Since the above words were written, great changes have come about in various parts of the world, particularly in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Large populations, which were raised in the expectation of social justice, did not find communism able to provide it. The reasons for this were many and complex, but must surely include the gradual corruption of the original goals of communism, which included the ultimate aim of world brotherhood, leading to the unity of the world's peoples.
Communism is in essence a political system, and rejects a spiritual basis for life.
This deficiency allowed practices to creep into the system which are now generally viewed as corruption. Communism, as a political system, is based on the exercise of power. However, power does not necessarily confer legitimacy and authority. In some parts of eastern Europe, the resultant pollution was one of the major sources of dissatisfaction with the communist economic and value system. Some observers, seeing the needs of eastern Europe and its rejection of centralised planning and political slavery, have hailed the overthrow of communism as the triumph of capitalism.