peculiarities in the forms of building socialism. In the presence of a world socialist system, socialist construction can be started and successfully carried out even by those countries that have not gone through the capitalist stage of development, for example, the Mongolian People's Republic.

With the victory of socialist revolutions in the second half of the 20th century, a new, socialist type of international relations gradually began to take shape in a number of countries in Europe and Asia, which were based on the principle of socialism. This principle arose from the nature of the socialist mode of production and the international tasks of the working class and all working people.

During this period (60-80s of the 20th century), the following 25 socialist countries were part of the world socialist system:

• (ANDR)
• (NSRA)
• (NRA)
• (DRA)
• (NRB)
• (NRB)
• (Hungary)
• (NRW)
• (GDR)
• (NRK)
• (PRC)
• (NRK)
• (DPRK)
• (Lao PDR)
• (NPM)
• (MNR)
• (NDP)
• (SRR)
• (THE USSR)
• (Czechoslovakia)
• (SFRY)
• (NDRE)

In addition to these countries, the world socialist system also included developing countries with a socialist orientation, such as Egypt and Nicaragua.

The bourgeois counter-revolutions of the end of the 20th century, caused by a number of objective reasons, led to the restoration of capitalism in Eastern Europe and the USSR and to the actual disintegration of the world socialist system as a single commonwealth. In a number of Asian socialist countries left without friendly support, with a significant part of the petty-bourgeois mass (peasantry), negative processes also took over in the 1990s, which led to the curtailment of socialist transformations. Among such countries were China, Mongolia, Laos and Vietnam. In a number of these countries (China, Vietnam), communist parties remained in power, which, having retained their name, degenerated from workers into bourgeois parties (the most significant example is that representatives of the big bourgeoisie, oligarchs, began to freely join in the 90s).

As a result, by the beginning of the 21st century, only two truly socialist (from an economic and political point of view) states remained in the world: in the Eastern Hemisphere -; in the Western -.

The imperialists of all countries are making great efforts to break their resistance, for which economic sanctions are regularly imposed on them. Through an economic blockade, the "world community" led by the United States hopes to provoke popular discontent in these countries in order to overthrow the people's democratic governments and restore the power of the landowners and capitalists in them.

However, the working people of socialist Cuba and Korea clearly realize what a cunning and dangerous enemy they are dealing with, and to all the attempts of the imperialists to break their independence and desire for freedom, they respond by even greater rallying their ranks around the Communist Party of Cuba and the Workers' Party of Korea, more a great increase in vigilance, consciousness and discipline.

All over the world, societies are being created to support the struggle of the Cuban and Korean people for their freedom, for socialism. The peoples of these countries feel the support of the international communist and workers' movement.

At the beginning of the 21st century, there were trends in the world towards the restoration of the world socialist system. More and more countries are joining the ranks of the fighters for socialism. In Latin America, Venezuela and Bolivia have chosen the socialist path of development. In 2006-2008 The Maoist revolution won in Nepal, as a result of which the monarchy was overthrown, and the Communists gained a majority in the Constituent Assembly. The fiercest class struggle within these countries and the capitalist encirclement lead these countries to the idea of ​​the need for cooperation in order to defend the revolution and their socialist course. Warm friendly relations have been established between Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia, Venezuela and Belarus. There are prospects for the creation of a single anti-imperialist camp.

Also features of socialism take place in Algeria, Brazil, Iran, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Syria, Uruguay.

At a certain period in the history of mankind, the ideas of general equality enjoyed such great popularity that the socialist countries of the world found wide circulation. This situation was associated with the intense political and economic influence on such states of the Soviet Union, which led to the emergence of most of them.

Socialist countries is a definition used during the Cold War in the USSR to refer to countries that have embarked on the path of socialist development.

Despite the fact that the ideas of socialism began to be popular for a long time, the period of the greatest prosperity of states with such an ideology fell on the forties and fifties of the 20th century.

As of 1950, there were 15 states in the world where socialism was the main ideology.

During this period, the list of socialist countries of the world was the most extensive and included the following:

• (NSRA);
• (NRB);
• (Hungary);
• (SFRY);
• (Czechoslovakia);
• (SRV);
• (SRR);
• Part (GDR);
• (NDP);
• (PRC);
• (DPRK);
• (Lao PDR);
• (MNR).

Thanks to the active participation and support of the USSR, such states were able to defend their sovereignty in an attempt to build a socialist society.

However, after the fall of the Union, such countries were left without any support, which led to a significant economic, ideological and political crisis.

