Economic Update: Rise and Fall of the USSR

Check out our latest book with Richard Wolff: Understanding Socialism
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[S9 E24] Rise and Fall of the USSR
This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff goes beyond the simplistic, sterile Cold War debates of demonizers vs celebrants of the USSR as he delivers an in depth analysis of the USSR's strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures from its revolutionary beginnings in 1917 to its implosion in 1989. The first episode of a special 2-part series where Professor Wolff gives the same in-depth analysis for the People's Republic of China in the second part.
Read transcript on our website: www.democracyatwork.info/eu_r...
Spanish captions by Emiliano Ricignolo
Want to learn more about this subject? At the beginning of the episode, Prof. Wolff references a book that he co-authored which provides a much more detailed background and analysis for everything he mentions in this show.
"Class theory and History. Capitalism and communism in the U.S.S.R."
by Stephen Resnick & Richard Wolff
Publisher: London: Routledge, 2002
ISBN-13: 978-0415933186
ISBN-10: 0415933188
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Learn more about Prof Wolff's new book, "The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself" released in September 2020. Available as a paperback now!
www.democracyatwork.info/books
"Richard Wolff in his new book examines frightening and anti-democratic configurations of corporate power, offering not only a blueprint for how we got here, but a plan for how we will rescue ourselves and create new models of economic and political justice.” - Chris Hedges
Check out Prof. Wolff's other books "Understanding Socialism" and "Understanding Marxism"
www.lulu.com/spotlight/democra...
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[@democracyatwrk]

Grab your copy of Richard D. Wolff's Understanding Marxism today: bit.ly/2YbliNZ

[@noheroespublishing1907]

Please interview Professor Grover Furr, Raymond Lotta, and Paul Cockshot on your program. Thank you ever so much for everything you do.

[@jordantoni1306]

@@noheroespublishing1907 + Michael Parenti

[@noheroespublishing1907]

@@jordantoni1306 and Caleb Maupin too, forgot how to spell his last name.

[@illegalsmirf]

£20 for a 100 page paperback?

[@sicnarf423]

@@illegalsmirf 1000 USD for rent in capitalist society?

[@Riggsnic_co]

Some economists have projected that both the U.S. and parts of Europe could slip into a recession for a portion of 2023. A global recession, defined as a contraction in annual global per capita income, is more rare because China and emerging markets often grow faster than more developed economies. Essentially the world economy is considered to be in recession if economic growth falls behind population growth.

[@kenanporubsky2122]

My main concern now is how can we generate more revenue during quantitative times? I can't afford to see my savings crumble to dust.

[@martingiavarini]

It's a delicate season now, so you can do little or nothing on your own. Hence I’ll suggest you get yourself a financial expert that can provide you with valuable financial information and assistance

[@Oly_laura]

Very true! I've been able to scale from $150K to $489k in this red season because my Financial Advisor figured out Defensive strategies which help portfolios be less vulnerable to market downturns

[@kenanporubsky2122]

@@Oly_laura How can I reach this adviser of yours? because I'm seeking for a more effective investment approach on my savings?

[@Oly_laura]

My advisor is ‘’Catherine Morrison Evans’’ she’s highly qualified and experienced in the financial market. She has extensive knowledge of portfolio diversity and is considered an expert in the field. I recommend researching her credentials further. She has many years of experience and is a valuable resource for anyone looking to navigate the financial market

[@wooyyeah]

Tuition free Monday Economics and History class. Life changing.

[@merbst]

Yay for Mondays!

[@mhandley0711]

Yep. Worth what you paid for it. Absolutely NOTHING. NO VALUE IN FACT, Wolfe has a negative value. He’s creating more parasites. More lazy ass socialists.

[@DimmerswitchDan]

@@mhandley0711 So, by your logic, a capitalist sitting on his ass collecting the surplus value created by others is hard working?

[@mhandley0711]

Dan, ya if the capitalist took the RISK to invest his money in the company, of course. That’s how it works, dummy. He has motivation to make the company work because his money is tied up in it.

[@DimmerswitchDan]

@@mhandley0711 Risk? The people that accept jobs working at a company also assume risk, and invest more than just money - they invest their time, energy and skill. Find a better argument than "because I have money".

[@theycallmemrshaggs]

Richard Wolff is such a great speaker, his delivery is never boring. I see his name, I click.

[@armanraha651]

I agree 101% . I do the same :-)

[@Drownedinblood]

Imo he's like Lewis Black with less profanity and more deeper thought.

[@danieltheangrydemocrat7018]

Yes Richard is a very good speaker, but if you embrace Marxism, you would regret that if it came to pass.

[@kimobrien.]

@@danieltheangrydemocrat7018 That's because you a capitalist Democrat and a social reformer not a revolutionary.

[@allstarmark12345]

@@Drownedinblood you hit the nail on the head

[@emmetttill8915]

Einstein Physicist Noble Laureate on Vladimir Lenin said: "I honor Lenin as a man who completely sacrificed himself and devoted all his energy to the realization of social justice. I do not consider his methods practical, but one thing is certain: men of his type are the guardians and restorers of the conscience of humanity."

[@meowwwww6350]

But Lenin actually proved that communism is the only system that's practical

[@eminem2996]

@Fuck KZbin thank you professor fuck KZbin for the kind insight

[@rodoespinosa4680]

Source please?

[@maryhiromitsu984]

I love this quote personally. I had bad feelings about ussr shortly after purchasing a flag and discovering the loss of Ukrainians in the 30’s. This video and another has restored my faith in the ussr and given me a fire in my belly for communism even brighter than before. Excellent reference Mr. Till and much love Richard Wolff. Solidarity comrades.

[@willshogren1987]

It's fine to criticize excess and atrocity, Mary. You're still a communist ;)

[@Japodian]

Dear Prof. Wolff, It would be great if you could do a similar cover of history of socialist Yugoslavia from the same perspective.

[@Anarchistbanana]

THIS! : D I wanna hear more in depth history on Tito and how he dealt with his differences with Stalin and the communist alliance. I've gotten the impression that Stalin wanted a monopoly on what was communism and what was not and as such he tried to dispose of Tito and betrayed the anarchists of Spain in their fight against Franco's dictatorship... Sure, as far as I know, there might have been diplomatic reasons to placate the western powers before WW2, because Stalin wanted into the same alliance that Russia had in WW1 and maybe this led to Stalin betraying the anarchist's, but I'm just a random somebody with a patchy knowledge of history. So I want to hear more and keep comparing all that I've gotten out of those things in the past! : )

[@Jack-ns9sz]

Yes!

[@kevintewey1157]

I know you probably don't want to hear that you want to hear it from somebody else tells the true story about u.s. regime change in Yugoslavia and all Eastern Bloc countries it could look at Ukraine for s*** sake Professor here will always underestimate the role of the CIA because they protect the capitalists and he's in fact and not an anti-capitalist

[@SuperGulzada]

Not only Russians died in WWII. Soviets died. My grandfather died at that war. Every Kazakh family lost more than one family member in that war.

