communist road to consumption

The Road to Consumption Boris Kagarlitsky Russian Academy of Sciences Abstract: The year 1 989 was neithe r the triump h of "civil society” nor a decisive break with the past. Consumerist ambitions cultivated in these societies in the last period of Conmmnist rule, and the growing dependence of these societies on the West made the change of system both logical and easy. People who cried adamantly for more freedom in fact dreamed about Western consumption. They received precisely what they had publicly demanded — Western institutions — not Western wealth. However, the develop- ments in existing social and economic structures put the democratic gains of 1989-1991 in question. Post- Communist societies became the new periphery of the capitalist world system. Capitalist relations there look barbaric when compared to those of the West, but that is natural for peripheral capitalism and cannot be otherwise. The nomenklatura has been bourgeoisified, but it has not become fully- fledged bourgeoisie. It has merged with the world capitalist system, accepting the rules of the system’s game. Socie ties and economies have become demodernized, making new modernization necessary. To achieve it we must dare to challenge the existing elites and the whole model of peripheral capitalism. Initially it looked so good… When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and the countries of Eastern Europe flung themselves into the embraces of the West. no one wanted to think of the problems and trials lying ahead. Three years later, when the Soviet Union had disintegrated and the Russian Federation that had arisen from the debris proclaimed its determination to carry out a transition to capitalism. Everyone knew that the changes would be painful. Ten years later, there are fewer and fewer people in the former Communist countries who retain faith in a better future. The ideologues of neo-liberalism, whether imported or homegrown, promised the people of Eastern Europe that their countries would merge with the West. After ten years, living standards in the two parts ot the continent have not come any closer together. The countries of Eastern Europe first experienced a profound economic decline. Some of them later managed a certain growth, but none managed to surpass their pre-crisis levels, let alone reduce the gap that separated them from their Western neighbors. Recognizing that they would not achieve success on t heir owm the countries of the former Communist bloc are now tying their hopes to integration with the political structures of the West. As was the case ten years ago, the plans of the elites enjoy broad support in society. Everyone thinks that entry into the NATO military alliance or the European Union will finally allow these countries to escape from the impasse in which they find themselves, and to truly join the family of rich nations. Political integration, it is assurned, will draw economic integration in its wake. http://wxy.seu.edu.cn/humanities/sociology/htmledit/uploadfile/system/20100911/201009112357 56560.pdf

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7/31/2019 Communist Road to Consumption

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The Road to Consumption

Boris Kagarlitsky

Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract: The year 1989 was neither the triumph of "civil society” nor a decisive break with the past.Consumerist ambitions cultivated in these societies in the last period of Conmmnist rule, and the growingdependence of these societies on the West made the change of system both logical and easy. People whocried adamantly for more freedom in fact dreamed about Western consumption. They received preciselywhat they had publicly demanded — Western institutions — not Western wealth. However, the develop-ments in existing social and economic structures put the democratic gains of 1989-1991 in question. Post-Communist societies became the new periphery of the capitalist world system. Capitalist relations therelook barbaric when compared to those of the West, but that is natural for peripheral capitalism and cannot

be otherwise. The nomenklatura has been bourgeoisified, but it has not become fully-fledged bourgeoisie. It

has merged with the world capitalist system, accepting the rules of the system’s game. Societies andeconomies have become demodernized, making new modernization necessary. To achieve it we must dareto challenge the existing elites and the whole model of peripheral capitalism.

Initially it looked so good…

When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and the countries of Eastern Europe flung themselves into theembraces of the West. no one wanted to think of the problems and trials lying ahead. Three years later,when the Soviet Union had disintegrated and the Russian Federation that had arisen from the debrisproclaimed its determination to carry out a transition to capitalism. Everyone knew that the changes wouldbe painful. Ten years later, there are fewer and fewer people in the former Communist countries whoretain faith in a better future. The ideologues of neo-liberalism, whether imported or homegrown,

promised the people of Eastern Europe that their countries would merge with the West. After ten years,living standards in the two parts ot the continent have not come any closer together. The countries of Eastern Europe first experienced a profound economic decline. Some of them later managed a certaingrowth, but none managed to surpass their pre-crisis levels, let alone reduce the gap that separated themfrom their Western neighbors. Recognizing that they would not achieve success on their owm the countriesof the former Communist bloc are now tying their hopes to integration with the political structures of theWest. As was the case ten years ago, the plans of the elites enjoy broad support in society.

Everyone thinks that entry into the NATO military alliance or the European Union will finally allowthese countries to escape from the impasse in which they find themselves, and to truly join the family of richnations. Political integration, it is assurned, will draw economic integration in its wake.

http://wxy.seu.edu.cn/humanities/sociology/htmledit/uploadfile/system/20100911/20100911235756560.pdf