Heaven on Earth - The Rise and Fall of Socialism

HEAVEN ON EARTH: The Rise and Fall of Socialism A Think Tank Special A 3 hour documentary series produced by New River Media and BJW, Inc. "Most of the people in the world today call the name of their dream Socialism." - Michael Harrington, 1968 Much of the history of the past 200 years revolved around a single idea. It was the vision that life could be lived in peace and brotherhood if only property were shared by all and distributed equally, eliminating the source of greed, envy, poverty and strife. This idea was called "socialism" and it was man's most ambitious attempt to supplant religion with a doctrine grounded on science rather than revelation. It became the most popular political idea in history. Its provenance was European, but it spread to China and Africa, India and Latin America and even to that most tradition-bound of regions, the Middle East. While it never fully took root in America, its influence shaped the nation's political debate. At its crest in the 1970s, roughly 60 percent of the earth's population lived under governments that espoused socialism in one form or another. Then, suddenly, it all collapsed. Because its goal proved so elusive, the socialist movement split and split again into diverse, sometimes murderously contradictory forms. There was Social Democracy, which insisted that only peaceful and democratic means could produce a harmonious commonwealth. There was Communism, which extolled the resolute use of force and dictatorship to propel mankind to a new way of life. There was Arab Socialism, African Socialism, and other Third World variants that sought to amalgamate western Social Democracy and eastern Communism. There was even fascism, which turned the socialist idea on its head by substituting the brotherhood of nation and race for the brotherhood of class. And there were those - from early American settlers, to the "flower children" of the 1960s, to Israeli Zionist kibbutzniks - who built their own socialist communities, hoping to transform the world by the force of example. As an idea that changed the way people thought, socialism's success was spectacular. As a critique of capitalism that helped spawn modern social safety nets and welfare states, its success was appreciable. As a model for the development of post-colonial states, the socialist model proved disappointing, fostering economic stagnation among millions of the world's poorest people. And in its most violent forms, socialism was calamitous, claiming scores of millions of lives and helping to make the twentieth century the bloodiest ever. Through profiles of the individuals that brought socialism to life, HEAVEN ON EARTH tells the story of how an idea arose, evolved, changed the world, and eventually fell. ............................... PART I: THE RISE ROBERT OWEN AND UTOPIAN SOCIALISM In 1825 a progressive British industrialist travels to America to create a utopian community. Owen believes that abolishing private property will liberate mankind. MARX AND ENGELS: BIRTH OF A MANIFESTO Two young Germans forge a friendship that gives birth to the Communist Manifesto. Their analysis of history as a struggle between classes and their prophecy of the inevitable overthrow of capitalism define the movement. EDUARD BERNSTEIN AND A CRISIS OF FAITH At the end of the 19th century, the intellectual heir of Marxism tries to reconcile the prediction of labor's revolt with the reality of improved working conditions. The movement splits, Communism and Social Democracy part ways. LENIN AND THE BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION Vladimir Lenin responds to Bernstein's critique by igniting a violent revolution and creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. SAMUEL GOMPERS AND AMERICAN LABOR While Europe faces revolution, American workers are organized by a former cigar-maker. Gompers rejects socialism and helps give birth to the American Federation of Labor. CANADIAN SOCIALISM American farmers' organizations head north, leading to the creation of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, the C.C.F. ............................... PART II: REVOLUTIONS MUSSOLINI AND FASCISM Inspired by Lenin's Russian revolution, Italy's Benito Mussolini embraces socialism and joins forces with Adolf Hitler to create National Socialism, or fascism. CHINA AND THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM Following World War II, Mao Zedong reforms China through nationalized industry, collectivized agriculture and complete state control over every aspect of daily life. CLEMENT ATTLEE AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY In Britain, a different kind of socialism takes hold after the Second World War, democratic socialism. Attlee's Labour Party creates a comprehensive social welfare system and nationalizes major British industries. THE KIBBUTZ The Zionist movement in Israel creates collective socialist villages called kibbutzim. Residents of Kibbutz Ginosar describe the early years of this communal experiment. JULIUS NYERERE AND THIRD WORLD SOCIALISM With the end of British colonial rule, Julius "Mwalimu" Nyerere turns to socialism to reshape Tanzania. He blends the teachings of Marx with African traditions to create what is heralded as the developing world's alternative to Soviet-style communism. GREAT BRITAIN IN THE 1970s Economic stagnation challenges the Labour Party's hold on British politics and opens the door for Margaret Thatcher's conservative government. THE KIBBUTZ PART II As the second generation comes of age on the kibbutz, these socialist communities gradually move away from collectivism. TANZANIA'S UJAMAA VILLAGES Impatient with the lack of socialist progress, Nyerere begins to force Tanzanian's to adopt his vision of the ideal collective society. ............................... PART III: THE COLLAPSE GORBACHEV AND REFORM Mikhail Gorbachev confronts the violent past of Stalinism, but his efforts to bring a new openness to Soviet life have unintended consequences. DENG XIAOPING AND MODERNIZATION In the 1980s, Deng de-collectivizes the communes that formed the soul of the Chinese Communist revolution. His reforms look suspiciously like capitalism. GORBACHEV AND REVOLUTION Gorbachev's efforts to reform socialism in the Soviet Union unleash forces that unravel the State's control and lead to a complete transformation of the Communist world. TONY BLAIR AND NEW LABOUR Blair transforms Attlee's socialist Labour Party into "the party of business." THE FUTURE OF SOCIALISM Socialists and capitalists debate the impact of the collapse of communism and the political reversals of Social Democratic parties across Europe. Some ask whether the very definition of socialism is changing. THE KIBBUTZ PART III Residents of Kibbutz Ginosar observe how market forces are transforming their community.