[@jimtroy4380]

Of course, Belorussians, Ukranians, Armenians, Kazakhs etc. The Soviet people, alongside with the Polish, the Yugoslavs and the Greeks suffered more than 20% of their population during the world in both civilian and military casualties. In the memory of our grandfathers comrade.

[@lom200a]

It is obvious that the notion Russian means USSR natianality. By arguing you are drawing attention to your ethnic group. It is a bit hypocritical. With all due respect to OUR grandparents who defended OUR country.

[@SuperGulzada]

Oleg Shvetsov I choose how to call myself. If I don’t want them call me Russians, then I make you not call me Russian. I’m not sorry that I hurt your imperialistic feelings.

[@TheBeatle49]

Yes, I hate it when people say "Russia" when they mean "Soviet Union."

[@anarchisttechsupport6644]

I must apologize on behalf of my American Comrades for their poor semantics. We are often taught to consider "Russia" as a synonymn for the Soviet Union. I'm guessing from your presence here that wishing you well at rebuilding the USSR would be well met. Happy building, comrades!

[@CDexie]

I just realised how genius the name of this channel is. Good work

[@OPRAHRULZ]

Cosmas Dexie AKA socialism

[@merbst]

@@OPRAHRULZ democracy at work! Brilliant (Wait what channel am I in?)

[@Len124]

I should've got that sooner.

[@pwnedshift1]

.... oooooooohhhhhhhhh

[@shapeless6755]

Oh shiiiiiiiit

[@Randafari]

I would very highly recommend anyone to read "Blackshirts and Reds" by Michael Parenti. Great book about socialism, life, its history including detailed information on the overthrow of the Soviet Union. Any of his lectures here on KZbin are also worth a watch. Michael would make a great guest. Great work Prof. Wolff!

[@victoriaghewlett]

Randafari Michael Parenti is like my dad. I love that man

[@ProleCenter]

Parenti would correct some of Wolff's, let's say misstatements, about the Soviet Union.

[@mhandley0711]

Victoria Hewlett, great. Your dad is an idiot too!

[@mhandley0711]

Victoria Hewlett so I suppose you’re another idiot, huh? Want some of what other folks have earned and you deserve it only because you want it. That’s socialism

[@AgentRafa]

Randafari+ Thanks for the book tip comrade:-)

[@Raymondjohn2]

Every day we encounter novel challenges that have become the new standard. Although we previously perceived it as a crisis, we now acknowledge it as the new normal and must adapt accordingly. Given the current economic difficulties that the country is experiencing in 2023, how can we enhance our earnings during this period of adjustment? I cannot let my $680,000 savings vanish after putting in so much effort to accumulate them.

[@bob.weaver72]

Despite hearing that insider trading secrets could lead to making millions in the financial market, I hesitated to invest as I lack the required skills and a sound strategy to surpass the market and achieve profitable returns. Additionally, although I possess $160,000, I find it challenging to take the plunge due to a shortage of funds.

[@martingiavarini]

It is advisable to steer clear of cons that appear improbable. Seeking guidance from a fiduciary advisor can be helpful as they are highly skilled in their field and can provide tailored advice based on an individual's risk appetite. While there may be unscrupulous individuals, there are also remarkable ones with a positive track record.

[@hermanramos7092]

@@martingiavarini How can I reach this adv-iser of yours? because I'm seeking for a more effective invest-ment approach on my savings

[@martingiavarini]

My consultant is Catherine Morrison Evans I found her on a CNBC interview where she was featured and reached out to her afterwards. she has since provided entry and exit points on the securities I focus on. I basically follow her trade pattern and haven’t regretted doing so

[@hermanramos7092]

Thanks for sharing, I just looked her up on the web and I would say she really has an impressive background in investing. I will write her an e-mail shortly.

[@pakliv3243]

Hello everyone 👋 ... Monday economy class is in ... Let keeping it together Now

[@chamberofprogress5025]

This should serve as a sobering reminder that just because a country didn't end up succeeding with a socialist ideal it started out with, that doesn't mean the principle is wrong. This is why I always enjoy Prof. Wolff's material.

[@atulvaibhav5376]

Well then how do we test the correctness of a principle if not by evidence and example? Please tell me.

[@capthawkeye8010]

@@atulvaibhav5376 With more testing. Capitalism and capitalist states have had plenty for us to know what they end up doing....

[@donaldjoy4023]

​@capthawkeye8010 Yes, lifting millions out of abject poverty, championing human and civil rights, fostering medical and scientific and technological breakthroughs, producing amazingly abundant resources, goods, services, prosperity, and a robust middle class, etc etc etc

[@chamberofprogress5025]

@@donaldjoy4023 All that was IN SPITE of Capitalism, not because of it. Capitalism is a system based on exploitation, coercion, and a rigid power hierarchy. It is an Authoritarian economic system with no Democracy whatsoever. Capitalism is designed for a single purpose: Maximize profits for those who already have capital. People who tout Capitalism as the best thing since sliced bread either have been born into wealth themselves, have successfully coerced and manipulated others into sacrificing their own wellbeing for the sake of corporate profits, or are parroting talking points from politicians, pundits and business leaders who are driven by the profit motive. Socialism has never been allowed to succeed because Capitalists know Socialism is a threat to their bottom line, and can use the resources at their disposal to squash any and all opposition to their ironclad rule over society. Capitalism requires strong military might to maintain its grip over the masses. These are all historically proven facts.

[@capthawkeye8010]

@@donaldjoy4023 An extremely myopic take.

[@09wrxin17]

I never realized how anxious and on-edge the Soviet Union must have felt with the threat of invasion and war always looming over their head. Certainly makes one more sympathetic to their situation....

[@linaskranauskas]

Not when you know a thing or two about the Soviet Union's hobby to invade others..

[@angelmichayele7649]

@@linaskranauskas not at first in 1920s!

[@linaskranauskas]

@@angelmichayele7649 what

[@donone1493]

@@linaskranauskas westerners wanted to colonize and slave their people and run the land just like they did in the new world America guess who were the slaves and why so many black in the new continent... put their greedy laws, Russia was not too populated the westerners always thought a Greenland to colonize, but Russia has kicked their asses out of their, and the propaganda whicjo have fallen in to is telling you VB that they are the ones that want to invade, guess who are the ones sorrounding who, is Russia sorrounding the US or the other way around? Be honest with yourself, because money only make people stupid

[@KissatenYoba]

@@linaskranauskas compared to westerners - Germany, USA, Britain, France - this "hobby" is nothing. How many times USA invaded their little South America? Yeah. Also, the most life expentancy and life quality Afghanistan ever had was under USSR "invasion", and it was a big deal in USSR to make sure "invasion" (actually USSR was invited on behalf of legitimate government) was beneficial to the country, so instead of getting their hands on everything of value and pillaging it Soviets built electric stations, built schools and hospitals, supplied it all with necessary goods, built entire cities for refugees from the south even. How can USA imperialism even compare to such ruthless warmachine?

