Socialism, Marxism and

Communism
Chirag Gupta
Jitendra Dhakar
Tanmay Mudholkar
MARXISM
 Meaning
• Encompasses many political theories
advocated by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels

• Human actions and institutions are

economically determined, class struggle is
needed to create historical change and
capitalism will ultimately be superseded by
communism
 Based on
• Materialist interpretation of historical
development
• A dialectical view of social change
• An analysis of class relations within society
• Marxism also holds the view that
as capitalism has succeeded feudalism, it too
will be removed by socialism, followed
inevitably by a classless society
which governs itself without a governing class
or structure. This is the Marxist idea of
communism.
SOCIALISM
 Meaning
• “n. a political and economic theory of social
organization which advocates that the means
of production, distribution, and exchange
should be owned or regulated by the
community as a whole.
• (in Marxist theory) a transitional social state
between the overthrow of capitalism and the
realization of Communism”
 Meaning (contd.)
• The term ‘socialism’ has been used to describe
positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet
state Communism, and social democracy;
however, it necessarily implies an opposition
to the unrestricted workings of the economic
market.
 Meaning (contd.)
• As an objection to capitalism: “Socialists
complain that capitalism necessarily leads to
unfair and exploitative concentrations of
wealth and power in the hands of the relative
few who emerge victorious from free-market
competition—people who then use their
wealth and power to reinforce their
dominance in society.” (Britannica)
 Some Concepts
• Production for Use as opposed to production
for profit. Closely related concepts: Use value
and Exchange value.
 Some Concepts
• Production for Use as opposed to production
for profit. Closely related concepts: Use value
and Exchange value.
• Economic Planning: Could be centralized
(Lenin, Stalin et. al.) or decentralized (Trotsky)
 Some Concepts
• Production for Use as opposed to production
for profit. Closely related concepts: Use value
and Exchange value.
• Economic Planning: Could be centralized
(Lenin, Stalin et. al.) or decentralized (Trotsky)
• State Socialism: Refers to public ownership of
major industries, e.g. BAe in the UK, Indian
Railways and Air India in India
COMMUNISM
 Meaning
• Communism is a approach which tries to
achieve both classlessness and statelessness
in the society by taking away from the wealthy
and distributing to all.

• From each according to his ability, to each

according to his needs.
• The social organization in communism is such
that all property is held in common by the
community or the state.

• There is no such thing as private property in

true communism. Everything belongs to the
state and the people are the state.
 Examples
• China: In China under Mao Zedong (from 1949-
1976), every worker was given employment and
allocated houses by the government.
• Also people were granted permission to enter
universities or change jobs. This is why China is
associated with communism.
• Nowadays, only Cuba and North Korea fit the
description of communist countries. In Cuba’s
case, about 80% of businesses are owned by
the government and 20% by the private sector.
Differentiating Socialism,
Communism and Marxism
 Socialism v/s Communism
• Most Communist societies tend to be based
on socialist principles. (not all: e.g. China)

• Historically, most Communist countries have

institutionalized active suppression of basic
freedoms (e.g. USSR, DPRK, DDR); this concept
is totally alien to socialism.
 Socialism Different from
Communism(contd.)
• Socialism based on the holding of most property
in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the
workers whereas communism based on the
holding of all property in common, with actual
ownership ascribed to the community or state
• From each according to his ability, to each
according to his contribution From each
according to his ability, to each according to his
needs.
• Class distinctions are diminished. All class
distinctions are eliminated.
 Marxism v/s Communism
• Marxism is the theory and Communism is the
practical implementation of Marxism.
• Communism is the realisation of a Stateless
society where all are equal. Marxism is one of the
frameworks by which such a state is developed.
• Marxism is basically a system of analysis, and a
way to view the world. Communism, on the
other hand, is a political movement, a form of
government and a condition of society.
Marxism v/s Communism(contd.)
• Marxism views that just as society
transformed from feudalism to capitalism, it
would transform itself to socialism and
eventually to communism.

• The Communists believe that the

transformation will take place through
revolutionary means.
 Marxism v/s Socialism
• Marxism is a subset of socialism. It is one of
several competing socialist theories.

• History forms the basis of Marxism, Socialism

is based on cooperative social relations and
self-management
 Marxism v/s Socialism(contd.)
• Marx himself used the term socialism in a
different context: as a necessary period
between the capitalist and communist periods
in history. On the other hand, the mainstream
definition of socialism contains no such
presumptions.
 A Light Example
Assume that you have a chicken
• Socialism-my chicken lays two eggs. the
government takes one and gives it to the guy
who’s chicken didn’t lay any eggs.
• Communism- the government takes my
chicken and gives me an egg.
• Marxism- my neighbours and I all bring in our
eggs and split them evenly.
 Socialist Thought in India
• Two major Communist parties: CPI and
CPI(M).
• Both major national political parties have
adopted socialist policies, though Congress
tends to be more socialist.
• Examples of socialist policies include JNNURM,
NREGA, and the incentives given to educate
girls in Gujarat.
 Nehru and Socialism
• Jawaharlal Nehru played an important role in
encouraging socialism in India.
• Created the Planning Commission of
India, instituted 5-year plans, advocated
formation of a mixed economy, redistribution
of land, creation of IITs, IIMs, attempt at
provision of free and compulsory primary
education.
• Strong tendency towards secularism in the
Indian as well as the Western sense;
 Socialism worldwide
• ‘Welfare State’ involves redistributionist
taxation and direct transfer of funds from
state to services such as healthcare, education
• First pioneered by Otto von Bismarck
(who, paradoxically, also passed antisocialist
legislation).
• Today employed by many OECD countries:
Nordic Model, UK, Canada, to some extent US
 Growing Effects of Socialism
• Free and compulsory education
• Old-age pensions
• Progressive taxation
• High spending on infrastructure
• Nationalization of some industries
• Free healthcare
• Labour Unions
THANK YOU