[CasearianDaoist]

When did it happen that Socialism fell from internal pressures? It was the Cold War that brought the USSR to an end.

[mmercier]

If the people of eastern Europe did not allow the system to collapse from within it would still stand today, cold war or not.

I am not trying to disagree, external forces play a large role; but it is the general population that brings it all crashing down.

[henderson field]

?...When did it happened that socialism fell from internal pressures?..."
Good point.
It wasn't INTERNAL pressures, it was EXTERNAL, namely us. We forced the Soviets into the arms race, they spent themselves silly, couldn't keep up with us, and collapsed because of it.
Unfortunately, that won't happen with the Chinese. They know how to make money.
Let's be careful.