[@joshuapray]

40% of the comments here are thanking Prof Wolff for his concise summary on a very complex topic that they knew less about than they do now. 30% are repeating each other that Wolff 'conveniently' left out Soviet violence and oppression (which he didn't even do?) and calling him a Soviet apologist. And 30% are proclaiming the righteous place the USSR deserves in history and calling Wolff an overcritical rightwinger and/or liberal. Hmm. Sounds like this session hit the mark, Professor! Kudos on a class well-presented, as always.

[@meenki347]

We're surrounded by modernists. These knee jerk reflex reactions are perfect examples of modernism. Funny, how those who fetish on Stalin's crimes don't bother to mention American "forced labour" before the American Civil War or the genocide of the Native Americans in building the US.

[@meenki347]

Of course, forced labour continues today in our contemporary prison industrial complex! Oh, well ... Let's just pretend that we don't have forced labour today, because ... Stalin.

[@sirjanska9575]

And they're all wrong. Wolff is definitely an apologist but what is truly damning about the video is the fact that he neglects to discuss the actual structures of Soviet economy, industry, and bureaucracy. Instead he relies on useless vague throwaway lines like "the price they paid" and "failure to concentrate on creating a consumer despite trying", and concentrates primarily on sociocultural phenomena like the family structure, hierarchical workplaces and lack of civil freedom, despite these phenomena not being key contributors to any economy by any stretch of imagination

[@maxe159]

@@sirjanska9575 Perhaps because it is a introduction to an extremely complex topic that only takes 30 mins, already very lengthy for KZbin. As a History major in the US, I did not even receive this surface level information until Survey of Russian History 2 which was a throw away class in my Junior year. The things he's talking about definitely doesn't go into all the detail, but goes way further than an American would be exposed to in education.

[@sirjanska9575]

@@maxe159 Which is telling of the American system of education. In the Finnish history curriculum both the Soviet Union and the structural issues which led into its downfall are discussed both in primary and high school. I'd say that if this is the level of knowledge taught on the subject on universities it's also telling of the level of American university education because Wolff's take is actually very poor in substance

[@eve36368]

I love studying Soviet history since I was a school kid

[@ProleCenter]

Then you know that this guy is giving a propagandized false version of Soviet history. He speaks a lot of truth, but he doesn't provide all the context and he is overly critical of the Soviet Union given the state of siege it was in from the very beginning.

[@eve36368]

@@ProleCenter if you want a memoir, then here it is: well, 2 things: when i was a kid, i only had encyclopedias & sources that basically made it melodrama. also even when i was a kid i wanted to write like a history book style work about USSR as if it were being tought to a school kid like me. point being, i was starved of information as to how a civilian experienced the USSR. so point being, considering that the "spread of democracy" merely meant teach our bad habits not our ideals, I'm pretty sure not every soviet citizen experienced the country in the same way & as someone who dreamed of writing a ussr history book on par with usa american history courses, i believe we do have to evaluate what would basically be fake news & that essentially to tell history is a form of poetry because curation. therefore, when we evaluate how the ...legends unfolded, we must consider the distribution of those experiences, the weighting in order to be able to own up to our biases. granted, i do believe that our left politics requires abundance to survive & so maybe USSR's legacy could at least be that they held the baton to pass on to the next generations since by the fact that they were under attack & had to warly mobilize the entite time. however, i think war abolition is the foreign version of prison abolition, which brings up so many discourse about boundaries. politics involves violence hence the snowclone of "dictatorship of the x". but yes, that needs to be clear because it will be the Achilles heel. we also need open borders to maintain abundance. so that's a bunch of work to do. however, I'm also okay with reform to some degree, because why would we dare surrender tools/weapons when (or if) civil war is looming anyways? from a revolution perspective shirking reform is ridiculous! I still need to read up more on the history of the USSR, but i think when i find such a lake of it i'll drown, and maybe I'd be happy? --- because i had to purge that reflection out to deal with the topic of understatement of USSR's war mobilization. apologies if you didn't care. i hope it can at least give you a gauge on my biases. i repeatedly heard in school teachers being baffled by how none of the Allies didn't read Adolf Hitler's autobiography since he'd be one of their peers. So after so many years of history later I believe that they did & only Stalin gave a damn & the rest were basically okay/happy with Hitler. (USA schools have heavy censorship of books & teachers/instruction. they were basically alluding to this.) 1928 was when he instituted the 5-year plans. that to me now sounds like war mobilization similar to what USA did in WW2 but I glean USSR was somewhat more brutal. i still need to read more about both sources but still. my point being is, that suspension of civil liberties & lack of abundance can only go for so long, it's a decay situation. So that's kinda why USSR died. i also heard that referendums wanted to keep USSR in the 1980s-1990s, but party bosses got greedy. basically USSR's party became equivalent of the establishment democratic party. also that being said, I think Stalin's discourse between Trotsky & 2 other dudes was charltanish in terms of whether the Soviet experiment could survive "in one country". it was merely a game of trying to hold out, but it was also hospus. perhaps, if the nuclear weapons arms race didn't happen in addition to war starving abundance, but still. so i think making automation community/public property & open borders are way for communism to survive long term. beyond that governments might change via deciding who all is included. however, as I type this, i still need to read a lot more. and i can see that in places in my knowledge there's too many shadows. I've also been told I'm a black-and-white thinker so that likely affects my abilities as well as visibility from overton windows.

[@eve36368]

@@thotslayer9914 wow, another personal question. I guess here's another memoir. I enjoy veils & I had bad acne when I took that lovely picture. To me, wearing a veil or infinity scarf is like wearing a wig I can actually put on. I wish it were more holy than that. As for Islam, it's complicated. I consider myself a cherrypicker & for a while i considered Islam, Buddhism & Quakerism to be main religions I drew thoughts upon. I was told to find a different religion because I'm LGBTQ+ & didn't feel welcome in my family's Catholic Church (I only go out of a sense of ancestor worship.) However when I was told that the advice giver actually meant find like a social group to find support with. I tend to have distress over public worship. So I ended up just reading a bunch of religious texts & not getting that social support. I eventually stopped focusing on religion as much, and started focusing on lgbtqia liberation & feminism since I've basically been needing those since I was a kid & generally had access to feminism. I also have access to pro-labor attitudes partly because my mom worked in a union & my grandma struggled & capitalism is dehumanizing. That being said, I think early Christianity & the golden age of Islam are helpful for looking into leftist discourse. Like the fact that there were over 300 different schools of jurisprudence with Islam & now there are like only 4 after the crusades I think is helpful evidence about how war kills leftist politics. Also liberation theology is leftist, and a lot of right-wing "christians" rely on saying Jesus supported Rome (basically, they support the Roman Empire because that's where Jesus lived.)