As a result of such events, most of these states ceased to exist, becoming democratic, or disintegrated into several independent countries. Some of them retained their political system and remained faithful to the ideas of socialism.

Socialist countries at the present time and their features

For all states that have retained this kind of ideology so far, several features are characteristic at once. They have significantly departed from the ideas of classical socialism and suggest the possibility of the existence of private property among citizens.

Learn more about the socialist countries in the video below.

In addition, the communist and socialist regimes that currently exist have undergone liberalization, which has brought them somewhat closer to their capitalist counterparts. In economic terms, such states are willing to attract funds from foreign investors, providing open and transparent conditions for entrepreneurs.

Socialist states are constantly exposed to a number of factors that negatively affect their development:

• Sanctions from more economically developed countries.
• Militarism as the dominant ideology.
• The constant threat of invasion from outside.
• Economic crisis.

Such regimes have enough resources to continue to exist. However, these conditions have an extremely negative impact on the quality of life of people living on the territory of the socialist states. There are significantly fewer of them today than in 1950:

1. North Korea;
2. Vietnam;
3. Laos;
4. Venezuela;
5. Cuba.

Each of these states has its own characteristics that determine the local flavor, as well as the problems that have to be faced most often in the 21st century.

People's Republic of China

China is the most economically developed socialist state. For many years it has occupied a leading position in terms of economic growth and production, which makes it one of the most promising countries with a similar ideology.

Detailed map of the administrative divisions of the PRC

The main political force is the State Council, which is also called the Central People's Government. In addition to increasing production rates, which are record-breaking, the country's economy is focused on the export of manufactured products. At the same time, the state is successfully striving to become self-sufficient: food dependence on trading partners does not exceed 10%.

The liberalization of the economy and the desire to attract investment from abroad led to the emergence of free economic zones. These are special regions where various enterprises of foreign partners are concentrated: Xiamen, Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Shantou, as well as many areas with duty-free trade.

China actively trades with external partners, which is confirmed by the presence of the inscription "Made in China" on most things sold in many countries of the world. China is the leader in production (% of world production):

• cameras (50%);
• air conditioners (30%);
• refrigerators (about 20%).

And also the Celestial Empire ranks first in the world in the production of textiles, clothing, shoes and many other goods. At the same time, the state actively imports crude oil for further processing and use.

Celestial - majestic and mysterious

Since 2002, the PRC has been implementing a program of investments abroad, which are concentrated mainly in the countries of the Asian region (more than 60%). A significantly smaller share of investments (15%) goes to projects implemented in Latin America. The European region receives - only 9% invested by Chinese entrepreneurs.

Despite a certain level of militarism, the country seeks to expand through economic and demographic tools, and not through active military action.

North Korea

North Korea appears to be a much less successful state. This socialist country is subject to constant sanctions from the world community, and public order is maintained with the help of law enforcement agencies. In North Korea, the main ideology is Juche, local socialism, coupled with the personality cult of the country's ruler Kim Jong-un, and earlier his father.

Despite the ideology, three political parties operate on the territory of the state:

• The Workers' Party of Korea is in the lead.
• Social Democratic Party of Korea.
• Cheondogyo-Cheonudan.

The last two political associations fully recognize the leading role of the Labor Party, to which the current leader of the country belongs, and also contribute to it in every possible way. Despite the clearly authoritarian orientation, the local ideology proclaims “freedom of conscience”, however, in reality, the authorities are actively fighting religion and its manifestations.

The economy of the state is almost completely focused on domestic consumption, as it is traditionally isolated from potential trading partners due to numerous sanctions. The situation is exacerbated by food shortages caused by droughts, which have led to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Nevertheless, the authorities in every possible way deny the existence of a crisis in the country and, as a result, refuse the help of other states. At the moment, the DPRK remains the most isolated and closed country in the world.

You can learn more about life in the DPRK from the video below.

Vietnam

Today, Vietnam is undergoing active liberalization of the economy and foreign policy. As well as the weakening of control by the ruling Communist Party over various aspects of the life of the country's citizens. Nevertheless, officially the state is still socialist.

The National Assembly, which includes many deputies elected by direct voting, is established as the supreme organ of power. It is noteworthy that in 2004, the DPRK withdrew its ambassador to Vietnam because of a possible conspiracy that facilitated the delivery of refugees from the DPRK to the territory.

There is freedom of religion in Vietnam, in connection with which the locals are mostly adherents of traditional beliefs and animistic cults. The economic situation in the country is quite difficult, which is associated with a budget deficit and high unemployment.

