A recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund revealed that millions of children in the former socialist bloc have suffered a “catastrophic decline” in access to education since the overthrow of socialist countries in the region.
The numbers are staggering. More than 14 million children have very limited or no access to formal schooling. Twelve
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The UNICEF report explains that the disparity in access to education is a product of social and economic disparities. The regional director of UNICEF projects that the current situation “will lead to intergenerational cycles of poverty,” and that such disparities will “undermine the capacity of governments to develop globally competitive economies based on skilled labor rather than cheap labor.” (BBC, 2007)
To revolutionary Marxists, the UNICEF report comes as no surprise.
Following the overthrow of the socialist camp, capitalism was reestablished in the region with a vengeance. Capitalism is a system that prioritizes profits over human needs. As a small ruling class strives to concentrate wealth and maximize profits, the plight of workers must, as a consequence, get grimmer.
It was never the goal of the imperialist countries that backed counterrevolution and “regime change” in the socialist bloc to help the region develop globally competitive capitalist economies. Rather, the intent was overturning socialist planning, which included domination and exploitation of resources under the guise of establishing a “free market.” Over the past 16 years, this is precisely what has happened.
No former socialist bloc country was perfect, but the fundamental underpinnings of their economies and societies prioritized the needs of the people. Social programs were never problems for people living under planned economies.
UNICEF reported that under socialism, much of central Asia, Eastern Europe and central Europe had attained universal access to education. There was also full employment, access to healthcare, free childcare and no homelessness.
Now, it is indisputable that there has been widespread decline in social welfare in former socialist bloc countries.
‘Freedom’ to be exploited
Take a brief glance at Hungary, for example. When the 1989 imperialist-backed demonstrations resulted in the restoration of capitalism, the defeat of the workers’ state was celebrated by the capitalist press as a victory for “freedom and democracy.” But what is the reality?
Unemployment and poverty, unknown in socialist Hungary, are now ravaging the country. While the official unemployment rate is around 7 percent, almost 40 percent of the workforce is not even counted in the figures.
The restoration of capitalism in Hungary has been especially hard on certain ethnic groups, particularly the Roma people, derogatively referred to in the West as “gypsies,” who have been oppressed historically.
In socialist Hungary, racist groups were banned. The government undertook many different measures to improve the living conditions of Roma people.
Today, “Hungarian officials have tacitly or explicitly appealed to racist sentiments to garner support,” according to Dimitra Petrova of the European Roma Rights Center. Racist groups terrorize Roma people with near impunity.
Reflective of the economic and racial oppression that Roma people face, a large proportion of Roma children in Hungary and neighboring countries receive no schooling at all, according to UNICEF.
Similar widespread declines in social welfare can be seen throughout other former socialist bloc countries.
The capitalist press was correct: following the overthrow of the socialist bloc, the region is now “free.” But “freedom” now means “freedom” to starve and suffer racism and exploitation. This is the only “democracy” that capitalism can offer.
The catastrophic decline in social welfare in former socialist bloc countries evidences the need for the revival of socialism and socialist struggle. This stark reality should be a call to action for all revolutionaries to fight even harder against imperialist and capitalist plunder.