[@riflebusters1]

@@eve36368 ahh thats dope

[@quinndepatten4442]

That's cool asf to me.

Thanks Professor Wolff, you’ve cleared many things up for me. I was impressed with the beauty of Russia as seen in the World Cup, now you’ve helped add admiration and respect for the Russian people knowing what they’ve been through to get to where they are. Most people who criticize have no clue as to what the Russians went through and why. Again, I’m grateful to have this opportunity to learn. Thank you very much!

[@Hekateras]

I really appreciate this comment. It's so frustrating to be met with ignorance of Soviet history when so much of my cultural identity as a Russian is about all the suffering and everything achieved despite that suffering. I get immensely angry and bitter when watching the West, mainly the US, actively rewrite history to make the USSR seem not only evil but somehow also simultaneously incompetent and insignificant.

[@TheJovian16]

This video reminds me of something my grandfather once told me, "I was a communist, your grandma was a party member". The joke being that the communist party, for all the talk, all the propaganda and all the bravado simply refused to take the next step, refused to actually give the people the opportunity to make the system better because it was afraid of losing what little it had gained.

[@krymz1]

when you are at war for a long time, how do you NOT get paranoid?

[@joshuapray]

@@krymz1 You both make great points. Such is the tragedy of the Soviet Union.

[@LabGoats]

@Stephen Jenkins In you're argument you're ignoring the fact that it took America 150 years to even have a semblance of democracy, seeing as half the population couldn't even vote until 1920 and there were slaves for the first ~80 years. I'm in 100% agreement with @Just Me.

[@SovetUnion63]

Comrade Wolff put a valid point. We cannot blame Soviet communists. They dies in millions in Great Patriotic WAR (westerns called it WW2) 1941-1945. It took too long Communist party of the USSR to lead through constant threats from the West, they forgot their original purpose, their ultimate goal - that working class is the hegemony. Leadership in 1960-70 was not those who made the Revolution. They got old and stop giving power to people. The rest was just a downfall.

[@pavelh756]

Because people would start to decide freely of their own will, that's something USSR would never let happen.

[@juliusaugustino8409]

It was actually 14 countries that attacked them after the October Revolution. Anyways this is a very good video! For other interpretations of the USSR I'd recommend reading Domenico Losurdo's book "Stalin: history and critique of a black legend" and Roger Keeran and Thomas Kenny's book "Socialism Betrayed"

[@zaco-km3su]

One small problem! WW2 was fought in considerable part on Soviet land. Basically they expand their economy in 50-60 years. They've expanded it in 20-30 years. Afghanistan was also a problem and consumed a lot of resources. Also, the US was in economic trouble in the later 1980s. The economy was bad. One important thing about the US to mention is that there was no fighting on its territory. That made a huge difference. It also had Central and South America to exploit.Also, there was manufacturing for US companies in the USSR.

[@foodparadise5792]

This talk should be 30 hours instead of minutes.

[@joe197301]

100% agree

[@dnickaroo3574]

During WW2 nearly one million women served in the Red Army. Sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko (sent by Stalin with a group requesting a 2nd Front) reminded Americans that “our women were on a basis of complete equality long before the war. From the first day of the Revolution full rights were granted the women of Soviet Russia. One of the most important things is that every woman has her own specialty. That is what actually makes them as independent as men. Soviet women have complete self-respect, because their dignity as human beings is fully recognized. Whatever we do, we are honored not just as women, but as individual personalities, as human beings. That is a very big word. Because we can be fully that, we feel no limitations because of our sex. That is why women have so naturally taken their places beside men in this war.” kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIrRn3Wmrdh8bdU

[@romanyarkov8426]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ-vm2udmduJa5o

[@19angela71]

No, you are totally wrong. I was born in the USSR, and I lived in USSR. And I can assure you that equal rights for women was complete faked. Women in the USSR have the only right granted, the right to work hard 24 hours around. The equality was manifested in working as hard as men but with less payment for that. Women were promoted to work hard but I have no rights to demand equal payment, this fact was not even allowed to mention. You could be shot or put into jail for that. During the course of the USSR history, not a single woman was allowed to get real political power. The politicians were men, all communists with real power were men, not a single women. Working hard was allowed but getting real power in the country was never allowed. That’s why the USSR never had personalities like Margaret Thatcher in Britain or Merkel in Germany. Working hard for the sake of your country, nothing else. Soviet citizens were obliged to sacrifice everything for the sake of the state, including their lives. Life of citizens was nothing, ideological dominance of the state was everything. And in order to learn about the USSR, please, don’t listen to fake professionals on KZbin, you’d rather read the books written by George Orwell “Animal Farm” and “1984”, and the most importNt book of all written by a prisoner and a survivor of GULAG, Nobel Prize winner, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, “Archipelago GULAG”. The books described the whole truth about the USSR, which Soviets were trying to hide from the world. Another Nobel Prize winner, Russian physicist, Leo Landau. He thought the USSR was not that much different from Nazi Germany.

[@romanyarkov8426]

@@19angela71 :-D When and who shot you for demanding more wages? My mother was the leader of the worker union and the party cell. Solzhenitsyn never wrote the truth)

[@romanyarkov8426]

@@19angela71 Gorbachev's wife had real political power. Catherine Furtseva had real political power. Maria Kovrigina had real political power. april-knows.ru/top_ten/nazad_v_sssr_samye_zametnye_zhenshchiny_politiki/

[@19angela71]

Roman Yarkov LOL, Nobel Prize winner, Solzhenitsyn was lying, really, really, really but a descendent of a member of party responsible for the murdering and humiliating millions of people, of course, telling the truth. Sure. Tell me another touching story, a glorifier of murders.

[@LibertarianLeninistRants]

If you do the episode about the People's Republic of China, could you talk a bit longer about their communes project? I got the impression that it was more massive than the Soviet experiments with communes.

[@jackholmes6877]

Thank you dearly for your work, Mr. Wolff

[@JamesKLambert]

LOL! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnvTeJefmNNgqs0

[@juliahenriques210]

Of course it wasn't perfect, professor, but you did an amazing job at pitching a full semester double credits introduction course in under half an hour. :)

[@Andy-km1xp]

Well yeah.. gulags.. so

[@mikaelgaiason688]

@@Andy-km1xp Never compared to the prison system in the US. Try again. Start with Guantanamo this time...

[@shady8045]

Potting Soil thinking that 18 million people were just sent to prison is definitely not being historically accurate Also calm down, don’t every sorted out again when we say that the USSR did a lot of great things and was ultimately good for Russia

[@pottingsoil]

@@shady8045 Is English your primary language?