Landscape of Vietnam's capital Hanoi

This led to poverty for the vast majority of the population. However, recently, due to the attraction of investments, the share of the population living below the poverty line has decreased to 12.6%. In an effort to improve the financial situation, the state began to actively develop the tourism sector and became one of the most popular Asian destinations of this kind.

Laos

Once one of the poorest countries in Asia, this country has since 1986 moved to a new economic model that has allowed it to attract the attention of foreign investors.

This was followed by the privatization of a part of state-owned enterprises, and free economic zones were created. In 2003, the authorities drafted a law guaranteeing the immunity of foreign investment.

The country is led by the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos, which belongs to the communist type. At the same time, the post of president and prime minister is provided. The former is elected by Parliament for a term of five years, while the latter is appointed by the head of state.

At the moment, despite economic difficulties, Laos is actively increasing trade relations with the most developed countries - China, the USA, Thailand, and in 2013 became a full member of the WTO. This led to a gradual increase in the welfare of the population, as well as to the development of local companies.

From 1940 to 1950, countries with a socialist ideology were called "countries of people's democracy." By 1950 there were fifteen of them. What socialist countries were then included in this number? In addition to the Soviet Union, these were: NSRA (Albania), SFRY (Yugoslavia), Czechoslovakia (Czechoslovakia), NRB (Bulgaria), SRV (Vietnam), Hungary (Hungary), SRR (Romania), East Germany (part of Germany), Poland (Poland ), PRC (China), Mongolian People's Republic (Mongolia), Lao PDR (Lao Republic), North Korea and the Republic of Cuba.

What distinguished the socialist countries from other countries of the world? What irritated the representatives of capitalism so much? First of all - a socialist ideology in which public interests are higher than personal interests.

The dramatic events and the defeat of socialism in the Soviet Union could not but affect the system. The bipolar world has turned into a multipolar world. The USSR was quite an influential entity. Its collapse put the rest of the socialist countries of the world in an extremely difficult and rather dangerous position: they had to defend their policy and their sovereignty without the support of the most powerful state before. Reactionaries all over the world were sure that Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and China would fall in a fairly short time.

However, today these socialist countries continue to build and their population, by the way, is a quarter of the population of the entire Earth. Perhaps the tragic fate of Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan allowed them to survive in the most difficult 90s, which fell on the collapse of the Union and led to chaos. The role of the vanguard that had previously belonged to the Soviet Union was taken over by China, which the rest of the socialist countries began to look up to.

It is more convenient to divide the development of socialism in this country into two main periods: Mao Zedong (from 1949 to 1978) and Teng Xiaoping (beginning in 1979 and continuing to this day.

China successfully completed its first "five-year plan" with the help of the USSR, achieving an annual rate of 12%. The share of its industrial output rose to 40%. At the Eighth Congress of the CCP, the victory of the socialist revolution was announced. In the plans for the next five-year period, an increase in indicators was planned. But the desire to make a huge leap led to a sharp decline (by 48%) in production.

Mao Zedong, convicted of obvious excesses, was forced to leave the leadership of the country and immerse himself in theory. But such a rapid decline did play a positive role: the rapid growth of the economy was stimulated by the interest in their work of every working person. already four years later it more than doubled (by 61%), and the growth of agricultural production exceeded the mark of 42%.

However, the so-called "cultural revolution", which began in 1966, plunged the country into uncontrollable economic chaos for twelve years.

The PRC was led out of the crisis by Deng Xiaoping, who delved into the works of theorists of Marxism-Leninism and developed his own path to socialism, similar to the domestic concept of the NEP. External aggression of the PRC was still threatened, so the duration of the transition period was to be fifty years.

The Third Plenum of the eleventh convocation announced a new course, which emphasized the combination of a planned distribution system and a market system, with massive attraction of investments from other countries. In addition, the formation of independent enterprises, family contracts, and new discoveries in science were encouraged.

The young socialist country developed rapidly:

Industrial production doubled every decade;

China's GDP yielded to 2005 only;

Increased average annual income (up to 1740 USD per person);

Mutual trade indicators surpassed those of the United States by $200,000,000. (despite Washington's restriction on the import of Chinese products);

Gold reserves surpassed the reserves of all countries, becoming the largest in the world;

Increased, and significantly, the life expectancy of the Chinese.

Many countries, including its closest neighbors, are now looking at the experience of China's development.

The modern world, taking into account the presence of many antagonistic states in it, is unipolar. What can not be said about the events that took place several decades ago. The Cold War divided the world into camp countries, between which there was constant confrontation and hatred. What were the countries of the socialist camp, you will learn from the following article.

