Socialism

I also know about the GULAG directorate second-hand. Assuming you lived within the Soviet Union (otherwise you would live under a different Socialist state), it's been over 3 decades since Socialism was abolished, at which point the reforms within the Soviet system such as the implementation of Perestroika had weakened the economy and built-up the contradictions that led to its dissolution. I don't think that environment is one that lends itself to an impartial viewing of the previous GULAG system.