[@mikaelgaiason688]

@@pottingsoil You're so unbelievably ignorant to the current situation of the US prison system that I'm blown away. Gitmo isn't the only prison, it's just the one with the most torture and human rights violations.

[@leonardobautista1619]

Many thanks Prof. Wolff. I will look for the book you mentioned. My respect and admiration go to the Russians, and I hope they begin studying the USSR era in depth.

[@leonardobautista1619]

@Neon Noir I agree, but the Russians don´t need his permission to take a critical look at their past.

[@johnspencer772]

An excellent short history of the USSR and why there was so much suspicion of the so-called West...

[@fbcat]

Please re-read the "Decree about Land" more carefully. The decree defined the new principles of land tenure and land use: the right to private ownership of land was abolished, the sale, rent and pledge of land were prohibited, all land was declared the common property.But you'r right - The revolution was not against "private property" it was against "private ownership of the means of production".

[@ulysses7157]

Also, that collectivization of agriculture was done in a response to the famine that was happening in Ukraine (edit: and other parts of Russia). A massive heat wave devastated crops and private farmers were using it as an excuse to hoard food. The Soviets obviously didn't like this and had to force out private owners and allow collectives to come in. In combinations of heavy subsidies to industrialize farmland to increase food production.

[@fbcat]

​@@ulysses7157 Actualy not..... collectivization started just after revolution. Firsts "kolhozy" - and "sovhozy" began to appear since 1918. First stage of mass collectivization started in 1928 and was an answer on individual(not private) farmers were hoarding food to get a "better price" created a threat of famine in the cities and as commrade Wolff said to support of industrialisation, few years before the famine of the 1932 - 1933.

[@ulysses7157]

@@fbcat yea looks like I'm not too knowledgable about Soviet history as I thought. But I do know some to refute the claim of the "millions dying" argument and "forced" famines.

[@Kombrig_2]

@@fbcat Wolff thinks his a 'marxist'? I guess -- he isn't. He just another delusional theorist... and pushed down on his listeners UNREAL SHIT about Marx 'Capital', USSR & WWII. You are correct in every word, Oleg! So, I respect you. Волф отрицает краеугольный камень марксизма -- анафему частной собств. ср пр-ва! Какой же он марксист после этого?

[@stan5250]

I've always thought the first reason was to create agrarian sector united for industrial manufacturing and heavy machinery.. Anyway, that was a decision which made the best.

[@yourgodismean4526]

This is, literally, the first time I’ve ever heard the honest story of the former USSR.

[@GolfBaller]

You still haven't heard the honest story of the USSR.

[@swamivardana9911]

Total lie. end to end. let's discuss .

[@GolfBaller]

@@swamivardana9911 where to begin?

[@swamivardana9911]

@@GolfBaller First lie. Russia was backward ................ Due to reform by Czar Russia was exporting 55 million tons of foodgrains a year. The problem of hunger was due to WWI. The industry was taking off.

[@jmitterii2]

I have, but you literally have to watch several documentaries from WWI to the revolt against the Czar family to the civil war then a documentary discussing the schism between Stalin authoritarian gangster government vs Trotsky and why it authoritarian government was likely to remain after the civil war with martial law declared in many towns as was in any civil war. And how Lenin had a stroke and was essentially muted by Stalin. To piece it all together I couldn't find any documentary like that, it was all scattered. There is lots of detail to go over, but it would be nice to have an overview. Ironically or not, the French and American civil wars are often glossed over in simple overviews all the time. And the French revolution has many details changes in events from start to the citizen making of the then former king to his murder to the terror then the detail about the rise and fall of Napoleon. An overview would be very helpful to understand what the USSR was all about, and why it became an authoritarian system that collapsed just as absolute monarchies and any other authoritarian government is doomed regardless of economic systems of those authoritarian governments.

[@davidwoolnough6511]

I have never seen this balanced talking by the Professor about the learning experiences of socialism anywhere in my lifetime. There are problems, and very real ones, but to rubbish it all as a total failure is ignorance personified.

[@Queenie-the-genie]

Thank you so much Professor Wolff. This is such a powerful and necessary presentation because this infomation has not, in my opinion, been deceminated to the working class in America generally. There has been, over the years a great deal of misinformation and propaganda driven by the capitalist machine that has, sadly, created a lot of ignorance - especially concerning the origins of the cold war which in my opinion created a drain on the Soviet Union's ability to survive as a socialist experiment. I will buy the book you mentioned and donate to your wirk through patreon. You are an excellent teacher who provides a much needed service to the truth.

[@flvflv4712]

You mean it wasn't a dictatorship? Or you actually like authoritarian forms of government?

[@JohannCABJ]

Every Monday since February I’ve been learning so much with this channel.

[@marlenebradley1999]

Thank you Richard for this episode, but I would also like you to talk a bit about the tremendous and magnificent achievements of the USSR in Education and Healthcare. The education at USSR was completely free and better than the education in the West and the US. The health system at USSR was completely free and of a high scientific level. And USSR was the first country to implement these things in the world. Talk a bit about that when you can, please.

[@dildabekbekman1188]

Thank you for your notion. That is very good point of view and real truth about the history of the USSR. Good luck for you good man.

[@marlenebradley1999]

@@dildabekbekman1188 thank you my friend.

[@umangmalik]

He's like my US History teacher except more based

[@umangmalik]

@@dudebros6122 towards basedness

[@noheroespublishing1907]

I hope professor Wolff interviews professor Grover Furr on the Stalin period of the Soviet Union. He's done some very interesting research on that time. Along with professor Paul Cockshot on the powerful potential for computer centralized planning of economics.

[@JamesKLambert]

Grover Furr is a liar, who wants to rehabilitate Stalin from reality. Even Slavoj Zizek agrees that Stephen Kotkin is a truthful expert on Stalin kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGrZoHeMlL-meJo while Furr pretends that Kotkin made up all of Stalin's crimes. It's sad that people are still falling for nonsense.

[@JamesKLambert]

@proletarian guard Wow, I didn't realize there where still such willfully ignorant people on the left. If you can't even admit the truth about Stalin, what next? Are you a flat earther too?

[@JamesKLambert]

@@3345irock He's a man of the left who, like most people on the left, can honestly admit that Stalin was a horrible criminal.

[@Andy-km1xp]

proletarian guard you speak as if these men are your prophets in a religion. Trots? Just shut the f up

[@rogerbaker9324]

Professor Furr has done some remarkable research on "Kruschev's lies" and also on endless lies and the baneful influence of Leon Trotsky on not only the USSR but the world communist movement.

[@padellina9596]

Great overview! Not an easy task, to cover the essence of the USSR in 30 minutes but you’ve got it just about right. Can’t wait for Part II: China!

