Question by jonathanasdf: Human rights principles in Soviet Russia under Stalin?
What are the philosophical groundings, meaning founding principles such as Habaeus Corpus in Canada, that would allow such a system as the gulag as described by Solzhenitsyn to exist in Soviet Russia?
Except, I need to write an essay on this topic with at least 5 supporting facts. Totalitarian state is only one fact. I also have – a centralized judicial system, as well as a state built upon terror, but what else? Thanks
Answers and Views:
Answer by Rickey T
What?
Read all the answers in the comments.
What do you think?
nicequestion says
first of all – do not forget that "human rights" were not in existence during Stalin's time even in western countries.
If you need proof – remember that many used to be soviets citizens were forcefully deported to USSR by USA/GB authority against their will in 1945-47.
Even those who fled Russia after civil war and never been soviet were deported!!!
Now, get to the point.
The basis for Soviet Gulag was new ("communist") moral:
"everything which is compliance with progress is good and moral. Everything which is against – is bad and must be destroyed".
Since communists wanted to build a socialist state (more advanced stage of evolution over the capitalistic state – according to their doctrine) – they were "inheritable right" in their fight with old regime and all people who support (or may support it).
In other wolds – Communism was a kind of religion.
wotan says
Autocratic, totalitarian form of government. Imperial Russia prior to the revolution, had endured for close to four centuries. In a way, you could say that that concept of government, was in the blood of the Russian people, as much as it was in their heads.
The only essential difference between the rule of the Czars, and that of Stalin, was one of succession only.
You will find the same mindset in that of Imperial China; only there, it had endured for nearly 2,000 years.
Such deeply seated "ways of doing things", is not easily unseated. The masses of the people, had no rights: concepts such as "Habaeus Corpus" was meaningless: no one was able to even relate to such a thing.
Wotan