Measures taken by a state to change agrarian relations and the forms of landownership. The nature of the social system and state power determines in whose interests and on what basis these reforms are carried out. During the bourgeois revolutions in some capitalist countries, agrarian reforms were anti-feudal and speeded up the development of capitalist relations. In the peoples’ democracies of Central and Southeast Europe and Asia, Agrarian Reforms aimed to abolish landlord property by confiscating the landed estates and handing them over to the peasants free of charge or at a small price.
Agrarian Crises
Crises of overproduction in capitalist agriculture resulting in greater stocks of unsold agricultural produce, lower prices, and accelerated ruin of small and medium farmers.
Agitation
Oral, printed and visual political activity influencing the masses’ consciousness and mood to motivate them to political participation. In socialist countries, agitation is an important means of mobilizing the people to build socialism and communism; in capitalist states it is used in the political struggle between classes and between parties.
Aggression
An attack by one or several states on another state with the aim of seizing its territory, enslaving its peoples, and subordinating it to the aggressor state; a policy of imperialism. Under the United Nation Charter, unlawful use of armed force by one state against the sovereignty, territorial inviolability or political independence of another state or nation.
Aggregate Social Product (gross product)
All the products made by a society over a given period of time (usually a year). In its natural and material form, it is made up of means of production and articles of consumption; in its value form it is made up of the value of the material used in social production which must be compensated (wear and tear of machines and equipment, production buildings and structures, raw and other materials, etc.) and of the newly created value which goes for consumption by the population and extended reproduction.
Aesthetics
A science about the beautiful in reality, the peculiarities of human being’s aesthetic understanding of the world and the general principles of creativity according to the laws of beauty, including the laws of development of art as a special form of the aesthetic reflection of reality.
Abstraction
The mental process of isolation of some properties and links of an object from the others in disregard of the latter. The notion obtained as a result of this process is also called an abstraction.
Absolutism
Absolute monarchy, a despotic form of state rule based on tyranny under which all political power (legislative, judicial and executive) resides entirely in one person—the monarch.
Abolitionism
A social movement to get a law repealed.