Lecture 18

Question 1

What was a core belief driving Cold War competition between East and West?

Answer 1

Whichever side had more advanced technology would appear ideologically superior.

Question 2

How did both the U.S. and USSR view technological dominance?

Answer 2

As a symbol of ideological supremacy and a pathway to victory.

Question 3

What was communism described as, in terms of social function?

Answer 3

A technology of social control.

Question 4

What was the ideal version of communism?

Answer 4

A system with no poverty, equal ownership, and collective businesses managed by the state.

Question 5

Why was communism theoretically motivating to workers?

Answer 5

Because they were considered part-owners of state-run businesses.

Question 6

What was the goal of Marxism?

Answer 6

To respond to social and economic injustice caused by the industrial revolution.

Question 7

Who developed Marxism?

Answer 7

Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx.

Question 8

Which country did Marx and Engels originally write the Communist Manifesto about?

Answer 8

Britain.

Question 9

Where did communism first take root instead of Britain?

Answer 9

In Russia, despite it being less industrialized.

Question 10

What was the first major phase of communism?

Answer 10

Marxism.

Question 11

What was Leninism characterized by?

Answer 11

Abolishment of government, suppression of the church, and elimination of the upper class.

Question 12

What role did Lenin play in the Bolshevik Revolution?

Answer 12

He led the revolution after being released from prison and orchestrated mass killings.

Question 13

What did Lenin warn about in his will?

Answer 13

He advised against ever giving power to Stalin.

Question 14

What happened to Lenin’s original will?

Answer 14

It was stolen and replaced by Stalin with a fake will making him successor.

Question 15

What defines the Stalinism phase of communism?

Answer 15

Mass executions, forced collectivization, and widespread famine and poverty.

Question 16

Approximately how many people died under Stalin’s regime?

Answer 16

Over 10 million Russians, Poles, and 8 million Ukrainians.

Question 17

What was centralized planning under Stalin?

Answer 17

State control over all production, land, and housing.

Question 18

Why did collectivization lead to failure?

Answer 18

People neglected collective property because they did not personally own it.

Question 19

What phrase summed up the mindset toward collective property?

Answer 19

“If it doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to no one.”

Question 20

What effect did collectivization have on land and infrastructure?

Answer 20

Widespread degradation and lack of maintenance.

Question 21

What was the outcome of communism’s failure in managing the common good?

Answer 21

Mass poverty, famine, and social collapse.

Question 22

What is the fourth phase of communism after Stalin’s rule?

Answer 22

Post-Stalinism and its derivatives.

Question 23

How did post-Stalinist communism differ across the world?

Answer 23

It varied depending on country and historical context.

Question 24

Why did communism appeal despite its failures in practice?

Answer 24

Because its ideals—equality and shared ownership—were emotionally powerful.

Question 25

What was the West’s critique of communism in the Cold War?

Answer 25

It was oppressive, inefficient, and led to mass suffering despite idealistic promises.

Question 26

What role did secret services like the KGB and UB play under communism?

Answer 26

They maintained strict control through torture, surveillance, imprisonment, and fear.

Question 27

Why were shortages common in Eastern Bloc countries like Poland?

Answer 27

Many goods were sent to Russia, creating scarcity and constant deprivation.

Question 28

What everyday items were most commonly available despite shortages?

Answer 28

Vinegar and vodka.

Question 29

How did Poland hide food from its own people?

Answer 29

Meat was hidden in cans labeled as “paint.”

Question 30

What was centralized planning in the communist economy?

Answer 30

The state determined fixed quotas of basic goods like toilet paper and gasoline, leading to shortages.

Question 31

Why was the communist economy described as fictional?

Answer 31

Goods were produced at a loss, opposite of capitalist profit systems.

Question 32

Were spare parts available for everyday items under communism?

Answer 32

No, replacement parts were nearly impossible to find.

Question 33

Who had access to special stores during shortages?

Answer 33

Only Communist Party members.

Question 34

What was the daily life of the working class like under communism?

Answer 34

They endured poverty while the party elite lived in luxury.

Question 35

How long might people wait in line for basic necessities?

Answer 35

Up to 3 days.

Question 36

What was one surprising benefit for families under communism?

Answer 36

Family was protected by law and supported with generous vacations and time off.

Question 37

How many paid vacation months could someone receive under communism?

Answer 37

Up to two months per year.

Question 38

Why might communism have promoted strong family values?

Answer 38

To showcase its superiority to the West and raise loyal children.

Question 39

What was notable about healthcare under communism?

Answer 39

It was extensive and available at work, school, and home.

