For Monday, Feb. 11, you were to begin reading Marx's "Wages, Price and Profit". We ended this discussion of Marx's basic theory of capitalism about Friday, Feb. 22. It is web linked.
The first 5-point assignment was described on the syllabus. The Second 5-point assignment, due Wednesday, Feb. 27, was to investigate and write about the connection between marxist theory and the rise of the Soviet Union, before and after the revolution in 1917. You could, but did not necessarily need to, go as far as the 1930s (but don't go later in time). It is to be double-spaced typed and 5 pages, with the usual correct referencing as to sources. For this paper, I want both the hard-copy as well as an email to my address of the computer file. I'd prefer use of library materials, but am not saying you cannot go to the internet. In any case, references have to be clear.
The midterm on Wednesday, March 19, included lectures and readings through Chapter 4 of Davies' text, as listed on the syllabus. The film "Reds" was NOT included, however. It was shown after the midterm and is your responsibility for the final.
The final 5-point assignment is an in-class quiz on Friday, April 4, on input-output economics focusing upon your understanding of my handout "Input-Output Economics: Very Much Simplied". This quiz is open to your notes, but any table would not be the same.
Readings for the course after the midterm include Rempel, Parts 8, 11, and 17 and the rest Davies' book on the Soviet Union (I am dropping the White article "Lenin in Power" from your course requirement).
On Friday, April 11, we saw "Revolt in Hungary" (26 minutes) reporting the 1956 armed uprising against Soviet occupation, but not against socialism. On Poland, I will focus on Polish 'Solidarity' (with a handout). On China, I have handed out for your first material "An Overview of Chinese Development in the Socialist Era" by Victor Lippit.
You have a 15-20 page paper due Monday, April 21. As per the syllabus, if you wanted to study another 'socialist' country besides USSR or China, you must have emailed me by Monday evening, March 3. Otherwise, you are writing a paper on the history of socialism/communism in the U.S. since 1920.
Two class videos (you can ask to see them again in 24 Capen):
OFFICE HOURS until the final: Monday, April 28, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, 3-5 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, by appointment only, Monday, May 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Final, Tuesday, May 06, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Alumni 88. Note that the start is 9 a.m., not 8 a.m.
1. Introduction, including understanding capitalism
M. Davidmann, "Mondragon Co-operatives"
D. McNally, "Socialism from Below", Parts 1 through 4
K. Marx and F. Engels, "The Manifesto of the Communist Party"
K. Marx, "Value, Price, and Profit (Abridged): An Introduction to the Theory of Capitalism"
P. Dorn, "Two Months of Red Splendor: The Paris Commune and Marx' Theory of Revolution"
2. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
David McNally, "Socialism from Below", Part 5
Gerhard Rempel, "Lectures", Parts 1, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 17