Marxism: Looking Backward and Forward: Essay 3

Abstract

Twenty-five years ago the main contradiction in the world appeared to be that between the capitalist camp, under the leadership of the United States, and the socialist camp, under the leadership of Soviet Russia. In this "cold war," revolutionary minded individuals all over the world sympathized with or supported the Soviet Union. The nationalist leaders of the Third World countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America not only took advantage of the conflict to advance their own struggles for independence; they also looked forward to following the Russian model towards rapid economic development after winning independence.

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