CHAPTER: 1

INTRODUCTION

Communism is a socio-economic structure that promotes the establishment of

a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production. It
encourages the formation of a proletarian state in order to overcome the class
structures and alienation of labour that characterize capitalistic societies, and their legacy
of imperialism and nationalism. Communism holds that the only way to solve these problems is
for the working class (or proletariat) to replace the wealthy ruling class (or bourgeoisie),
through revolutionary action, in order to establish a peaceful, free society, without classes or
government. Communism, then, is the idea of a free society with no division or alienation, where
humanity is free from oppression and scarcity, and where there is no need
for governments or countries and no class divisions. It envisages a world in which each
person gives according to their abilities, and receives according to their needs. Its proponents
claim it to be the only means to the full realization of human freedom. It is usually considered a
branch of the broader Socialist movement. The dominant forms of Communism, such
as Leninism, Trotskyism and Luxemburgism, are based on Marxism, but non-Marxist versions of
Communism (such as Christian Communism and Anarchist Communism) also exist - see the
section on Types of Communism below. In the late 19th Century, the terms "socialism" and
"communism" were often used interchangeably. However, Marxist theory argues that
Communism would not emerge from Capitalism in a fully developed state, but would pass
through a "first phase" (Socialism) in which most productive property was owned in common,
but some class differences remained. This would eventually evolve into a "higher phase"
(Communism) in which class differences were eliminated, and a state was no longer needed and
would wither away. It further argued that revolutionary activity by the working classes was
required to bring about these changes.

1
 CHAPTER:2

WHAT IS COMMUNISM
Communism is an ideological and a social political movement. Its aim is to set up a communist
society. This society would be based on the common ownership of the means of production and
would have no social classes, money, or state No large society has ever achieved this.

According to communist writers and thinkers, the goal of communism is to create a classless
society. Communist thinkers believe this can happen if the people take away the power of
the bourgeoisie (the ruling class, who own the means of production) and create a dictatorship of
the proletariat (the working class).

Communism is not anti-individualist. However, it does say that decisions should be good for

the population as a whole, instead of just being good for one or two people.

Communism is a political ideology that believes that societies can achieve full social equality by
eliminating private property.

Communism is a society in which private property and social class do not exist and the
government owns all things necessary to make and transport products. Communism is generally
considered to be the opposite of capitalism, which is a society that emphasizes private property
and the private sale and trade of goods. Rather than emphasizing equality of wealth, capitalism
emphasizes inequality based on merit - those who work the best and hardest should, in theory,
earn more than those who don't.

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 CHAPTER:3

HISTORY OF COMMUNISM

"Communism" derives from the French communism which developed out of the Latin

roots communis and the suffix isme – and was in use as a word designating various social
situations before it came to be associated with more modern conceptions of an economic and
political organization. Semantically, communis can be translated to "of or for the community"
while isme is a suffix that indicates the abstraction into a state, condition, action or doctrine, so
"communism" may be interpreted as "the state of being of or for the community".

A truly communist society has never existed in history. However, a variety of thinkers have
shared their own views on the subject. One of the earliest descriptions of communism appeared
in Plato's Republic. In his writing, Plato describes the ideal world in which nothing is owned
privately and everything is publicly shared. Plato's Republic had such extreme communism that
even monogamous relationships would not be allowed in society. Another famous form of
communism came in Thomas Moore's Utopia. This book describes a bizarre but fictitious island
called Utopia. No private property exists on the island, and all wealth is stored inside shelters.
Whenever a person needs something they simply go to the shelter and get it without having to
pay. The society is predominantly agricultural, and people live in huge families and eat in
communal dining halls. Moore's fantasy world became so famous that today the word 'utopia'
describes an imaginary society where the laws, government, and people are completely perfect.
During the 1840s Germany is the cradle of many radical groups, though the repressive political
conditions mean that the activists tend to live elsewhere - in Brussels, Paris or London. By far
the most influential in the long run are two young men who become friends in Paris in 1844.
Karl Marx is twenty-six at the time, Friedrich Engels two years younger. Their friendship is to be
life-long, with the impoverished Marx frequently saved from near starvation by the generosity of
Engels. They are also ideally suited as fellow warriors in the class struggle which they consider
to be the central theme of politics and history. Marx is the theorist, who has come to his political
views through philosophy. As a student in Berlin he has been influenced by the dialectic of

