What was the Soviet System?| Class 12 Political Science Notes

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917, which aimed to create an egalitarian society based on socialist ideals. In this article, we will delve deep into the topic of “What was the Soviet System?” from Chapter 1 of the NCERT Class 12 Political Science book. These notes are specially curated by an expert team at GeeksforGeeks for all the students.

What was the Soviet System?

• The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917, which aimed to create an egalitarian society based on socialist ideals.
• The socialist revolution was inspired by the ideas of socialism, as opposed to capitalism. This was perhaps the biggest attempt in human history to abolish the institution of private property and consciously design a society based on principles of equality.
• The Soviet system gave priority to the state and the Communist Party, with no other political parties allowed. The economy was planned and controlled by the state.
• After World War II, the Soviet Union extended its influence over Eastern European countries, forming the socialist bloc. The USSR became a major world power, with a developed economy, extensive resources, and a comprehensive welfare system. However, it also became bureaucratic and authoritarian, stifling dissent and neglecting the needs of its citizens. State ownership was the dominant form of ownership: land and productive assets were owned and controlled by the Soviet state.
• The Soviet regime grew increasingly autocratic and bureaucratic, which made living extremely tough for its people. A lack of democracy and free expression repressed those who frequently used jokes and cartoons to voice their disapproval.
• The majority of the Soviet Union’s institutions required change since the one-party government, headed by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, had strict control over all of them and was answerable to the people.
• The desire of the people in the fifteen distinct republics that made up the Soviet Union to run their own affairs, including their cultural issues, was rejected by the party.
• Despite matching the US in some areas, the Soviet Union lagged behind in technology and failed to fulfil citizens’ aspirations. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan further weakened the system, leading to economic stagnation and shortages of consumer goods by the late 1970s.

What was the Soviet System?: Short Notes

1. The USSR was formed after the Socialist Revolution in Russia in 1917, driven by socialist ideals for an equal society.
2. After World War II, Eastern European countries liberated by the Soviet army came under its control.
3. The Soviet economy became highly developed, second only to the US, but the system became bureaucratic and authoritarian, causing hardships for citizens.
4. Despite matching the US in the arms race at times, it came with significant costs.

Conclusion

The Soviet system emerged from the Socialist Revolution of 1917, aiming to create an egalitarian society based on socialist principles. While initially powerful and influential, especially after World War II, the Soviet Union faced internal challenges, including bureaucratic inefficiencies and authoritarianism, leading to economic stagnation and discontent among its citizens. Despite some achievements, such as matching the US in certain areas, the Soviet system ultimately struggled to meet the aspirations of its people, contributing to its eventual downfall.

What was the Soviet System?- FAQs

What was the system of the Soviet Union?

The political system of the Soviet Union took place in a federal single-party soviet socialist republic framework which was characterized by the superior role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), the only party permitted by the Constitution.

Are these notes good enough to prepare for exams?

Yes, these notes are specially curated by an expert team at GeeksforGeeks for all the students and are good enough for their exam preparation.

Explain any 4 features of the Soviet System.

Four features of the Soviet System are:

(i)The Soviet System was very bureaucratic and authoritarian.
(ii) Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech.
(iii) Tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people.
(iv) Russia dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.

What is Soviet system class 12?

The Soviet System was very bureaucratic and authoritarian.

Why was it called the Soviet?

“Soviet” comes from the name for workers’ councils, and the hammer and sickle on its red flag symbolically represented the labor of the country’s workers. The Soviet Union’s influence on the world was huge and still has an impact today. In the decades after the founding of the U.S.S.R.