Critique of Socialism - Essay Example

Critique of Socialism Introduction A number have in the past tried to scrutinise the extent of the socialism and communism idea as it was practiced in Eastern Europe. This has seen a number of the authors taking a critical criticism of the ideologies due to the social and economic difficulties it levelled on the whole society. Indeed, Milan Kundera is one of the authors who have taken a critical criticism of the communist ideology as it was practiced in Czechoslovakia in his famous novel known as “The Joke” (Kundera, 1967). Thus, this paper undertakes an analysis of the novel to demonstrate how the author has criticised the communist ideology in Czechoslovakia. Consequently, the thesis statement of this paper is that the author criticises the communist ideology in Czechoslovakia. Analysis The idea of communism when it was introduced in many of the Eastern Europe countries was to create optimism on the people that they will be equal in acquiring and enjoying social and economic benefits (McKay, 2007). Ideally, the ideology was targeting the equal distribution of the resources in the society to enable people to grow equally on social benefits. This political idea has been castigated by the author as an opium system. Indeed, the author illustrates how one of the characters in the fiction novel wrote in a postcard critiquing the notion of optimism in a society. "Optimism is the opium of the people! A healthy atmosphere stinks of stupidity! Long live Trotsky!" (Kundera 18). This observation of the author through the use of the character in the fiction novel, illustrates how the writer thought of the communist ideology in the republic of Czechoslovakia during those days. Inasmuch the idea of communism in the country was to draw equality in the lives of the population, the system according to the writer, was pegged on optimism to the people that social and economic benefits will be distributed equally for their own good. In the view of the writer, this optimism was beholding the population from innovative means and creativity as individuals to contribute towards the development of the society and their individual lives. This is a contrast stand against the communism idea as it was construed to be opening the lives of the people to enjoy the benefits of their state (McKay, 2007). Consequently, the statement from the novel depicts how the writer blames the communist ideology in Czechoslovakia in beholding them from participating in innovative and creative activities to improve their lives. Another aspect that has been demonstrated in the fiction novel by the writer in critiquing the communist idea is the imprisonment of the mind. This implied the effect of the political system that was practiced in the country in preventing the population in questioning the rationale of the government actions. Thus, the writer demonstrates how the communist ideology in his country had blinded the minds of the population in holding the government accountable in carrying out the state’s affairs. Indeed, the writer illustrates how one of the characters described another character in the fiction novel as unable to go beyond the government rhetoric in questioning its action. In addition, the writer demonstrates how the population is politically constrained in understanding the ills of the government actions due to the legal system that was introduced by the communist ideology. "She was constitutionally unable to look behind anything; she could only see the thing itself" (Kundera, 143). In contrast, the communist idea in the history of European society was agitated to end the capitalism ills in imprisoning the population. Indeed, it was argued that the capitalism ideology had imprisoned the minds of the population due to its embracement of materialism in the society (McKay, 2007). However, the fiction novel demonstrates how the communist idea failed in liberating the population in questioning the actions of their own government. Indeed, the author demonstrates how one of the character known as Ludvik was forced out of social party by his friends for making humour of the political system in the country (Kundera, 1967). This demonstrates that the writer of the view that the communist ideology advocated for little freedom for the population in earning their rights of expression. Thus, the socialist idea of the communist regime in the fiction novel demonstrates a totalitarianism ruling by the state instead of offering liberty to its population. This is contrary to the embracement of the communist ideology in some countries in Europe as an instrument for social and political freedom (McKay, 2007). Thus, the writer had a negative observation against the communist ideology by demonstrating how it denied the population from noting the ills of their political system. The author has also, demonstrated the negative contribution of the socialist realism advocated by the communist regime in the fiction novel by demonstrating it is based on anger. This depicts that the author was of the opinion that the socialism ideas of the communism was drafted to alienate and retaliate against some specific individuals in the society. Consequently, socialism in this context is not a justified political system of solving social and economic problems facing the society since it expands the injustice in the same society. Indeed, the author demonstrates his dissatisfactions with the communist regime through the fiction novel by the anger of the main character Ludvik against the political system of his country. “Nothing is more repugnant to me than brotherly feelings grounded in the common baseness people see in one another” (Kundera, 174 ). Ideally, the idea of the socialism movement in the European countries was to advocate for the recognition and appreciation of all people in the society without discrimination (McKay, 2007). In contrast, the fiction novel depicts that the socialism idea in the communist regime was discriminating some individuals due to their opinion that seemed to be against the regime. This is a clear manifestation that the author views the socialist as a poor means of solving social and economic problems that societies face. Conclusion Socialism was highly advocated and practiced in the past in the European countries as a means of solving social and economic difficulties. However, a number of authors have in the past taken a contrary opinion of the political system through their literature writings. Indeed, Milan Kundera in his novel named as “The Joke” has criticised the socialist realism in communist regimes. This has been demonstrated by the irony of the ideology in beholding the population through the promises it gives. In addition, the author has demonstrated how the system denies the population from stopping the ills of their governments. Moreover, the fiction novel observes that the socialist ideology is based on anger against some individuals in the society. This makes the state to discriminate some people in the society due to their opposing opinions against the social and economic policies of the state. Thus, socialist realism in the communist regimes of the European countries was a wrong ideology according to the author. Work Cited Kundera, Milan. The Joke. Czech: Ceskoslovensky spisovatel , 1967. McKay, John, P. History Of Western Society. 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