Heaven on Earth: the Rise and Fall of Socialism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is orphaned as few or no other articles link to it. Please help introduce links in articles on related topics. (May 2008) |
Heaven on Earth: the Rise and Fall of Socialism is a 3 hour documentary film (sometimes recut as a 3 episodes documental mini-series) by PBS. It premiered in June 2005. Acordin to the |films official site: «This 3-hour documentary explores one of the most powerful political ideas in history. Socialism spread farther and faster than any religion. Then, in almost the blink of an eye, it all collapsed. What happened?»
[edit] Sections of the Film
HOUR 1: THE RISE
ROBERT OWEN & 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 & 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 & 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 & 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.
HOUR 2: REVOLUTIONS
MUSSOLINI & 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 & 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 & 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 colective socialist villages called kibbutzim. Residents of Kibbutz Ginnosar describe the early years of this communal experiment.
JULIUS NYERERE & 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.
HOUR 3: THE COLLAPSE
GORBACHEV & REFORMATION Mikhail Gorbachev confronts the violent past of Stalinism, but his efforts to bring a new openness to Soviet life have unintended consequences.
DENG XIAOPING & 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 & 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 & 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 Ginnosar observe how market forces are transforming their community [|from the official site's sinopsis of the film]