3
Hegel (the presiding genius of the Berlin philosophy school and only recently dead, in 1831).
Hegel's theory is that progress is made towards the truth, in any context, through a process of
struggle; a thesis is opposed by an antithesis, and out of the clash comes a new development, the
synthesis. For Marx this chimes well with his view of politics as class warfare. From the struggle
between the bourgeoisie (the existing thesis) and the oppressed working class (the antithesis) will
come a new political order (the synthesis, in the form of the triumphant working class). But Marx
knows virtually nothing of the industrial working class except what he reads. Engels, by contrast,
shares an interest in Hegel but also knows factory life in all its contemporary horror. He comes
from a rich German textile family. In 1842 he is sent to manage the Engels and Germen cotton-
spinning factory in Manchester. The result, after two years of acute observation and detailed
research, is a highly influential sociological survey, The Condition of the Working Class in
England, published in Leipzig in 1845. So Engels can add flesh to the bones of historical
materialism (also known as economic determinism) which becomes the all-embracing Marxist
theory of economics, politics and history. Marx and Engels argue that development in human
society is driven not by people's will or by any cultural, legal or political achievement, but by a
single economic factor - the inexorable advance in the technology of production. In the Marxist
theory of history, changes in methods of production lie behind mankind's progression through
certain predictable stages. In the recent past there has been feudalism, which has now given way
to the 19th-century triumph of the bourgeoisie. In the future there is the imminent Dictatorship of
the Proletariat, after which an interim period of Socialism will give way to the final achievement
of Communism. This progression is not, as liberals would wish, a gradual evolution. It is a series
of violent upheavals in the struggle between the classes. One such occasion has been seen in
France, where the bourgeoisie has overthrown the remains of feudalism in the revolution of
1789. Once the new production methods of the Industrial Revolution have reached a critical
point, crowding together a sufficient number of exploited workers in slum conditions in the
cities, the stage will be set for the next revolution. The proletariat (a word used by Marx for the
industrial working class) will smash the bourgeoisie and will appropriate their accumulated
wealth for the common cause. In the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat all other
considerations will be subordinated to safeguarding the revolution. This stage ends once
everybody is a member of the proletariat. With only one class left, the class war is over. The next
and penultimate stage is Socialism. In the classless society of Socialism it is anticipated that

4
mankind will live in harmony (class exploitation being the root of all evil). Now it will be
possible for the apparatus of state gradually to wither away. The final Marxist paradise of
Communism will operate on a simple and just distribution of work and wealth - in Marx's words,
'from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs'. It became the dominant
political philosophy of many countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America.
In the late 19th century, communist philosophy began to develop in Russia. In 1917, the
Bolsheviks seized power through the October Revolution. This was the first time any group with
a decidedly Marxist viewpoint managed to seize power. They changed their name to the
Communist Party, and sent their ideals to all European socialist parties. They then nationalized
all public property as well as putting factories and railroads under government control. Stalin
continued leading by the communist philosophies, and extended the growth of the USSR. This
example of Communism has been followed in many countries since then, including China. The
basic tenets of Marxism, formulated by Marx and Engels from 1844, are presented to the world
in 1848 in what is probably the most stark and powerfully written political pamphlet in history -
the Communist Manifesto.
In June 1847, at a congress in London convened by a German radical group calling themselves
the League of the Just, Engels persuades the delegates that they need a new name and new
statutes. The chosen name is the Communist League, and the new statutes turn out to be much
more uncompromising than anything heard from utopian communists such as Owenor Fourier. 
In their opening statement the statutes of the Communist League boldly declare: 'The aim of the
League is the downfall of the bourgeoisie and the ascendancy of the proletariat, the abolition of
the old society based on class conflicts and the foundation of a new society without classes and
without private property.' Soon a pamphlet is on sale in Drury Lane, aimed at German workers in
London and headed with a new slogan: 'Workers of the world, unite’.

