Mon, Feb 27

Ch. 9, Communism and Postcommunism

Discussion

  1. Which Marxist theory terms on page 282 make the most sense to you? Which make the least sense? Why?
  2. Explain Marx's ideas favorably to someone who's not familiar with them, then explain them unfavorably.
  3. Do you think the collapse of communism could have been avoided? Explain how so or why not.
  4. Is communism a good idea that wasn't done well, or a bad idea that couldn't have been done well? Explain.
  5. Which type of institutional transformation is most important for postcommunist countries? Why?
  6. Which type of institutional transformation is most difficult for postcommunist countries? Why?
  7. Is transitioning from communism more complicated than you thought it would be? How so, or why not?
  8. How would you characterize the prospects for postcommunist states in the coming years, and why?
  9. How would you characterize the prospects for communist ideology in the coming years, and why?
  10. Answer the questions and title for each chapter box ("Institutions in Action" and "Questions and Methods").

Exercise

Write a "True or False?" statement for your assigned section of the chapter.