The Soviet Union was very successful if you take their goals into account. With better managment it would have been scarier, if Kruschev was allowed and given the resources to build the Russia he wanted, it would have been a match if not better than the USA.
Ah, my young Australian friend. Throughout the relatively brief history of the United States, there have been many predictions of imminent failure. So, far, the closest call was the Civil War, which was self inflicted.
Compare the Russian civil war to the US Civil War in terms of the behavior of the victors towards the defeated. Our man, Abe, allowed the defeated soldiers to keep their arms and horses and return home. The Bolsheviks filled mass graves and gulags.
Russians have done some amazing things scientifically, artistically and militarily. Social engineering is not one of their strong points.
Completely agree with this. In my honest opinion, the only reason why the United States as well as the Soviet Union were/are so successful is because of how large they are land wise and the luck that so many natural resources are in those borders.
The Soviet Union was not successful. The Russian people did amazing things, among them the defeat of Fascism, despite the drag of an inefficient economic system.
Natural resources are not a requisite for success. For example, Japan – no resources – big population.