The League decides that a full manifesto of its aims is needed. The task is entrusted to Marx and
Engels. They work on the document in December and January and it is printed in Paris in
February 1848. The timing could not be more fortuitous. Europe's most active year of
revolutions is just beginning. The ruling classes everywhere are profoundly alarmed by the
sudden and violent turn of events. Any among them who happen to read the Communist
Manifesto can only have their worst fears confirmed by what is undoubtedly, from their point of
view, a terrifying document. It is also one which is written with extraordinary brilliance and

5
verve. The manifesto begins with a now famous sentence: 'A spectre is haunting Europe - the
spectre of communism.' There follows a clear account of historical materialism and of the class
struggle, ending with a concise conclusion which must leap off the page for any bourgeois
reader.' The theory of the communists may be summed up in the single phrase: abolition of
private property.' This stark statement is followed by two pages analysing the various objections
made to such a programme. They all derive, the authors argue, not from any concept of justice
but from self-interest. Again, there is a blunt summing up. 'You reproach us with intending to do
away with your property. Precisely so; that is just what we intend.' The document is
uncompromisingly bleak when it describes the proposed future. All wealth and control will be in
the hands of the state, with power to direct everyone's labour through the 'establishment of
industrial armies' for all kinds of work including agriculture.  There follows a review of other
socialist movements, all of which are dismissed as unscientific for going against the tide of
historical materialism. The followers of Owen and Fourier in particular are dismissed as
reactionaries, attempting to create 'social utopias ... duodecimo editions of the New Jerusalem'.
The authors rise to a superb clarion call at the end, with a deliberate echo of Rousseau: 'Let the
ruling classes tremble at a communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but
their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of the world, unite!' A large proportion of
Marxist theory is already present in this brief and easily comprehensible document. It provides,
as its authors intend, a practical blueprint for revolution - but also, in its endorsement of rigorous
state control, an easy justification for totalitarianism. Marx joins with gusto in the revolutionary
ferment of 1848, returning to Germany to edit a radical newspaper. But when the tide of reaction
turns, in 1849, he is expelled. He settles now in tolerant London, where he spends the rest of his
life researching and writing. His only subsequent involvement in practical politics is his role in
the International from 1864.

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 CHAPTER:4

TYPES OF COMMUNISM

 Marxism is the theoretical-practical framework on which Socialism and Communism are

based.

 Leninism builds upon and elaborates the ideas of Marxism, and served as the
philosophical basis for the ideology of Soviet Communism after the Russian
Revolution of 1917 and the establishment of the Soviet Union. Vladimir Ilyich
Lenin (1870 - 1924) argued in his pamphlet "What is to be Done?" of 1902 that
the proletariat can only achieve a successful revolutionary consciousness through the
efforts of a "vanguard party" composed of full-time professional revolutionaries and
through a form of disciplined organization known as "democratic centralism" (whereby
decisions are made with internal democracy but then all party members must externally
support and actively promote that decision). It holds that Capitalism can only be
overthrown by revolutionary means, and any attempts to reform Capitalism from within
are doomed to fail. The goal of a Leninist party is to orchestrate the overthrow of the
existing government by force and seize power on behalf of the proletariat, and then
implement a dictatorship of the proletariat, a kind of direct democracy in which workers
hold political power through local councils known as soviets.

 Marxism-Leninism is the Communist ideological stream that emerged as

the mainstream tendency amongst Communist parties in the 1920's as it was adopted as
the ideological foundation of the Communist International during the era of Joseph
Stalin (1878 - 1953), with whom it is mainly associated. The term "Marxism-Leninism"
is most often used by those who believe that Lenin's legacy was successfully carried
forward by Stalin, although it is debatable to what extent it actually follows the principles
of either Marx or Lenin.

