I'm not a Soviet apologist, but the state of eastern europe has roots that predate the 20th century. Bear in mind that even before communism, much of it had been part of Tsarist Russia in the 19th century or earlier.
It's inaccurate to think of pre-soviet europe as composed of western european style states.
I'm not implying pre-soviet era Eastern Europe had a western style. That would not have been possible, not locked between the west and a hard place. Looks like Ukraine is still there.
Geopolitically and historically this (I'm Romanian) has been one shitty place with a lot of influences: Tsarist Russia, Soviet Union, Ottoman Empire, the Huns, the Mongols, the Romans etc. You could not have developed a western style state in this environment.
I'm not implying western Europe had it easier, but just different and it benefited them by the looks of things.
However, from history lessons, at least in my own country things were starting to pick up and it's my belief the situation would've been much better without WWII and especially without the communists.
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I'm hopeful Eastern Europe will regrow the spine half a century of so called communism destroyed.
I'm not a Soviet apologist, but the state of eastern europe has roots that predate the 20th century. Bear in mind that even before communism, much of it had been part of Tsarist Russia in the 19th century or earlier.
It's inaccurate to think of pre-soviet europe as composed of western european style states.
I'm not implying pre-soviet era Eastern Europe had a western style. That would not have been possible, not locked between the west and a hard place. Looks like Ukraine is still there.
Geopolitically and historically this (I'm Romanian) has been one shitty place with a lot of influences: Tsarist Russia, Soviet Union, Ottoman Empire, the Huns, the Mongols, the Romans etc. You could not have developed a western style state in this environment.
I'm not implying western Europe had it easier, but just different and it benefited them by the looks of things.
However, from history lessons, at least in my own country things were starting to pick up and it's my belief the situation would've been much better without WWII and especially without the communists.