Communist nostalgia

From ProleWiki, the proletarian encyclopedia
Russians celebrating the legacy of the Soviet Union

Communist nostalgia, also known as socialist nostalgia, is a political and cultural phenomenon in former socialist states where large portions of the population long for a return to socialism as they become disillusioned with the new capitalist system that replaced it.

Former Soviet countries

Armenia

71% of Armenians believe life was better in the Soviet Union,[1] and only 12% believe Armenia benefitted from the overthrow of the Soviet Union in 1991.[2]

Azerbaijan

69% of Azerbaijanis think life was better in the Soviet Union.[1]

Belarus

53% of Belarusians believe life was better in the Soviet Union.[1]

Kazakhstan

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, 60% of people believe life was better in the Soviet Union.[1]

Kyrgyzstan

61% of Kyrgyz people believe the dissolution of the USSR harmed Kyrgyzstan and only 16% say it helped.[2]

Moldova

60% of Moldovans who lived in the Soviet Union say life was better then.[1] Only 26% say Moldova benefitted from the dissolution of the USSR.[2]

Russia

In the Russian Federation, 75% of people believe that the USSR was the best time period in Russian history.[3] 64% of Russians believe that life was actually better under the USSR.[1] 55% of Russians believe that the overthrow of the Soviet Union caused more harm than good compared to 19% who support the change to capitalism.[2]

62% of Russians prefer a planned economy over a market economy and 49% prefer the Soviet political system, including 62% aged 55 and older.[4]

Ukraine

62% of Ukrainians believe that life was better under socialism.[5] 56% of Ukrainians believe the breakup of the Soviet Union was bad for Ukraine and only 23% say it was good.[2]

Eastern Bloc

Albania

55% of Albanians have a positive view of former leader Enver Hoxha.[6]

Bulgaria

62% of Bulgarians say life was better in the People's Republic of Bulgaria.[5]

Czechoslovakia

66% of people in Slovakia believe life was better under socialism and only 8% believe it was worse.[7]

Germany

In the Federal Republic of Germany, 57% people living in the territory that was once controlled by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) believe that life was better under socialist rule. 49% of former GDR residents believe that "The GDR had more good sides than bad sides. There were some problems, but life was good there."[8]

Hungary

In Hungary, an outstanding majority of people numbering at 72% believe that life was better in the Hungarian People's Republic.[9]

Romania

One 2014 survey found that 69% of Romanians believe life was better under socialism and 66% would vote for former leader Nicolae Ceaușescu if he was still alive[10].

Other countries

Yugoslavia

81% of Serbians believe life was better under socialism.[11]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Will Stewart (2016-08-17). "Back in the USSR: 64 per cent of Russians say life was better in the Soviet Union than now" Express. Archived from the original on 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Neli Esipova, Julie Ray (2013-12-19). "Former Soviet Countries See More Harm From Breakup" Gallup. Archived from the original on 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  3. 75% of Russians Say Soviet Era Was 'Greatest Time' in Country’s History – Poll
  4. "What Do Russians Think Russia Should Be Like?" (2021-10-05). Levada. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "People Worse off than Under Communism?" (2010-04-21). Pew Research Center. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  6. "Former dictator still seen in positive light by many Albanians, poll shows" (2016-12-09). Tirana Times. Archived from the original on 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  7. Robert A. Lindsay (2010-05-16). "Nostalgia For Communism in Russia and Eastern Europe" Beyond Highbrow. Archived from the original.
  8. Majority of Eastern Germans Feel Life Better under Communism
  9. Hungary: Better Off Under Communism?
  10. "'Con el comunismo se vivía mejor': el 66% de los rumanos votaría al dictador Ceausescu" (2014-04-10). El Mundo. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  11. "Serbia Poll: Life Was Better Under Tito" (2010-12-24). Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-10-08.