[@daviddreyer5817]

A balanced view of history in the former Soviet Union.⚖

[@KrysDeSaint]

Wonderful video--you cannot learn this anywhere else in the U.S. Thanks prof Wolff. I I wish the entire world could watch this ❤❤❤

[@joaoabbud]

We are!! Cheers from Brasil

[@alexcarter8807]

I'd like to recommend the DVD series "The Unknown War" done in the 1970s as a US/Soviet project, with a great Soviet film maker, make sure to get the full set because there are sets out there with some episodes taken out. Great stuff!!

[@IgeNial]

I would like to correct Mr. Wolff who said that the Tzar fell due to Bolsheviks. That's wrong. There were two revolutions in Russia in 1917, one in February (according to Yulian calendar that Russia was using, or March according to Gregorian calendar) when the Tzar lost his power and a Provision Government was established, and the country fully switched from feudalism to capitalizm. But the new government didn't implement anything that people demanded for in February (to leave the war and to give land to people) and it failed even harder on the battlefield, so then the second revolution started in October (or November by Gregorian calendar). It was only the second revolution when the country actually switched to socialism.

[@IgeNial]

Also I would like to correct another statement: it wasn't 4 countries that invaded Russia after the revolution, it was 14 countries, not mentioning parts of British Empire such as Canada, India and Australia. But the 4 ones that Mr. Wolff mentioned were the major ones.

[@skynet4496]

Surprising! I heard the Tzar system was actually true capitalism where the working class who had skills were actually better off than the royalty who were always indebted. We don't have that in the US/etc, because those who work are t he indebted ones and their works keep the rich rich.

[@IgeNial]

@@skynet4496 well, why would workers demand for food if they were better off than the royalty?

[@j.danielmoore99]

Every American has to watch this. So important

[@lilithstarchild2701]

J. Daniel Moore But...but...it's THIRTY MINUTES...tsk!!! /sarc

[@j.danielmoore99]

@Иван Кузнецов I'm a libertarian socialist. I don't support communism. Dr. Wolff gives much needed perspective and context to understand things how they actually were, rather than the propaganda-colored version given to us in the US so the elites could hijack the economy with their disastrous neo-liberal nonsense. Professor Wolff even speaks to your experience in this video, so I have no idea why you're calling me stupid

[@mikaelgaiason688]

@@j.danielmoore99 The /sarc was conveying sarcasm. In reference to the average person, whose eyes glaze over after a few minutes, not you. You should look into the history of libertarianism though, and what it stands for these days. Be careful of standing under banners. Tribalism accomplishes nothing for the cause of the common people. And fyi, this is not my own declaration of allegiance or a dig at any views you might hold. I post this with zero animosity and no intention to insult.

[@j.danielmoore99]

@@mikaelgaiason688 I know it was sarcasm. My other comment here was to someone who seems to have deleted their comment. As for what Libertarianism stands for these days, I know what they stand for, at least here in the states. Their well-intentioned monsters who would replace the tyrannies of government with the even worse tyrannies of unfettered capitalism. Libertarian Socialism addresses both of these tyrannies. Lastly, I don't feel that I belong to any "tribe" in particular. If anything, I'm a world citizen who identfies with humanity as a whole. I've studied Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies for over a decade (in addition to Ken Wilber's work, among others) and have learned quite a bit about the nature of identity, whether individual or collective. "Libertarian Socialism" is just a term that points to where I stand politically and economically. I have no particular identity stake in it because if someone can convince me I'm wrong, then I will adjust accordingly. Labels are just that and I don't base my sense of self on them.

[@pottingsoil]

Honestly, nothing new that wasn't taught in High School.

[@petitfrerejean1]

The Chinese didn't allow their disdain for the west to deter them from greater economic prosperity.

[@chitekwe]

True. But they did it their own way. Not by imitating the parasitic methods of the world mafia.

[@BlueGiant69202]

@@chitekwe Well they are doing a good job of copying the capitalists of old with profitable adulterated foods and knockoff products that can kill you.

[@chitekwe]

@@BlueGiant69202 But when they DO crack down on lawbreakers and potential terrorists they are criticised for being "tyrrannnical". It just depends on who controls the narrative. Injustice is an injustice no matter who perpetrates that injustice. Until all are equal under the law, the law is a farce.

[@voxomnes9537]

The Chinese had't dealt with a foreign invasion, two world wars, an internal civil war, and an arms race all at the same time. The disdain, more correctly the suspicion, was justified.

[@DerDop]

​@@chitekwe "But they did it their own way. Not by imitating the parasitic methods of the world mafia." Are you ok? China grew with US Money.

[@chavdarnaidenov2661]

I appreciate the refreshing and concise narrative. I have 2 remarks. 1. Please correct: the October Revolution did not overthrow the Tzar. He abdicated 8 months earlier. It overthrew the very hesitant Interim Government (that had lost popular support, becouse it did not deliver on the promises to stop the war and distribute the land). 2. The family remained a bit patriarchal, but women's equality made tremendous progress. Women had equal legal status, could marry and divorce easier than in the West and were financially independent, because they worked and received many kinds of child support. Later in the 1930s and somewhat in the 1970s, there was a regression in the ways and mores at family level, due to the difficulties of everyday life, but not in official policy.

[@sergenemo3493]

There was nothing patriarchical about the Soviet family, not a bit

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

Great lecture Dr Wolff. It provided a load of information I didn't have before. Food for thought as well. Thanks

[@honestyfirst3994]

Concrete, Clear and Educative for people like me with no Economical h/o background, Thanks Mr. Wolff for yours teachings.

[@ParadoxRoyal]

I think this was a decently fair and balanced analysis. But I think Prof. Wolff was quite exaggerative in his criticisms. Also, he completely skipped over the parts where the US was actively meddling in Soviet affairs and purposefully trying to get propaganda into the USSR to promote capitalism over socialism. This also played a large role in the OVERTHROW (not collapse) of the USSR.

[@patricefrancq2277]

Dont say we tryna b friendly here😂😂😂

[@SKuLLxKruSHeR]

He says civil liberties went out the window in the 30s but the 1936 Stalin constitution was actually pretty democratic

[@bobmuneer7829]

@@SKuLLxKruSHeR it was a dictatorship.

[@SKuLLxKruSHeR]

@@bobmuneer7829 of the proletariat!

[@ParadoxRoyal]

@@SKuLLxKruSHeR :)

[@williamarnold9744]

Thank you very much, prof Wolff! Your education is benefiting us all.

[@zombiesingularity]

The Soviets would never have been overthrown if they retained complete and total control over their military, first and foremost. For all their problems, and issues, they could have dealt with them over time, and prevented an overthrow, if they'd kept control over ther military rather than separate the control of the military from the Party. Not to mention Gorbachev refusing to do a damn thing about the Berlin Wall, or the various countries in Eastern Europe being toppled in counter-revolutions. This is why Xi Jinping's first task was to quadruple down on Party control over the military and armed police.

[@zombiesingularity]

@Stephen Jenkins The "Freedom" to be homeless, starve, and die from a drug overdose on the streets.