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 Stalinism is a more pejorative term for Joseph Stalin's vision of Communism (which
Stalin himself described as Marxism-Leninism). Proponents of the term argue that it
includes an extensive use of propaganda to establish a personality cult around an absolute
dictator, as well as extensive use of a secret police to maintain social submissionand
silence political dissent, all of which are trappings of Totalitarianism.

 Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism advocated by Leon Trotsky (1879 - 1940), who

considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, and argued for the
establishment of a vanguard party. Trotsky's politics differed sharply from the Marxism-
Leninism of Joseph Stalin, particularly in declaring the need for an international
proletarian revolution (as opposed to Stalin's "socialism in one country"), and unwavering
support for a true dictatorship of the proletariat based on direct democratic principles.
One of the defining characteristics of Trotskyism is the theory of permanent revolution to
explain how socialist revolutions could occur in societies that had not yet
achieved advanced Capitalism (which according to Marx was a prerequisite for socialist
revolution).

 Luxemburgism is a specific revolutionary theory within Communism, based on the

writings of Rosa Luxemburg (1870 - 1919). Her politics diverged from those of Lenin
and Trotsky mainly in her disagreement with their concept of "democratic centralism",
which she saw as insufficiently democratic. Luxemburgism resembles Anarchism in its
avoidance of an authoritarian society by relying on the people themselves as opposed to
their leaders, However, it also sees the importance of a revolutionary party and the
centrality of the working class in the revolutionary struggle. It resembles Trotskyism in
its opposition to the Totalitarianism of Stalin and to the reformist politics of
modern social democracy, but differs in arguing that Lenin and Trotsky also
made undemocratic errors.

 Maoism (or "Mao Zedong Thought") is a variant of Communism derived from the

teachings of the Chinese leader Mao Zedong (or Mao Tse-tung) (1893 - 1976), and
practised in the People's Republic of China after the Chinese Revolutionof 1949. Maoism
developed from the Marxism-Leninism of Stalin, but introduced new ideas such

8
 as Social-Imperialism(Mao accused the Soviet Union of dominating and exploiting the
smaller countries in its sphere to the point of organising their economies around Soviet,
not domestic, needs), the Mass Line (a method of leadership that seeks to learn from the
masses and immerse the political leadership in the concerns and conditions of the masses
- "from the masses, to the masses"), people's war and new democracy. The "Great Leap
Forward" of 1958, an attempt to industrialize and improve China's economy proved to
be disastrous and millions died from the resulting famine. The Cultural Revolution,
begun in 1966 under the so-called "Gang of Four" in an attempt to rid the country of any
remaining "liberal bourgeois" elements, resulted in further social, political and economic
chaos, eventually bringing the entire country to the brink of civil war. Since Mao's death
in 1976, his original ideology has been radically altered, marginalized and reformed in
China and has become known as "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" (which is
actually closer to Keynesian Capitalismthan Communism). Maoist parties exist in Peru,
Nepal, India and the Philippines.

 Left Communism is a range of Communist viewpoints held by the Communist Left,

which claims to be more authentically Marxist and proletarian than the views
of Leninism and its successors. Left Communists supported the Russian Revolution, but
did not accept the subsequent methods of the Bolsheviks. The Russian, Dutch-German
and the Italian traditions of Left Communism all share an opposition to nationalism, all
kinds of national liberation movements, frontism (uniting with anyone against a common
enemy) and parliamentary systems.

 Council Communism is a radical left movement, originating in Germany and the

Netherlands in the 1920s, and continuing today as a theoretical and activist position
within both left-wing Marxism and Libertarian Socialism. It sees workers' councils,
arising in factories and municipalities, as the natural form of working class
organization and governmental power. It opposes the idea of a "revolutionary party" on
the grounds that a revolution led by a party will necessarily produce a party dictatorship.

