In October 1917, Lenin's Bolshevik party, in the name of the Russian proletariat, seized power and proclaimed the world's first marxist state. Marxism, as opposed to capitalism, espoused egalitarianism, public ownership and social welfare.
In 1923 just as the Russian Civil War was near its end, Lenin proposed some very drastic policy reforms. With Russain economy in shambles, he suggested reestablishment of private enterprise - the very antichrist of Marxism. Again in 1980's Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost policies were Soviet Union's response to the very real existential crisis it faced.
These two events serve to highlight two things. Firstly, ideological convictions are only held in esteem as long as they serve some broader purpose. Secondly, when the existence of the state is called into question, all ideology is set aside.
In the multifaceted world of today ideologies serve very specific purposes. If they cease to do so they are merely set aside as is seen in the two cases above.
1 comment:
Ideologies are basically a set of ideas, therefore, realistically they can be set aside if they are no longer applicable. The examples you have provided show this quite well; when a state finds itself in a situation demanding change and action, ideologies have to be altered.
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