[@napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676]

@@zombiesingularity East Germans today live better lives then they did in the DDR. Plain fact. You make apologies for the Eastern Bloc, never having had to censor yourself in order to avoid Bieng arrested by the Secret Police (Stazi) for fear of bieng snitched on by your peers. Or bieng drafted into the Army for that matter.

[@napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676]

@@zombiesingularity People in the Eastern Bloc were more poorly nourished than those in the Western World

[@crustydread]

Brilliant. Thank you Comrade Wolff.

[@Freakarmy]

Especially informative history bits in this one. Very interesting.

[@joe197301]

Thanks Dr. Wolff. Always a pleasure to hear your lessons.

[@thewickedwitchofse8998]

Brilliant historical overview. Brilliant. And learning from the mistakes is imperative. One of my favorite episodes of this show.

[@jamilkhan715]

Very instructive and encouraging. Socialism is the only hope we can live by.

[@ssartre5240]

I am delighted with this video, super instructive, entertaining and objective. There are too many people hungry for knowledge and videos like this help us a lot to understand the circumstances of history. Would it be too much to ask you to expand on the subject? there are many points about this fascinating story that I'm sure many of us would like to hear more about. I also want to thank you for taking the time to modulate well when speaking because English is my second language and there are many people that I can't understand, either because they speak too fast or because they speak badly, but I have been able to understand you very clearly.

[@joeliwest]

Great video, I look forward to the next installment, as usual, but particularly the articulation of the difference between "deal or no deal"

[@oliverguerrero611]

Good Sir, You are highly educating & I for one I'm extremely thankful when facts about anything are provided. Thank you for your Work !!!

[@ViraL_FootprinT.ex.e]

Excellent video Professor ✊🏾

[@productguru8323]

"Cut a deal with West", Good way to summarize it!

[@dunktheshortleggedmackdadd6766]

Can you do a video like this on Yugoslavia?

[@sentinelbl91]

@TheGreekDove Yes, since in Yugoslavia everything was in the hands of people, not the centralized government like it used to in the USSR, then nationalism along with the help of religious fanaticism and capitalism broke the country that was well advanced into pieces. Now we all suck a big fat cock here and everybody's saying it's the communism's fault, so stupid. P.S. it was a poor kingdom before that and had nothing. Go figure.

[@sentinelbl91]

​@Shao Yu Mai Wang You speak of communism like it's some kind of a magic woo woo, while I'm not advocating here for communism at all, especially not for the Soviet one, in Yugoslavia there was a good mix of both sides, west(capitalist) and the east(socialist). As we went full (retard) capitalist in the '90 and embarrassed it with open arms, there is now only poverty, corruption, theft, human rights violation, etc. Btw nationalism, private ownership and religion are not human impulses, there are concepts and theories we invented as almost every other thing. To say it's fake and manufactured makes no sense because capitalism and feudalism and any other system is also, and just because something is an impulse doesn't mean it should not be suppressed, a lot of times it should be the opposite.

[@Nomo_Popo]

This is great. I really need to be educated about this and I enjoy learning it from you!

[@chitekwe]

Socialism in the USSR and most of the developing world didn't "fall". It was pushed. But it will pick itself up. A lot angrier and more determined. That's the reason the capitalists are robotising their militaries. Machines don't question the morality of what they are being asked to do. The working classes, who are always being sent to kill and die, sometimes do. That is a serious inconvenience.

[@GrandmaCathy]

❤❤❤

[@Ratplague707]

In the United States, the post-war period is known for its tremendous economic growth. It is always good to point out that the USSR was absolutely devastated from WWII, while the USA came out unscathed. With that in mind, the USSR turning into a superpower is even more remarkable.

[@jangozubr]

Moreover, if we compare USA losses of 405k killed in the war to USSR's 30 millions it is even more remarkable.

[@nickblood7080]

Absolutely amazing. I wish this view counter had 4-5 zeros after it

[@meenki347]

I'd like to see a video explaining the NEP period.

[@cyncitynv7413]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mr. Wolff! Nothing like learning something new!

[@Joy3269]

God Bless "Democracy At Work" & May God Bless Professor Wolff for bringing the truth to us. May God Bless him. Thank You.

[@maximme]

clear and good pace. No repetition No hesitation No meandering good pronunciation with factual information. Balanced perspective

[@Odinsday]

This was actually incredibly interesting. I really want to see an episode on China now.

[@HankYarbo]

This should be essential curriculum for all Americans.

[@romany8125]

Russian propaganda? Thanks but thanks.

[@Hidegety1]

I am following RDW and DaW for a long time. This is one of your most important updates. To clearly state what is and is not socialism in context of former Eastern block. Too many ppl are pairing what you teach and proclaim with happenings in USSR and Co. And this is also what Jordan Peterson and Co should talk about and see when their only context of socialism is gulags - which is so narrow shighted. Congrats to making the 1st step towards truth in all its aspects.

[@kateoneal4215]

I'm glad I found this!!! I've been wondering about this topic.

[@oninjadaburaca]

Thank you Dr. Wolff.

[@adamwiseman5831]

This guy should teach in schools. Really interesting speaker

[@ricochet4674]

He does lectures at colleges.

[@AliBooondok]

Thank you professor. I wish I found you earlier than last year. You have assisted in connecting a lot of dots for my curious mind.

[@bekzod3322]

Why it is never mentioned that USSR was the among the first ones to make 8 hours work day, right after the revolution(1917). Whereas in USA it was adopted in 1926 to fight against socialism

[@TomerBenDavid]

Love learning from this amazing professor!

[@johnjay9404]

Very important video Professor Wolff. Thank you. History NEEDS to be told correctly and thoroughly. I'm a Marxists since the 80's, and this is about time.

[@andreikovaci1202]

John Jay I never heard such a good joke in years:)) Keep that up. Because it was a joke , right?

[@VeraMaier]

26:08 is wrong. In 1979 Afghanistan was a communist country! And it was invaded by the US proxy terrorists, known as Al Qaida or Al CIAda mid 1979 after a US decrete of US president Jimmy Carter in July 1979. They were reccruted, well trained by Pakistani secret service and armed with modern anti-tank weapons and UD stingers for air-defence. When they could not cope with those terrorists the USSR came to help their nighbors. It was no 'Russian invasion' but an US proxy invasion. Corbettreport has a good documentaion showing the proof. Even how US Security advisor Zbignew Brezinsky stands near a helicopter and sending the fighters with his speech to Afghanistan pointing his finger in that direction.

[@dylnthmsn420]

Thanks as always Rick!

[@tinatang1]

Thank you Prof Richard Wolff for a very interesting and informative history of the USSR.

[@paz9963]

Have Grover Furr or Michael Parenti on as guests please

[@badomaji]

Doge Spy And Nomi Prins.