 Anarchist Communism (or Anarcho-Communism or Libertarian Communism)

advocates the complete abolition of the state and Capitalism in favour of a horizontal

9
 network of voluntary associations, workers' councils and/or commons through which
everyone will be free to satisfy their needs. The movement was led by the
Russians Mikhail Bakunin (1814 - 1876) and Peter Kropotkin (1842 - 1921).

 Eurocommunism was a trend in the 1970's and 1980's within various Western

European Communist parties to develop a theory and practice of social
transformation that was more relevant in a Western European democracy and less aligned
to the party line of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

 Religious Communism is a form of Communism centred on religious principles,

whether they be Christian, Taoist, Jain, Hindu or Buddhist. It usually refers to a number
of egalitarian and utopian religious societies practicing the voluntary dissolution of
private property, so that society's benefits are distributed according to a person's needs,
and every person performs labour according to their abilities. Christian Communism, for
example, takes the view that the teachings of Jesus Christ compel Christians to support
Communism as the ideal social system.

10
 CHAPTER:5

MARX’S VISION OF COMMUNISM

Marx constructed his vision of communism out of the human and technological possibilities
already visible in his time, given the priorities that would be adopted by a new socialist society.
The programs introduced by a victorious working class to deal with the problems left by the old
society and the revolution would unleash a social dynamic whose general results, Marx believed,
could be charted beforehand. Projecting the communist future from existing patterns and trends
is an integral part of Marx's analysis of capitalism, and analysis which links social and economic
problems with the objective interests that incline each class to deal with them in distinctive ways;
what unfolds are the real possibilities inherent in a socialist transformation of the capitalist mode
of production. It is in this sense that Marx declares, "we do not anticipate the world
dogmatically, but rather wish to find the new world through the criticism of the old." Like the
projections Marx made of the future of capitalism itself, however, what he foresaw for
communism is no more than highly probable. Marx, whose excessive optimism is often mistaken
for crude determinism, would not deny that some for of barbarism is another alternative, but a
socialist victory—either through revolution or at the polls—is considered far more likely. Marx's
communist society is in the anomalous position of being, at one and the same time, the most
famous of utopias and among the least known. And, while no one disputes the importance of

11
Marx's vision of communism to Marxism, the vision itself remains clouded and unclear.
Responsibility for this state of affairs lies, in the first instance, with Marx himself who never
offers a systematic account of the communist society. Furthermore, he frequently criticizes those
socialist writers who do as foolish, ineffective, and even reactionary. There are also remarks
which suggest that one cannot describe communism because it is forever in the process of
becoming: "Communism is for us not a stable state which reality will have to adjust itself. We
can call Communism the real movement which abolished the present state of things. The
conditions of this movement result from premises now in existence." Yet, as even casual readers
of Marx know, descriptions of the future society are scattered throughout Marx's writings.
Moreover, judging from an 1851 outline of what was to become Capital, Marx intended to
present his views on communism in a systematic manner in the final volume. The plan changed,
in part because Marx never concluded his work on political economy proper, and what Engels in
a letter to Marx refers to as "the famous 'positive,' what you 'really' want" was never written.This
incident does point up, however, that Marx's objection to discussing communist society was
more of a strategic than of a principled sort. More specifically, and particularly in his earliest
works, Marx was concerned to distinguish himself from other socialist for whom prescriptions of
the future were the main stock-in-trade. He was also very aware that when people change their
ways and views it is generally in reaction to an intolerable situation in the present and only to a
small degree because of the attraction of a better life in the future. Consequently, emphasizing
communism could not be an effective means to promote proletarian class consciousness, his
immediate political objective. Finally, with only the outline of the future visible from the present,
Marx hesitated to burden his analysis of capitalism with material that could not be brought into
focus without undermining in the minds of many the scientific character of his entire enterprise.

In the Communist Manifesto, Marx outlined the following 10 points: 

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies especially for
agriculture.

