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The End of the Cold War Opened the Gates for a More Mainstream Socialism
In the post-war consensus, the old order of tyrannical socialism and free capitalism has been upended.
By Hector Miranda Plaza, February 10, 2021
Title Image: AFP
On Christmas Day, 1991, as millions watched on their TV screens, the flag of the Soviet Union was lowered for the last time in history to the tune of the socialist state’s anthem. For those in the west, it marked the final victory in the crusade against communism. For those in the Eastern Bloc, however, the end to the dying union’s rigor mortis marked the beginning of a great period of uncertainty.
Regardless of their perspectives, the following years would be one of international consensus, one where capitalism was not just accepted as an alternative to socialism, but accepted as the sole and default mode of production.
Some, like Francis Fukuyama in The End of History and the Last Man, heralded the triumph of free market capitalism and liberal democracy as the “end of history”, proclaiming it to be the final stage of sociopolitical development. Nearly three decades after he penned his book, it is evident how sorely wrong he was.
Around the world, liberal democracy and free market capitalism has been decoupled. For example, Singapore consistently scores near the top in economic freedom and ease of doing business, all while the government actively cracks down on dissenting views and issuing out corporal punishment for such heinous crimes as smoking marijuana.
Rwanda, a country which has followed Singapore’s lead, is ranked as one of the most economically free countries in Africa, one of the easiest countries to do business in in the region, and has seen rapid industrialization. In contrast to this economic freedom, the government operates as a one party state led by Paul Kagame, rigging elections and restricting opposition groups.
Protesters in South Africa mourn the death of Patrick Karegeya, one of the many victims of Paul Kagame’s regime. Alexander Joe/Getty Images
For those still viewing the world through the dated Cold War-era economy binary of free capitalism and authoritarian socialism, this development has thrust a square peg into their circle shaped worldview. This dissolution of the Cold War mindset, while it has led to the spread of authoritarianism around the globe, also presents a golden opportunity for the left. This is especially true in the self proclaimed “land of the free”, the United States.
As the largest belligerent on the side of capitalism during the Cold War, the US government oversaw a concerted effort to eliminate leftist thought and ideology, pushing the country’s Overton window so far to the right that centrists would be considered progressive.
Led by Joseph McCarthy, the Red Scare saw many members of the government persecuted for any ties to anti-status quo unions, the Communist Party, or any other organizations sympathetic to the socialist cause.
The HUAC, short for the House Un-American Activities committee, scrutinized the affairs of private citizens, most notably investigating “communist subversion” in Hollywood and blacklisting any film industry workers who refused to answer questions concerning their involvement with the Communist Party. This, combined with nearly a century of anti-socialist propaganda has successfully rooted an irrational fear of the left in America.
Despite this history, the rise of states such as Rwanda and Singapore has broken down the previous political assumption that capitalism equals freedom, and that socialism equals tyranny, among the youth. In the United States, socialism is now seen as more favorable than capitalism by younger demographics. This same trend can be seen across countries that were just decades ago staunchly in favor of capitalism.
The breakdown of the international consensus, even though it has only led to authoritarian capitalism so far, can swing in the opposite direction as well. The parasitic relationship of labor and capital is in its death throes, and automation and outsourcing are accelerating its end.
With more and more people increasingly attracted to the ideals of socialism, whether it be due to a theoretical understanding or practical objections to the current state of affairs, the change we wish to bring to fruition now has the potential to succeed even in the US, the great champion of laissez-faire capitalism.
This new system must be unlike anything implemented in the authoritarian socialist regimes of the USSR or China. We must ensure that everyone, without exception, is represented equally in the workplace. The old orthodox methods of indirect and centralized control are not only unpopular, but also impractical, inefficient, and stifle innovation.
Anti-communist propaganda started at a young age and covered all aspects of life, including education. Bettmann / Corbis
Such a government wielding that power would be no better than the capitalists of today, the only difference between them being that the tyrant in the workplace is an out of touch unelected council head rather than an out of touch unelected CEO. Rather, we must embrace the direct ownership of the economy by giving individuals a tangible stake in it.
This system should be one where people jointly own production and could trade, barter, and sell their goods free from the dictates of any central authority. Everyone owning an equal part of the means of production would not only mark a great stride towards the goal of an equitable society, but also ensure that the coming monetary devaluation of most human labor due to automation benefits society as a whole.
In matters of government, it must stand in direct opposition to such despots as those of Singapore and Rwanda, and in support of freedom. If we wish to consider any socialist country we forge a free society, we must ensure all voices are represented on every level.
The freedoms we prize now, those of speech, assembly, religion, and many others, must be reinforced and used to protect the downtrodden and oppressed. In an ironic twist, as capitalist liberal democracies wither away, the socialism we must carry has no choice but to take up the mantle of the free world.
With the constructs of the Cold War collapsing, our dream of a better society, one with charity for all and malice against none, is finally feasible. However, it is only by embracing the people and their direct empowerment that we can make it a reality.