Communism East Europe

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The state is run by one leading elite. The
Soviet model of communism was based on these ideals. All opposition
parties were banned although parties who were sympathetic to communism
and who shared the communist ideals were allowed. All power was
concentrated into the hands of the Communist party. Free press and civil
liberties were suppressed. Censorship and propaganda were widely used.
There was state ownership of the economy. No private enterprise was
allowed. There was a collectivisation of agriculture. The Communist Party
invaded and controlled every aspect of political, social, cultural and
economic life. It was a totalitarian state with complete Communist control
over all facets of life. In the early years, and up until GorbachevÆs ônew
regimeö, the use of force and terror as a means of maintaining control was
widespread.

The first factor which contributed to the failure and eventual collapse of
communism was the fact that the Communist partyÆs domination was
illegitimate ...

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1940, being assassinated by one of StalinÆs agents.
(3)

Under Stalin any opposition was swiftly and brutally crushed. In no
Eastern European country did the revolution have the support of more than
a minority of people, yet this minority retained absolute control. The
communist take-over and subsequent regime was achieved by undemocratic
methods, that is, rigged elections, terror, totalitarian state, harassment
and threats. In 1932 a two-hundred page document by a fellow member of
the Politburo condemning the Stalinist regime and calling for change was
published. (4) In response to this Stalin wreaked a terrible revenge. In
1936 Stalin began what became known as the ôpurgesö whose ...

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