Socialism and its Future in the Post‐Soviet Era

Abstract

Provides an overall assessment of problems and prospects for socialism (at a time of the abolition of the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and creation of a new “Commonwealth of Independent States”) by examination of three central themes. First, it is shown that because the old Soviet regime departed substantially from the classic conceptualizations of socialism, its demise does not demonstrate a “failure” of socialism or a “victory” of capitalism. Second, dissolution of the old regime does demonstrate serious problems in the actual, over‐centralized, authoritarian, state‐directed Soviet economy. Third, partly because of the confusion between an authentic socialism and the actual Soviet regime, prospects for socialism seem very slim. But socialist ideals of democracy and equality are deeply embedded in the popular psyche and will continue to affect the character and pace of social change.

Citation

Elliott, J.E. (1992), "Socialism and its Future in the Post‐Soviet Era", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 19 No. 7/8/9, pp. 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000000485