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Communism: Opposing Viewpoints
Library Binding
First published December 1, 1978
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About the author
Bruno Leone
97 books10 followersBruno Leone earned undergraduate and
graduate degrees in history from Arizona
State University and the University of
Minnesota, respectively. He was a lecturer
at the University of Minnesota and
assistant professor of history at St. Francis
University, Joliet, Illinois. Recipient of a
Woodrow Wilson Graduate Fellowship,
a National Endowment for the Humanities
Fellowship and two National Science
Foundation Grants, he has authored
numerous books, articles, and anthologies
including, Origin: The Story of Charles
Darwin (2009) and Disease in History
(2016). He is currently adjunct professor
of humanities at California State University,
San Marcos where he lectures for the
Osher Foundation.
graduate degrees in history from Arizona
State University and the University of
Minnesota, respectively. He was a lecturer
at the University of Minnesota and
assistant professor of history at St. Francis
University, Joliet, Illinois. Recipient of a
Woodrow Wilson Graduate Fellowship,
a National Endowment for the Humanities
Fellowship and two National Science
Foundation Grants, he has authored
numerous books, articles, and anthologies
including, Origin: The Story of Charles
Darwin (2009) and Disease in History
(2016). He is currently adjunct professor
of humanities at California State University,
San Marcos where he lectures for the
Osher Foundation.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 16, 2023
Published in 1978, just before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and a decade before the collapse of the Soviet Union, this book is very dated. In it noted commentators put forward points of view regarding the value of communism as it was practiced in the Soviet Union and the associated nations of what was known as the Warsaw Pact.
To understand the position of some of the authors, it is necessary to understand the historical context of their writings. The dates of the papers go back to the 1920’s and 1930’s. This was shortly after the Bolsheviks took power in the former Russian Empire and there was reason for optimism regarding how successful communism would be. There is also the reality of race and gender oppression in the United States and at least in theory, women were the equals of men in a communist society.
I found this book to be very interesting, even with the advantage of hindsight. The writers truly believed in their positions regarding communism, both for and against. On the surface and in terms of promises of equality, there is some idealistic appeal of communism. However, as we have learned since, the practical applications are brutal and oppressive.
To understand the position of some of the authors, it is necessary to understand the historical context of their writings. The dates of the papers go back to the 1920’s and 1930’s. This was shortly after the Bolsheviks took power in the former Russian Empire and there was reason for optimism regarding how successful communism would be. There is also the reality of race and gender oppression in the United States and at least in theory, women were the equals of men in a communist society.
I found this book to be very interesting, even with the advantage of hindsight. The writers truly believed in their positions regarding communism, both for and against. On the surface and in terms of promises of equality, there is some idealistic appeal of communism. However, as we have learned since, the practical applications are brutal and oppressive.
Displaying 1 of 1 review