Hi! I am a stranger on this instance, I have read a lot of warnings about the “tankie triad”, but wanted to see for myself and keep an open mind.
I watched this video, and it made me want to take a deep dive into socialism/communism, with as much objectivity as I can. https://youtu.be/BeRjTtKFlVM
I understand how capitalism works, and I have doubts that it is a sustainable system for society long term, but social democracy has been a good way of keeping capitalism in-check in Norway. So even if capitalism is not ideal, it is in theory possible to tax the rich more and keep the whole thing going in the future. I also understand the exploitation and the extraction of surplus value, rent seeking etc.
Other capitalist countries such as the US is currently struggling with basic human needs. And that is “the shining beacon of capitalism”.
In Norway it has for a long time been common to use the US as an example of what not to do.
What I am interested in learning is how society would operate and function under socialism / communism. More about the differences. Preferably from less dry sources than The Capital from Marx. Where can I learn more? Preferably a bit entertaining.
It is important to me that it is historically accurate and factually correct.
Look forward to your replies 😊
I highly recommend you check out all the other stuff people have recommended, but I would like to add two books:
The first one, which I really like, This Soviet World by Anna L. Strong, talks about life in the Soviet Union. Secondly, Soviet Democracy, Pat Sloan, which while being more focused on it’s name sake, soviet democracy, does talk about life and society and is interesting.
A somewhat nerdy book Russian Justice, Mary S. Callcott, describes the justice system and prisons. Finally I have begun reading Red medicine: socialized health in Soviet Russia (Arthur Newsholme & John A. Kingsbury, 1933), but since I haven’t finished it I won’t recommend it, simply just mentioning it.