Verdery Lesson Outline
Prepared by :
Glenn Lens
Professor: Hülya Demirdirek
What was Socialism?
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Areas of Eastern Europe varied significantly in intensity, span, and significance of
control
Families were highly varied also.
Inadequacies
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It was undermined by internal resistance
Planning was not adequate or controlled
There was padding and hoarding of supplies, workers were also hoarded
Us and Them
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There was a split between workers and party leaders
Workers were disdainful
Surveillance increased distrust and suspicion
Top Down vs. Bottom Up
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Centre of competition was other buyers.
There was preferential hoarding by merchants.
“Reduced individual drive to succeed.
Control
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Centre tried to control as much as possible
They centred production on heavy industry.
Two Economies
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First
 Based on minimalism. Only ‘needs’ were barely met.
 Aroused an unfocused desire in the people.
Second
 Theft of goods.
 Manipulation of state property
 Theft of production material
 Was a means of marking individuality.
Factionalism
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Many dichotomous relations became apparent.
 Bureaucracy/global monopoly
 In house/ out of house
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Owners /workers
Us /them
Tim e/ Space discontinuity
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Socialism moved at its own pace
New economy required a capitalist pace.
Illustrated by terminology in Gorbachev’s address.
Sense of urgency.
Socialism vs. Capitalism Interface.
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Factional splits with outside contact
Creation of market economy
Horizontal vs. vertical hierarchy…meant loss of control.
Summary
The lack of party unity was brought forth by an increased Nationalism among the many
elements of Socialism . The atmosphere divided people and Nation states from one
another who in turn sought community within smaller factions. This along with the
stresses of the Soc/Cap interface created a loss of economic control and a temporal
hegemony. These accumulated factors culminated in the demise of Socialism as it was
known.