What Is Communism? Definition and Example

Philosophers and Theories of Communism

• Plato described an ideal state governed by a ruling class known as guardians, focused on serving community needs.
• Early Christians practiced a form of communism to maintain solidarity, emphasizing shared resources over private ownership.
• Thomas More authored "Utopia," depicting a perfect society with abolished money and communal goods.

Goals and Opposition of Communism

• The main goal of communism is to establish a classless society where resources are shared equitably.
• Communism opposes capitalism, advocating for collective ownership over private property.

Historical Context of Communism

• The term “communism” saw widespread use in the mid-19th century.
• "The Communist Manifesto," written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, outlines the principles of communism and critiques capitalism.

Characteristics and Structures of Communist States

• A purely communist state typically features collective ownership of means of production and elimination of class distinctions.
• Democratic centralism refers to a governance structure in communist parties where policy decisions are made centrally, but members are expected to support the party line.
• A centrally planned economy involves state control over production and distribution, contrasting with market-driven economies.

Current Communist Regimes and Historical Contexts

• Nations functioning as communist states today include China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and North Korea.
• North Korea is noted for being particularly isolated and secretive in its governance.
• Mao’s 'Great Leap Forward' in China resulted in economic disaster and widespread famine.

Political Systems and Governance

• The Communist Party is the only political party allowed to operate in Cuba.
• Cuba ranks 175th in economic freedom according to the Heritage Foundation.
• North Korea adheres to the ideology of Juche, which emphasizes self-reliance, and operates under a totalitarian regime.

Historical Developments and Failures

• Several countries, including those in Eastern Europe, adopted communism as their official government form in the late 20th century.
• Scholars question the true nature of communism in practice, citing deviations from its foundational principles.
• The book "The Cold War: A New History" argues that the Cold War was an ideological conflict between Western capitalism and the state-controlled capitalism of the Soviet Union.

Challenges and Failures of Communist Economies

• Common factors contributing to the failure of communism include corruption, inefficiency, and lack of motivation among workers.
• Soviet workers often turned to black market activities due to disincentives in government-assigned jobs.
• The effects of corruption and government surveillance undermined trust and effectiveness in the communist system.

Economic Differences and Ideological Comparisons

• Centrally planned economies operate through state directives, while free-market economies rely on supply and demand.
• Communism seeks to eliminate class divisions, while socialism allows for some degree of private ownership and market dynamics.

Historical Examples and Reform Movements

• The Soviet Union is often regarded as the prototypical example of communism in action.
• Reform efforts by Mikhail Gorbachev, termed Glasnost and Perestroika, aimed to address economic and political issues but ultimately contributed to the Soviet Union’s disintegration into 15 independent republics.