Concept definition

The concept is quite broad and controversial, but it is possible to give a definition. The socialist camp is a term that refers to countries that have embarked on the path of socialist development and the maintenance of the Soviet ideology, moreover, regardless of the support or hostility of the USSR towards them. A vivid example is some countries with which our country had rather a political confrontation (Albania, China and Yugoslavia). In the historical tradition, the countries named above were called communist in the USA, opposing them to their democratic model.

Along with the concept of "socialist camp", synonymous terms were also used - "socialist countries" and "socialist commonwealth". The latter concept was typical for the designation of the allied countries in the USSR.

Origins and formation of the socialist camp

As is known, the October Socialist Revolution was carried out under internationalist slogans and the declaration of the ideas of the world revolution. This attitude was key and was preserved throughout the years of the existence of the USSR, but many countries did not follow this Russian example. But after the victory in World War II, many countries, including European ones, followed the model of socialist development. Sympathy for the country - the winner of the Nazi regime - played a role. Thus, some states even changed their traditional political vector from West to East. The alignment of political forces on earth has changed radically. Therefore, the concept of "socialist camp" is not some kind of abstraction, but specific countries.

The concept of countries with a socialist orientation was embodied in the conclusion of friendly treaties and subsequent mutual assistance. Groups of countries that formed after the war are also commonly referred to as military-political blocs that have been on the frontier of hostilities more than once. But in 1989-1991, the USSR collapsed, and most of the socialist countries headed for liberal development. The collapse of the socialist camp was due to both internal and external factors.

Economic cooperation of the countries of the socialist community

The main factor in the creation of the socialist camp was economic mutual assistance: the provision of loans, trade, scientific and technical projects, the exchange of personnel and specialists. The key of these types of interactions is foreign trade. This fact by no means means that a socialist state should trade only with friendly countries.

All countries that were part of the socialist camp sold the products of their national economy on the world market and received in return all modern technologies, industrial equipment, as well as raw materials necessary for the production of certain goods.

The countries of the socialist camp

• Democratic Republic of Somalia;
• People's Republic of Angola;
• People's Republic of the Congo;
• People's Republic of Mozambique;
• Folk;
• Republic of Ethiopia.

• People's Democratic Republic of Yemen;
• Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
• Democratic Republic of Afghanistan;
• Mongolian People's Republic;
• People's Republic of China;
• People's Republic of Kampuchea;
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
• Lao Democratic Republic.

South America:

• Republic of Cuba;
• People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada.

• German Democratic Republic;
• People's Socialist;
• Polish People's Republic;
• Czechoslovak Socialist Republic;
• People's Republic of Bulgaria;
• Socialist Republic of Romania;
• Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

Existing socialist countries

There are also countries in the modern world that are, in one sense or another, socialist. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea positions itself as a socialist state. Exactly the same course is taking place in the Cuban Republic and Asian countries.

In eastern countries such as the People's Republic of China and Vietnam, the classical communist parties run the state apparatus. Despite this fact, capitalist tendencies, that is, private property, can be traced in the economic development of these countries. A similar political and economic situation is observed in the Lao Republic, which was also part of the socialist camp. This is a peculiar way to combine market and planned economy.

At the beginning of the 21st century, socialist tendencies began to emerge and consolidate in Latin America. There was even a whole theoretical doctrine of "Socialism XXI", which is actively used in practice in third world countries. For 2015, socialist governments are in power in Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua. But these are not countries of the socialist camp; such governments arose in them after its collapse at the end of the 20th century.

Maoist Nepal

In mid-2008, a revolution took place in Nepal. A group of communist Maoists overthrew the monarch and won the election as the Communist Party of Nepal. Since August, the head of state has been the main party ideologue, Bauram Bahattarai. After these events, Nepal became a country where a course with a clear communist dominant operates in political and economic life. But the course of Nepal is clearly not similar to the policy pursued by the USSR and the socialist camp.

Cuban socialist policy

Cuba has long been considered a socialist state, but in 2010 the head of the republic set a course for economic change along the Chinese model of modernizing a socialist society. The central aspect of this policy is to increase the role of private capital in the economic system.

Thus, we examined the countries of the socialist orientation, both past and present. The socialist camp is a collection of countries friendly to the USSR. Modern states pursuing a socialist policy do not belong to this camp. This is very important to consider in order to understand certain processes.

The possibility of choosing an ideology forever divided people. For young people, for the most part, this is just a matter of belonging to one or another subculture, but for people, actions are significant differences that do not allow making contact. In this article we will tell you in which countries communism is now, in which video it exists.

