Points of Russia: Exploring the Land of the Tsars

Exploring the Effects of Soviet Collectivism What impact did Soviet collectivism have on the people of Russia during and after the Soviet era? This is a question that historians and contemporary thinkers alike have sought to answer. The Soviet Union prided itself on its collectivism, which began to take root in the late 1920s and extended until its dissolution. Under collectivism, people of a particular social class were expected to be more loyal to the collective than to one another, and to operate within the constraints provided by the government in order to foster a sense of unity and mutual purpose. Yet, despite the apparent idealism of collectivism, its application came with significant implications and drawbacks. Where collectivism emphasized social organization and equality, it also had the affect of totalitarian rule and a lack of individual autonomy. Furthermore, collectivism could foster a sense of apathy amongst people, forcing them to submit to their fate under the prevai...