[@themediumcheese]

Grover Furr is a hack

[@cantutmez8854]

Furr is pretty bad I think

[@GalaShine]

Soviet Union consisted of 15 republics. Why do you keep calling "Russians" those 15 different nations and more who won WWII???

[@TheBeatle49]

Agree!

[@chitekwe]

I imagine it's for the same reason the US are always called "Americans".

[@citytianyu]

The thing is that when there's no Soviet Union but the Russian Empire, the latter also ruled the similar lands and people, which people of other nations would call it and them Russia and Russian. No offense. My point is that maybe people of different ethics or republics in the Soviet Union may call themselves differently but for others of other nations who don't have that much knowledge of details, it's much more "convenient" to just use the word "Russian". The same to the Ottoman Empire, Roman Empire, and Chinese Empires.

[@GalaShine]

@@citytianyu are you aware when the Soviet Union collapsed? 28 years ago. Nothing compare to Roman Empire. Your argument has no sense.

[@citytianyu]

@@GalaShine I understand your feeling about national or ethnic identity recognition but remember the talk is about back then not something happening at this moment. Well, if someone still calls a Ukrainian Russian now, then I 100% support your argument.

[@Elephantlllggg2]

A brilliant summary. Thank you.

[@ivorykhan159]

You are a really great teacher, Richard! Thank you for all you do for us.

[@reginaldmorton2162]

This vid has resolved much needed clarification of private property

[@AlexthunderGnum]

Thank you Dr Wolf from the USSR that was and from the one that is yet to be!

[@johnleone6193]

Fascinating video! Highly recommend! What a tremendous service this channel and Prof. Wolff provide for the public.

[@Everything_positive_possible]

I went through a few of your v well developed video lectures. I must commend for the efforts in the research and the clarity of delivery. learnt alot of history from you. Thank you.

[@hectordelgado4409]

Perfect topic choice today! :)

[@techbit7607]

Thank you, Life Changing history and economics lesson!

[@cloudy.xoxoxo]

I learn so much in this channel. Thank you for your work

[@dirtfarmer7472]

You are looking forward to speaking to us again & I’m looking forward to listening again

[@shinlanten]

You mean it's a lot more nuanced than the *_"socialism bad so there"_* line from The Heritage Foundation?

[@kurtwilkinsongardendesign8000]

No, seems spot on, it was a complete shit show that went about destroying as many counties of the world as possible. Walls, barbwire and guns were used to keep people in socialist countries, why was that, who would want to leave a socialist paradise?

[@5chitzo]

Followed Yanis Varoufakis. Led me here. Im learning things i should have known a very long time ago. Thank you for your work.

[@andreikovaci1202]

Andy johnsen no one learns from lies:). He is just a sad, old buffon.

[@joshuapray]

Both Yanis and Wolff are great resources.

[@andreikovaci1202]

@@joshuapray IWell. that's something I would never say. "Holocaust" denier, that''s more appropriate..

[@joshuapray]

@@andreikovaci1202 Huh...? Neither of them could even remotely be considered Holocaust deniers. What are you talking about?

[@andreikovaci1202]

@@joshuapray Anyone that minimises horrors of of past totalitarian systems IS a "holocaust" denier. Especially for ideological reasons, those are actually MORE dangerous, being dishonest and deceitful. Look it up. Btw the quote marks were and are there for a reason.

[@cristianwaters2190]

Personal property is allowed but private property is not allowed. When you sale, for extra revenue/profit, personal property it is converted to private property.

[@theresewalters1696]

Thank you Mr. Wolff, once again, for the wonderful explanation of what Russia endured and achieved through the challenges of the 20th century.

[@ProleCenter]

The CIA made sure that the Russian people noticed that they were somewhat deficient in consumer goods. They sold their souls for a pair of jeans.

[@maps9]

ProleCenter, look like you love simple dumb wrong answers at all challenging questions of life..)

[@romanyarkov8426]

@AM If he is a clinical idiot, then i am too a clinical idiot. We sold free houses, free education, free medicine, great country for a pair of jeans and a hamburger. It is a fact. Probably the USSR needed reforms, but definitely not the ones that were implemented.

[@matpoc1353]

Nobody on the West would believe that soviet people were fiercely hate a КПСС, a soviet ideology & communism (70-90's) ...but tremendously envied to the western people. Но ты посмотри, что прёт идиот Волфф о сов.истории и экономике -- МРАК!

[@ProleCenter]

@@matpoc1353 Yes, they believe that lie.

[@romanyarkov8426]

@@matpoc1353 привет придурок. Как там твое настроение? Опять изгажено? Что там всю Америку продали Путину или еще не всю)

[@Kinghercules]

World Revolution by Nesta Webster gives a pretty good look at Russia before 1917

[@Quadman72]

Thank you Mr. Wolff for this brief explanation!

[@libertylowman]

The intro to this video was down right enjoyable. Most intros on KZbin are a pain to endure, but I was like boppin. ❤

[@truemadison]

Everyone wants to survive, if possible survive with dignity, even a country.

[@lilithstarchild2701]

Homeversity The Sioux (pronounced SOO), a North American native tribe, have a blessing "Mitakuye Oyasin" (mih-TALK-we-yay oh-YAH-sen) that means "We are all related" Aho! (Amen!)

[@magnummax78]

Wow!! The Professor!! Serving up an economic MEAT SANDWICH on Russian successes in Socialism!! Thanks for the history lesson, Prof. Wolff.🤯🤯

[@merbst]

Meat is so rare amongst the diet of BS most media brings us!

[@mhandley0711]

Not much MEAT on that sandwich. Economic success, huh? Hmm. Would you please frickin think about what you write before you hit send and prove what a total idiot you are?

[@manfredrust7839]

I'm really sorry with a man like you, surrounded only by idiots....😕

[@magnummax78]

Manfred Rust, well, it’s not like I can just pack up and leave this planet...yet. I think the KZbin comment section proves, once and for all, people don’t “share” ideas so much as express their own. Professor Wolff decides to fill in the gaps left by our education system (for most Americans) on a subject few books here even broach outside of his own. When you are being given the proper scales to weigh what you’ve been taught in school about a subject like Russian Socialism, a wise man’s reply will ALWAYS be one of gratitude. I didn’t know about American aggression towards Russian Socialism back in its infancy. He gives a more accurate explanation of the size of the leaps (and the mistakes) that the Russians made in their revolution. It also explains why nations like China have faster growth than us. To achieve ultimate victory, it is wise to parallel a superior enemy until you can crush them decisively. Or, at least, pose a real economic threat to them. Right now, we pose only a threat to world peace. I feel we can do better. Sharing ideas with people like Professor Wolff makes that a more likely outcome for future leaders.

[@manfredrust7839]

@@magnummax78 I can totally agree with your comment.

[@Drownedinblood]

This is such a good video, and hits so many key points in such a succinct way. I wonder how many revisions of this monologue existed before just to fit all the complexity into a 29:50 video.