Abstract
This essay researches Germany's history from industrialization to the post modern period in an effort to relate Germany's history and economic development to the way fascism and Nazism developed. From there, it is investigated whether Soviet rule in the east, or Allied rule in the west better suited Germany's historical developments. It was the allied capitalist system that better suited Germany, as seen in the "West German Miracle".

Tags:allied, berlin, east, germany, ii, stalin, wall, war, west, world

Abstract
This critical paper illustrates in a number of ways that dialectical materialism is arrived at through a process of scientific inquiry. The author gives a distinct definition of the meaning of what it is that warrants the description of a theory as "scientific". Next, she applies this definition to Marx's historical theory and shows how it corresponds to this description. Finally, she reflects and responds to some of the ways that Marx's critics are in disagreement with her argument that dialectical materialism is, in fact, a study of history that is based on scientific theory and objectivity.

From the Paper
"As a student of history, I believe that there is validity in Marx's "scientific" postulation. The study of history is very important, I believe, in discovering what lies ahead of us and how best to avoid repeating past mistakes. Although there are no "concretes" in history, and at this point, I diverge from Marxian historiography, there must be an objective way of looking at the past in order to theorize about how we have arrived at our current situations. Although I do not believe Marx's theory of history to be entirely correct, I do argue that this theory is arrived at objectively and scientifically."

Tags:dialectical, engels, history, marx, materialism, philosophy

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the socio-political structures in China under the Ming Dynasty and the People's Republic of China. In doing so, the author explores the differences between Confucius's philosophies and Mao's with its roots in Soviet Communism. A good part of the paper is devoted toward a discussion of Zhu Yuanzhang's totalitarian rule.

From the Paper
"In 1911 AD, a revolution in China overthrew the Manchu rulers and ended the Qing Dynasty. Over the next forty years China was ruled by various warlords, occupied by the Japanese, and eventually liberated by the nationalist forces of Chang Kai Shek, known as the Guomindang. However, before China could be restored to order, the Red Army of the Chinese Communist party, operating in small guerilla units, took first the North and then the South of China, forcing Chang and the remnants of his forces to flee to Taiwan. On October 1st 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the people's republic of China."

Tags:asia, china, communist, east, guomindang, history, mao, ming, people, political, politics, republic, science, taiwan, zedong

Abstract
An examination of why almost every revolutionary movement in Latin America in the 1960's and 1970's failed to achieve its aims. The author explains that the aims of these movements were to defeat or topple an existing regime and replace it with a better regime. It shows that these aims failed because of the methods used.

From the Paper
"Latin America has had an abundance of guerrilla movements and guerrilla wars in its history. The majority has these, and the ones concerned with in this paper, have occurred in the last twenty to thirty years. Since the success of Fidel Castro in Cuba in January 1959, numerous attempts have been made to overthrow regimes using the same methods used by Castro. It is here that the various Latin American movements have made mistakes. Cuba appears to have been an "exception to the rule", the methods used there were ineffective elsewhere as is noted by the failure of most of the guerrilla movements from 1959 to 1979. It makes no difference whether the movement is politically "left wing" or "right wing" oriented, the errors are still there."

Tags:america, armed, castro, che, fidel, guerilla, guevera, latin, left, struggle, warfare, wing

Abstract
This essay analyzes the effectiveness of the Stasi, the former secret police agency in East Germany, in defending the former German Democratic Republic's government. The author attempts to prove that the Stasi carried out their task adequately and efficiently, showing how aspects beyond the Stasi's control caused the fall of communism in East Germany. A brief history of the Stasi is presented, highlighting some of their operations and recruiting methods. The question of what makes a successful secret police agency is also discussed. The paper includes information about the Stasi's leadership under Erich Mielke. In summary, the author reiterates that the Stasi, was one of the most capable secret police agencies in the world. The paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a works cited page.

From the Paper
"The word Stasi comes from an abbreviation of the German word Staatssicherhei, literally State Security . Founded on 9 February 1950 under William Zaisser, the Stasi was modeled after both the Russian Checka and the Soviet MGB. Until the collapse of the GDR in 1991, the Stasi remained an extremely loyal and effective partner to the Soviets. Although the Stasi were officially granted independence in 1950, it was really only a superficial independence, as the now KGB employed liaison officers within the Stasi until 1990 3. This relationship is more logical when you think of the GDR in the context of its relationship with the Soviet Union. As the USSR acted as a big brother to the GDR, it makes sense for their respective security agencies to take similar roles."

Tags:Communism, German Democratic Republic, Erich Mielke, Secret Police, Gestapo, Checka

Abstract
This paper explores NATO's future in a post Cold War world. It looks at how two camps have emerged carrying their own respective vision for the future of NATO: one side argues for the dissolution of NATO while the other argues for the expansion of NATO. The respective theoretical and practical arguments of each side are analyzed with emphasis on refuting the claims of NATO's critics. The paper also argues that NATO does face some serious but addressable challenges with a particular focus on promoting cohesion among members. A discussion of NATO's failures in Yugoslavia and the reforms that must be made in order to avert future mistakes is also included. The paper ultimately argues that NATO is an essential institution for promoting international security and sustaining the democratization of Eastern Europe and beyond.

