Communism: Definition, History, Varieties, & Facts

Introduction and Key Questions

• Communism: A political and economic system aimed at creating a classless society.
  • Major means of production are owned and controlled by the public.
  • Wealth is divided equally or based on individual need.
  • Derived largely from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' works, especially The Communist Manifesto (1848).
  • Influenced by Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin's authoritarianism.

Current Communist Countries

• At its peak, about one-third of the world's population lived under communism.
• Currently official in: China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam.
• These countries are in a transitional stage from capitalism, not yet reaching true communism.

Differences Between Communism and Socialism

• Karl Marx's View: Terms used interchangeably in early works.
• Modern View: Socialism is seen as a transitional phase where the working class controls government and economy.
  • Communism is the full realization with no class divisions or government.
  • Goods are distributed according to needs.

Origins of Communism

• Early concepts in Plato's Republic and Christian communities.
• Thomas More's Utopia (1516) described a society without money, shared goods.
• Motivated by Industrial Revolution inequities.

Historical Background

• Derived from Latin communis meaning shared or common.
• Appeared as early as 4th century BCE in Plato’s works.
• Practiced by early Christians for solidarity and renouncing possessions.
• Monastic communism in medieval times.
• Influential works: City of the Sun by Tommaso Campanella.
• Agrarian communism advocated by Diggers during English Civil Wars.

Marxian Communism

Karl Marx's Contributions

• Born in the Rhineland, studied philosophy, became a political radical.
• Collaborated with Friedrich Engels, critiqued societal injustices.

Marx's Theory

• Historical Materialism: History as a series of class struggles leading to freedom.
  • Influenced by Hegel's philosophy but focused on material conditions.
  • Material production includes forces (resources, tools) and social relations (labor division).
  • Capitalism is a stage where bourgeoisie exploit proletariat.
• Critique of Capitalism:
  • Capitalism leads to unfair wealth distribution, exploitation of workers.
  • Labor theory of value: Worth of commodities is labor-based; workers aren't paid fairly.
  • Ideology and religion obscure true exploitation.

Revolution and Communism

• Marx predicted worsening crises in capitalism leading to proletariat revolution.
• Establishment of a socialist state (dictatorship of the proletariat) before true communism.
• Marx's vision of communism is vague, focusing on democratic design by future societies.

Communism After Marx

• Leninism: Applied Marx’s theories to the Russian context.
• Bolshevism: Revolutionary communism led by Lenin.
• Stalinism: Authoritarian and centralized form of communism.
• Chinese Communism: Adopted Marxist-Leninist principles.

Non-Marxian Communism

• Variants exist that don't strictly follow Marxist doctrine.

Communism Today

• Limited active communist states; modern adaptations incorporate some capitalist elements.
• Communism not as powerful globally as in the 20th century.

Key Figures

• Vladimir Lenin
• Mao Zedong
• Joseph Stalin
• Nikita Khrushchev
• Leon Trotsky

Related Topics

• National Communism
• Eurocommunism
• Democratic centralism
• Primitive communism
• Anarcho-communism

Conclusion

Communism seeks to address inequalities in wealth and power by removing private ownership and implementing public control of production. Its theories have evolved over time, influenced by key figures and historical circumstances, leading to diverse applications and interpretations in different countries.