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'''Communism''' is an economic system advocating (to varying degrees) the absence of personal ownership, and hence supporting a communal society. It is frequently (incorrectly) equated with a [[socialist]] government, which is often cited as a reasonable form of government that actually works in the real world. Note that it is possible to operate a communist economic system under a variety of political systems including democracy, autocracy, and monarchy. The term communism has colloquially taken on several meanings and is often used to describe the doctrine developed by [[Karl Marx]] and [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin| Vladimir Lenin]] which advocated the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat (the social group which does not control the means of production), followed by close state control of all sectors of the economy.  

'''Communism''' is an economic system advocating (to varying degrees) the absence of personal ownership, and hence supporting a communal society. It is frequently (incorrectly) equated with a [[socialist]] government, which is often cited as a reasonable form of government that actually works in the real world, unlike Communism which never works on a large scale becuase people don't like being treated like crap. Note that it is possible to operate a communist economic system under a variety of political systems including democracy, autocracy, and monarchy. The term communism has colloquially taken on several meanings and is often used to describe the doctrine developed by [[Karl Marx]] and [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin| Vladimir Lenin]] which advocated the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat (the social group which does not control the means of production), followed by close state control of all sectors of the economy.  

The most famous government to label itself "communist" was the [[USSR]] or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; the Communist Party controlled its government from 1922 to 1991. This government was officially atheist and attempted to suppress all religion. Like many authoritarian regimes, it tried to cultivate reverence for the state as a psychological substitute for religion. Left-wing critics of the USSR charged that it was communist in name only, and had betrayed the revolution which founded it. George Orwell expressed this viewpoint eloquently in his 1945 fable [[Animal Farm]].  

The most famous government to label itself "communist" was the [[USSR]] or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; the Communist Party controlled its government from 1922 to 1991. This government was officially atheist and attempted to suppress all religion. Like many authoritarian regimes, it tried to cultivate reverence for the state as a psychological substitute for religion. Left-wing critics of the USSR charged that it was communist in name only, and had betrayed the revolution which founded it. George Orwell expressed this viewpoint eloquently in his 1945 fable [[Animal Farm]].