Question 40

How were emergencies handled in the communist healthcare system?

Answer 40

Different medical emergencies were treated in separate, specialized facilities.

Question 41

What system of healthcare is still partially used in Poland today?

Answer 41

A combination of public and private healthcare.

Question 42

Was crime common under communism?

Answer 42

It was minimal, but police presence was heavy and often abusive.

Question 43

What happened if you refused to work under communism?

Answer 43

You were imprisoned or sent to the army.

Question 44

Was job security guaranteed under communism?

Answer 44

Yes, but it often led to laziness since pay was fixed regardless of effort.

Question 45

Was university education free under communism?

Answer 45

Yes, the state paid for all higher education.

Question 46

Why did PhD holders or doctors make less than factory workers?

Answer 46

It was viewed as service to the people, not for profit.

Question 47

What message did communism promote regarding gender roles?

Answer 47

Women could be scientists, astronauts, or engineers—just like men.

Question 48

What reality did many communist women face despite official equality?

Answer 48

They worked full-time jobs and still had to raise children.

Question 49

What was the communist view of housing?

Answer 49

Housing was a right, not a commodity, and was provided freely by the state.

Question 50

How was urban planning handled under communism?

Answer 50

Cities were designed to foster community and eliminate the need for cars.

Question 51

What was a principle of communist city design for pedestrians?

Answer 51

Children and pedestrians should never need to cross a road.

Question 52

What made urban communities under communism unique?

Answer 52

They had walkable access to stores, schools, and services within feet of housing.

Question 53

Why do modern urban designers study parts of Warsaw today?

Answer 53

To learn from efficient, human-centered communist urban planning.

Question 54

What kind of social mix existed in communist apartment blocks?

Answer 54

All classes lived together—farmers, engineers, doctors, and party members.

Question 55

How did people access goods despite shortages?

Answer 55

They relied on relationships with others like farmers for help.

Question 56

How is Western society different in terms of social mixing?

Answer 56

It’s segregated by wealth; upper classes don’t live with workers.

Question 57

What was the philosophy around product design under communism?

Answer 57

Items were built to last and be repaired, not thrown away.

Question 58

What happened to broken appliances under communism?

Answer 58

They were fixed, repurposed, or salvaged for parts.

Question 59

Was packaging wasteful under communism?

Answer 59

No—packaging was 100% reusable, and nothing was thrown out.

Question 60

What was meat often wrapped in under communism?

Answer 60

Old newspapers.

Question 61

What was food quality like under communism?

Answer 61

It was naturally grown, unprocessed, and pesticide-free due to lack of resources.

Question 62

Why were foods often free of additives or chemicals?

Answer 62

Farmers couldn't afford pesticides or synthetic substitutes.

Question 63

What did job security look like in a communist system?

Answer 63

You couldn’t be fired, but many people stopped working altogether due to lack of incentives.

Question 64

What was a downside of guaranteed employment?

Answer 64

No motivation—people were paid the same whether they worked or not.

Question 65

How did the communist state present itself to children?

Answer 65

As a provider of joy, family support, and superior values compared to the West.

Question 66

Why is plutonium a safeguard in nuclear bomb development?

Answer 66

It is extremely expensive and difficult to access, limiting who can build nuclear weapons.

Question 67

What breakthrough did Polish scientists reportedly achieve?

Answer 67

They discovered how to develop a fusion-based neutron bomb, a potentially unlimited energy source.

Question 68

How does a hydrogen bomb work?

Answer 68

It uses two atomic bombs as detonators to create a fusion reaction—still based on fission.

Question 69

Why is a neutron bomb considered a “clean bomb”?

Answer 69

It kills living organisms without destroying buildings or infrastructure.

Question 70

What makes the neutron bomb so dangerous?

Answer 70

It allows one to eliminate populations while leaving physical structures intact.

Question 71

What happened to the Polish scientist who led the neutron bomb research?

Answer 71

Kaliski was killed in a suspicious car accident, likely orchestrated by the KGB.

Question 72

What happened to Kaliski’s fusion research after his death?

Answer 72

It disappeared and was erased from the historical record.

Question 73

Why is this technology relevant in the 2020s?

Answer 73

The U.S. recently announced a fusion breakthrough that could provide unlimited energy—or weaponry.

Question 74

What dual potential does fusion technology represent?

Answer 74

It could bring world peace through clean energy or mass destruction through neutron bombs.

Question 75

What belief system is tied to modern views on scientific advancement?

Answer 75

Scientism—the idea that science can solve all human problems, often ignoring ethical consequences.