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CenturySam (2008-11-16)

What about Cuba? Venuzuela? Or other places where socialism ended 'cause of US interference? How come those weren't mentioned?
Lots of good points in this documentary but Wattenberg's conclusion is based on the hand-picked failures of socialism. He doesn't talk about the failings of capitalism.
Ben Wattenberg has a background in US politics trying to shift the democrats to the right and is now a neoconservative:

This is biased neo-conservative propaganda presented as though it's fact.

SaviorGeneration (2008-11-17)

CenturySam = THE MAN!
If I wanted to see biased actors spewing propaganda as fact, I'd watch FAUX (or ABCNNBCSPAN).
TRUE SOCIALISM works in theory, but in practice it's always set up to fail by design because the same banks/corporations/governments who control capitalist societies, fund and create the so-called socialist leaders/societies (and all other forms of government presently on planet Earth).
Call it whatever you want, but every form of government we've seen in our modern age has been CORPORATISM (citizens must do whatever profits banks/corporations through laws enforced by governments).
Thanks for saving me the bandwidth, I thought this could be something worth watching.
No mention of Cuba or Venezuela? What a joke.

rayray88 (2009-01-24)

Thanks a lot!
This might help me in the understanding of different thinking/culture.
Again, thank you very much!
/rj

zombino (2009-02-21)

This shit stinks for miles... socialist crap has been dead for ages

Esmad3 (2009-06-08)

Social Democracy is alive and well all over northern Europe and I'm happy that it is. Unless you define socialism basically as comunism the claim that it has fallen is dead wrong.

buzzard33 (2010-11-11)

I just want to underline and echo the point that this is shameless neocon propaganda. I downloaded out of curiosity but anyone wishing to learn about the history of socialism would do well to look elsewhere, this is NOT a trustworthy source, and is completely unfit to be called a documentary.
Joshua Muravchik, who authored the book this series is based on is deeply involved in neocon politics in the US and is clearly attempting to manipulate and deceive people with this filth.
Here's the Sourcewatch article on Muravchik:

My advice, steer clear of this horse shit!

Starbeer (2011-03-22)

To all socialists, if you like socialism so much, go live in Cuba, or China (the countryside, not the cities, which are capitalist!), or maybe North Korea.
Socialism is death! Death to socialism!

Avi82 (2011-07-25)

Starbeer, first watc the movie, then make comment, don't talk cock... Yes, the movie sucks, very biased. However, it is a good movie for idiots like Starbeer...

Avi82 (2011-07-25)

Starbeer, first watch the movie, then make comment, don't talk cock... Yes, the movie sucks, very biased. However, it is a good movie for idiots like Starbeer...

amzbhagat (2012-01-07)

Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed Plz. I m stuck at 58%

amzbhagat (2012-01-08)

SeeeeeeD ANyone..............