Pluralism of opinions

The feudal system had one significant advantage:

• Most of the population was deprived of basic rights;
• The average peasant thought much more about dinner than about politics;
• The existing state of affairs was taken for granted;
• There were no major disagreements.

A beggarly existence in harsh conditions is a dubious prospect. But if you remember the number of those who died in civil wars around the world, this will no longer seem like such a disadvantage of a bygone era. A hundred years ago, similar “political debates” took place on our territory, when the following were used as arguments:

1. Artillery;
2. Cavalry;
3. Fleet;
4. Gallows;
5. Shooting teams.

And both sides did not disdain massive “downsizing” of the enemy, so even blaming any particular ideology will not work. The very dispute, the very belief in the possibility of establishing a better order can turn a person into the most cruel creature.

Theoretical structure of the state

In fact, communism remained only on the pages of theoretical works on political life and state structure. There has never been communism in any country in the world, although they tried to build it:

• Ensure social equality;
• Introduce public ownership of the means of production;
• Get rid of the monetary system;
• Leave the division into classes in the past;
• Create a perfect production force.

To put it very bluntly, communism implies that the existing production capacity is enough to provide everything necessary for every person on the planet, without exception. Everyone can get:

1. Necessary medicines;
2. Complete nutrition;
3. Modern technology;
4. Required clothing;
5. Movable and immovable property.

It turns out that it is only necessary to “correctly” distribute all the available goods so as not to “offend” anyone. Everyone will receive exactly as much as he needs. That's just for this it is necessary to "take over" every production on the planet, taking it away from the current owners. And already at this point, you can face insurmountable difficulties. What to say about equal and fair distribution, which the history of mankind does not know and, most likely, will never know.

Countries of victorious communism

There are countries that are trying or have tried to build communism on their territory:

• USSR (disintegrated in 1991);
• China;
• Cuba;
• North Korea;
• Vietnam;
• Kampuchea (disintegrated in 1979);
• Laos.

In many ways, the Union exerted its influence, exporting ideology and management mechanisms. For this, he received his share of influence on events within the country. Today China is the most successful country with a ruling Communist Party. But even this Asian country:

1. Moved away from the ideas of "classical communism";
2. Allow for the existence of private property;
3. have undergone liberalization in recent years;
4. We strive to attract as many foreign investors as possible through the openness and transparency of business.

It is difficult to talk about total state control under such conditions. Things are a little different in Cuba and North Korea. These countries do not abandon the path laid in the second half of the last century, although the movement along this road causes serious difficulties:

• Sanctions;
• Militarism;
• Intrusion threats;
• Difficult economic situation.

These regimes, without significant changes, can exist for a very long time - there is enough margin of safety. Another question is whether this will benefit the people living in these territories.

European socialists

To countries with a powerful social program can be attributed:

1. Denmark;
2. Sweden;
3. Norway;
4. Switzerland.

Everything that our grandparents dreamed about, the Swedes were able to bring to life. It's about:

• About high social standards;
• On state protection;
• About decent wages;
• About a healthy microclimate.

In 2017, a referendum was held in Switzerland on a guaranteed payment to citizens of a certain amount every month. These funds would have been enough for a comfortable existence, but the Swiss refused. And all without the communist parties, Lenin and red stars.

It turns out that there can be a highly developed state that cares about the well-being of its own citizens and considers this value as its highest priority. Requirements for such a country:

1. High labor productivity;
2. Lack of intentions for world domination;
3. Long tradition;
4. Strong and independent institutions of power and civil rights.

Any attempts to prove one's uniqueness or impose one's opinion on other countries lead to a decrease in the role of civil society in public life, which results in strong states with weak social programs.

Where is the “good life” now?

There is no real communism in the world. Maybe something similar existed among our ancestors, in the days of the primitive communal system. In modern times, communist regimes rule:

• In China;
• in the DPRK;
• In Cuba.

A number of European countries are respectful of social policy, even though there is no bust of Lenin in every office:

1. Switzerland;
2. Norway;
3. Denmark;
4. Sweden.

Somewhere high living standards are provided by oil revenues, somewhere - long-standing and successful investments. But one thing is invariable - for "equality and brotherhood" high labor productivity and good economic indicators are needed.

The construction of such a model is possible in any country in the world, for this it is not necessary to overthrow the current government and impose the power of the proletariat. It is enough to push the idea of ​​high social standards and make the task of improving the lives of citizens the main goal of the country.

Video about strange kinds of communism

In this video, political scientist Vyacheslav Volkov will talk about 4 unusual types of communism that existed before and exist in our time: