I read the wiki page on Perestroika. Am I understanding correctly that the people who pushed it, at least some, wanted to move the union to social democracy?
That was sort of a goal. The key goals were to introduce market mechanisms into the economy, liberalize media, and introduce multi-candidate elections.
After the XX Congress, in an ultra-narrow circle of our closest friends and associates, we often discussed the problems of democratization of the country and society. We chose a simple – like a sledgehammer – method of propagating the “ideas” of late Lenin. A group of true, not imaginary reformers developed (of course, orally) the following plan: to strike with the authority of Lenin at Stalin, at Stalinism. And then, if successful, – to strike with Plekhanov and Social Democracy – at Lenin, and then – with liberalism and “moral socialism” – at revolutionarism in general … The Soviet totalitarian regime could be destroyed only through glasnost and totalitarian party discipline, while hiding behind the interests of improving socialism. […] Looking back, I can proudly say that a clever, but very simple tactic – the mechanisms of totalitarianism against the system of totalitarianism – has worked.
Especially this part - “and then – with liberalism and ‘moral socialism’ – at revolutionarism in general” - it makes it sound like at least this guy (Yakovlev) wanted to move away from economic socialism altogether. Am I reading this right? Is it taken out of some context in which it has a different meaning? I’m asking in case you’ve read more about the topic. If you haven’t, that’s alright.
But… that doesn’t really… what?
it does really https://lemmy.ml/post/25657440
I read the wiki page on Perestroika. Am I understanding correctly that the people who pushed it, at least some, wanted to move the union to social democracy?
That was sort of a goal. The key goals were to introduce market mechanisms into the economy, liberalize media, and introduce multi-candidate elections.
Reading this quote from wiki:
Especially this part - “and then – with liberalism and ‘moral socialism’ – at revolutionarism in general” - it makes it sound like at least this guy (Yakovlev) wanted to move away from economic socialism altogether. Am I reading this right? Is it taken out of some context in which it has a different meaning? I’m asking in case you’ve read more about the topic. If you haven’t, that’s alright.
Yeah, it was basically a start of a counterrevolution to restore capitalism. I actually personally lived through it all.