From the Paper
"Despite the uncertainties regarding NATO's post-cold war future, it continues to be an active and expanding institution. NATO today has expanded to 28 member states which include former enemies in the Warsaw pact. NATO members represent forty five percent of world GDP and the majority of defense spending . Expansion began in 1990 with the initiation of an "open doors policy", and during the chaos and uncertainty created by the fall of communism . The expansion of NATO's members also expanded NATO's potential sphere of operation. This is because NATO was obliged to protect its members under article 5 of the NATO convention which, as the heart of NATO, stipulated that "an attack against one was an attack against all" . This article helps to define NATO as a defensive alliance providing collective security to all members. NATO has also become more active in the post cold-war period. For example article 5 was invoked for the first time after the 9/11 attacks, and NATO also saw military action with its intervention in Yugoslavia. "

Tags:Russia, Eastern, Europe, democracy, communism

Abstract
This paper examines how the Soviet intervention of Czechoslovakia was a violation of rules shaping international relations. It looks at how the Russians had to invade, due to their geopolitical position within Europe and on account of a "counterrevolutionary" situation in Czechoslovakia. It argues that socialist countries cannot be indifferent to the erosion of one of the links in the world system of socialism and how alterations in one state immediately influences all. It also discusses how, in order to keep the balance of forces against NATO, the Soviets sustained that three USSR's nuclear weapons sites in Czechoslovakia were crucial. However, Czechoslovakia refused Soviet troops on its soil and the political and social unrest of Prague Spring disorganized the rigorous security system that was required.

From the Paper
"Dubcek's liberalization of Czechoslovakia's socialist system alarmed Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders into reasoning that "revolutionary" elements in other Soviet-bloc nations would ensue the Prague Spring's pattern and shift away from their own form of socialism. The Soviets were also concerned that elements in their own country would emanate and oppose the Communist Party should they let the Czechoslovakian undertaking proceed. The modest liberalization was not limited to Prague. Soviet cinema and literature began to inspire "critical analysis of the system,'' Underground publications cropped up from Moscow to Berlin (Kundera). The KGB perceived the Prague Spring to be a threat to the external and internal security of the Soviet Union. Deliberations in Czechoslovakia about the past violations of the StB intensified apprehension that comparable debates would inevitably take place in Moscow about the Soviet security organs (Skoug 48)."

Tags:communism, dubcek, eastern, europe, invasion, reforms, revolution, socialism

Abstract
The paper offers arguments on the importance of the U.S.-Indonesia relations during the Cold War era. The main point that this paper reflects is how the potential spread of Communism in Indonesia paved the way for the infiltration of U.S. foreign policy into Indonesia's domestic and foreign affairs. U.S. interest in Indonesia focused mainly on the country's abundance of natural resources and location, and the U.S. attempted to dissuade Indonesia from falling into Communist hands.

From the Paper
"With Sukarno spearheading the quest for Indonesia Merdeka, Indonesian demands for independence grew dramatically, prompting the colonial government to withdraw from its Ethical Policy commitments by the late 1920s. Fearing potential surges of nationalist movements, the leaders of PNI were arrested and later tried. Among others, Sukarno was arrested in December 1929 and put on trial for sedition in 1930, after which he was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison. The imprisonment of the party leaders led to the dissolution of the PNI in April 1931. The split was thought to have been triggered by disparities in approaches to the nationalist movement, each with ethnic overtones. Furthermore, fueled by their intolerance of radical nationalist movements, the Dutch government formally banned a new stream of nationalist movement in the form of Partindo (Indonesian Party), which replaced the PNI as the new dominant force in nationalist movement."

Tags:asia, policy, southeast

Abstract
This paper examines the factors that have contributed to the election of the same political party in Russia since the fall of Communism. Russia has been in an economic depression since the fall of the Soviet Union, yet the same party is re-elected through democratic vote. The reasons for this puzzling outcome are discussed in this paper and identified as using democracy to purge the conservative communists of their rank, old elites regaining state control and loyalty of those counting the votes. Each factor is discussed in great detail along with its contribution and impact on the electoral outcome. This paper is ideal for anyone, from a Russian politics expert to a curious novice.

From the Paper
"Mikhail Gorbachev, along with the Soviet leaders was the first to introduce semi competitive elections into the USSR and then later Russia. Although elections are a focal point of a democracy, they were not initiated by Gorbachev for this use. "The goal of these elections was to purge the conservative ranks of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) from their positions of power within state structures as a way to liberate these state institutions and thereby make them available as instruments by executing Gorbachev's economic reforms" (McFaul and Petrov, 24). The existing powers of the Soviet Union at the time of the introduction of democracy were all communists, who held high political ranks. In order for Gorbachev to implement his reformation of the economy, these political figures needed to be removed from their ranks, otherwise there would be great opposition to the changes planned. When these leaders were removed, the state organizations were free from communist control and could be used in any way that Gorbachev desired."

Tags:authoritative, campaigns, communism, communists, competative, control, cpsu, democracy, depression, eastern, economic, elections, electoral, elites, europe, gorbachev, history, kramlin, leaders, power, process, putin, rank, russia, russian, soviet, state, studies, union, ussr, voters

Abstract
This paper attempts to introduce Karl Marx's view of capitalist exploitation, which states that the bourgeoisie is the ruling class in capitalist society, which owns the means of production, while the proletariat is the working class, whose sole commodity is his labor power. It examines the issue of how division of labor further increases the exploitation of the worker and how the exploitation of the worker is not confined simply to the bourgeois capitalist who employs him, but also to all the other capitalists who form the society around the proletarian worker.

From the Paper
"In order to keep the worker subjugated, the bourgeois capitalist only provides the laborer with the basic requirements for continued existence. In evidence of this, Marx claims, "The costs occasioned by the worker are limited almost entirely to the subsistence which he requires for his maintenance and reproduction of his race. The price of a commodity, and therefore of labor, is equal to its costs of production." By giving the worker the minimum one can possible allow him, only barely allowing enough for the necessities, the proletarian can never acquire any property of his own, and thus never has any hopes of gaining the means of production for himself."

Tags:bourgeois, capitalism, exploitation, proletariat