Question by : Why do we say the Soviet Union was communist when they called themselves socialist?
It’s in their name: Union of the Socialist Soviet Republics. Also, I know for a fact that people in the Eastern Bloc always talked of their system as socialism.
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Answer by oldwolves
I can stuff some feathers up my butt and jump off the roof and call myself a bird but reality will prove me wrong.
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What do you think?
Composer says
For the same reason most communist countries and dictatorships will call themselves "Democratic" or "People's" or "Republic". Just because someone calls themself something, doesn't mean it is true. However, the original intent was to become a socialist country, after a period of totalitarian transition; of course, since it was a flawed system to begin with, the totalitarianism could never end.
Paul says
Because the word communism evokes fear. A communist country has never existed, nor could it ever exist independently.