• What economic problems does Gorbachev identify in the Soviet Union?
• What social problems does he find there?
• According to Gorbachev, what is the "main job" for the Soviet Union?
• What goals does he set for Soviet society?
• What is Gorbacehv's attitude towards socialism (i.e. communism)?
• Is he trying to undermine communism, or reform it?
• How does Gorbachev define Perestroika?
• How does he understand the relationship between Perestroika and socialism (communism)?
• What does Gorbachev say about Glasnost?

We live in the epoch of the transition from capitalism to socialism, in a time in which all the aspects of human society are being fundamentally renewed. In our epoch the working class, in alliance with other productive classes, fulfills its historic mission and is building a new society that is free from the exploitation of the people by people. These revolutionary transformations are connected to the permanent elimination of the main evils of capitalism, namely national oppression and devastating wars.

Humanity has already come a long way. The steady shift in the international balance of power in the world since the Great October Socialist Revolution convincingly proves the historic progress of socialism. In contrast, we see from the steadily deepening general crisis of capitalism that imperialism is on the defensive. However, capitalism is still a force that needs to be taken seriously. It still exerts an influence in international affairs that is contrary to the interests of the peoples.

In the 1980s the struggle between socialism and imperialism has reached a new level. This historic development may not hinder the common effort to maintain peace.

The forces of peace are stronger than the most aggressive circles of imperialism, which risks the dangers of a nuclear inferno with its policies of confrontation and an arms race. The decisive force for peace is socialism. Together with the powerful movement for peace in the world, it is able to defend peace and human progress.

The conflict between socialism and Imperialism in our epoch is evident in bitter ideological battles. The more successfully the revolutionary world advances, the more the forces condemned to destruction try to prevent socialism's further advance by attacking it. With lies and slander they conceal the true goals and efforts of communism and its allies.

Presently, anti-communism attacks not only communism, but also all the progressive forces. Above all however, it attacks against real socialism, and the USSR, the main strength of socialism. The lie of the Soviet threat justifies the imperialist arms race, the atomic threat, the economic war against socialism and the suppression of national liberation struggles. It is obvious that combating anti-communism and anti-Sovietism are inseparable components in our struggle for peace and social progress, and furthermore have important roles in the struggles of our epoch. Our scientific worldview, Marxism-Leninism, is our irreplaceable weapon.

 on your homework sheet, point out FIVE problems with this passage text.  How do these passage you've chosen not correspond with reality in the late 1980s?  Make sure you quote the passage text with each example.

* Click here to view the fall of the Wall in 1989. Imagine yourself as: 1) a young East German born after 1962; and 2) an East German born before 1940.  On your homework sheet write a paragraph about each about your reaction to the fall of the Wall and your expectations of the future.