Communism

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What is Communism?

Communism is a system of government in which society as a whole (i.e. the community) controls the modes of production (factories, stores, etc.) and distribution. Healthcare, education, and medical care are also controlled by society. Communism is similar to socialism, but communism seeks to gradually make everyone financially equal to the point where the "state" is no longer needed to oppress one class in order to make everyone equal (see the next section for an explanation). Karl Marx and Frederick Engels are considered communism’s founding fathers.

Communism and the State

Communists view a capitalist state as a vehicle for the bourgeoisie, AKA the bourgeois (In communist theory, the class that controls the modes of production), to oppress the working class (proletariat) in order to increase wealth via the modes of production. Communists want to reverse the capitalist system and remove the all power from the bourgeoisie until they are equal to everyone else.

Although communist governments would prefer the bourgeois comply to the will of the communist state peacefully, they sometimes have to use force to make them comply. However, this has been the case with other classes and groups of people in many non-communist parts of history as well.

Communism and Democracy

Communism is an economic policy, and it can be applied to any electoral policy (including democracy). However, the Stalinist ideology of communism is the only exception to the last sentence because it is strictly totalitarian. Leon Trotsky was among the many historically significant communists that endorsed democracy.

Sadly, many communist nations that survived the Cold War were heavily influenced by the Stalinist Soviet Union during the Cold War. This is why their government systems are similar to that of the U.S.S.R. However, the Soviet Union Was originally Marxist-Leninist (in today's terms). It changed to Stalinism when Stalin became its leader.

Ideologies of Communism

There are many ideologies of communism. Among the most well known are, Marxism, Leninism (Marxism-Leninism), Maoism, Stalinism, anarcho-communism, council-communism, and libertarian socialism.

Communism and Nazism

Although they may seem similar to people whom are unfamiliar with them, they are not very similar. Unlike Nazism, communism is characterized by extreme anti-racism. Historically, communists and fascists (Nazism is a form of fascism. ) would fight against each other in the streets. A good example of the hatred between Nazis and communists would be the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany during World War Two. This invasion broke the Non-Aggression Pact that the two nations had with each other.

Further Reading/External Links

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