Week 5 is about assessing and taking part in an historical argument. It is about continuing to develop your understanding of key political concepts (this week, Socialism and Communism).

Please view the two short clips here and think about whether you can identify key principles underpinning these ideologies? Post your reflections on your journal.

The first link is to a video presentation which looks at the basic idea of Marxism, specifically the conflict between the different classes in society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0GFSUu5UzA&feature=youtu.be

Follow the link for the next video. In that video Noam Chomsky responds to a caller's request for his thoughts on socialism, during a 2003 interview by Brian Lamb, for C-SPAN's "In Depth" program. He describes how socialism was equated with the Leninist model of the Soviet Union by both the USA and its allies on the one hand, and the USSR and its allies on the other. Once you have viewed this video consider the significance of how the ideologies of Socialism and Communism have been used historically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Tq4VE8eHQ

Go to the discussion board on historical significance and post your thoughts.