ANSWER
Has socialism been a failure?
No, it has not. In those countries that adopted the socialist form of
economy and social system, enormous changes for the better took place in
the lives of the working people and farmers. The Soviet Union, for
example, developed from a down-and-out country at the time of the Russian
revolution in 1917 to have the second largest economy by the 1960s.
Schools, houses and hospitals were built and great industrial complexes
were established. Education even to the university level was free, as were
all medical services. Rents, including household electricity, heating, gas
and telephone services were a very small proportion of income. By the 1980s
the Soviet Union could claim about one quarter of all scientists in the
world.
Similar progress was made in other socialist countries despite starting
with many difficulties such as high illiteracy rates and little by way of
developed industry. As in all societies mistakes occurred.
In the Soviet Union and other socialist countries of Eastern Europe some
leaders came to power who promised to build "a better socialism" when in
fact they set about destroying it. The people were deceived. This is what
happened in the Soviet Union. There was also a great amount of interference
from outside, particularly coming from the capitalist countries whose
governments were bitterly opposed to socialism and worked feverishly to
destroy it. Socialist countries, especially the Soviet Union, were forced
by the capitalist powers to engage in an arms race. The consequent high
rates of military spending weakened the socialist economies.
In the Soviet Union and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe they
succeeded in re-establishing a capitalist society but this has proved to be
disastrous for the great majority of the people of these countries. UNICEF
made a comparison between 1989 and 1995. Here are just a few figures from
their report.
Russia: wage rates down by 36.2 per cent, mortality rate up by 72.8 per
cent and crime up by 61.9 per cent.
Ukraine: Wages down by 71.5 per cent, mortality rate up by 27.8 per cent
and crime up by 65.8 per cent.
The advocates of socialism in these countries are again receiving a lot of
support and socialist government could again be restored in the next few
years. In the meantime, other socialist countries such as China, Cuba and
Vietnam are forging ahead. Their rate of economic development is well above
the rates being achieved in any of the capitalist countries.
More socialist countries will come into existence in the next few decades.
Socialism remains the only viable alternative to capitalist exploitation
and the poverty it has brought to millions of people around the world.