12
 6. The combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries. The gradual abolition of
the distinction between town and country. This will be achieved by a more equable
distribution of population over the country.
7. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor.
The combination of education with industrial production.
8. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state. It would own a national bank with state
capital and an exclusive monopoly.
9. The state would control communication and transportation.
10. The state factories and instruments of production. It would cultivate wastelands and
improve the soil. This would follow a common plan.

The manifesto mentions state ownership in its last three points. That makes even this pure vision
of communism sound like socialism. But Marx argued that state ownership is a valid stage in the
transition to communism.

These demands will be examined singly in order to reveal the full measure of change projected
by each one:

1. "Abolition of property in land and application of all rents on land to public

purposes."

Rather than parceling out estates and giving land to the people who work on it—the reactionary
dream of all peasants—land becomes the property of the state, which uses the rent it receives for
public purposes. Judging from Marx's treatment of the land in question in "Civil War in France,"
farmers would pay less rent to the state than they paid to their former landlords. Later in his life,
faced with Bakunin's criticism, Marx qualifies this demand: "the proletariat," he now says, "must
take measures, as a government, through which the peasant finds his position directly improved,
which thus wins him for the revolutions; measures, however, which facilitate in nucleus the
transition from private property in the soil to collective property, so that the peasant comes to it
of his own accord, economically. But it must not antagonize the peasant, by, for instance,
proclaiming the abolition of the right of inheritance or the abolition of his property: this is only
possible where the capitalist tenant has ousted the peasant, and the real tiller of the soil is just as
much a proletarian, a wage worker, as is the urban worker, and hence has directly, and not only

13
indirectly, the same interests as he. One has even less right to strengthen small peasant property
by simply enlarging the plots by the transfer of the larger estates to the peasants, as in Bakunin's
revolutionary campaign." This apparent contradiction can be explained by the fact that here
Marx is primarily concerned with tactics and with those peasants who work their own plots of
land, while in the Communist Manifesto he was speaking mainly about non-owning peasants.
The two positions can be reconciled as follows: before, during and immediately after the
revolution care should be taken not to frighten the small land-owning peasants, while the
landless peasants are to be collectivized at once on the estates of their former landlords and
employers. Marx never wavered in his belief that if socialism is to "have any chance whatever of
victory, it must at least be able to do as much immediately for the peasants, mutatis mutandis, as
the French bourgeoisie did in its revolution." For Marx, the peasant, despite his numerous
delusions, is "above all a man of reckoning." He could not fail to be attracted by the tax benefits
and material comforts, work conditions and cultural life available on collectives. All this, it
would appear, without depriving the small-holding peasant of anything he already has, are the
arguments that will convince him to communize his property Marx did not envision great
difficulty in makings this transition, nor that it would take much time.

2. "A heavy progressive or graduated income tax."

Apparently, significant differences of income still exist at this stage, or, at least, at the start of it.
Many enterprises are privately owned, and their owners probably make more than they would
working in a factory. Moreover, in a full employment economy with a scarcity of many essential
skills, there are still occupations that have to pay high wages in order to attract workers. The
inequality of incomes, therefore, is economically necessary, but because it is also socially
undesirable an attempt is made through the income tax to render the real gap as narrow as
possible. With the increasing equalization of incomes, the progressive income tax soon becomes
outmoded.

3. "Abolition of the right of inheritance."

Differences between personal incomes are deplored but accepted as necessary. The disparity in
family fortunes, however, is not acceptable, and is to be eliminated at the death of those who
currently hold them. Even those modest fortunes which result from wage differentials cannot be

14
bequeathed to one's children. How this is reconciled with the intention, stated earlier, of letting
small0holding peasants retain their land until they themselves decide to join collectives is
nowhere made clear. Nor do we know for sure what Marx includes among the things which
cannot be inherited. While discussing wages, Marx declares "nothing can pass to the ownership
of individuals expect individual means of consumption." Something similar, no doubt, would be
used to distinguish between what can and cannot be inherited. The purpose of the no-inheritance
principle is to achieve wealth equality after the death of those now living. From this time
forward, everyone beings life with the same material advantages, and equality of opportunity—
an impossible dream under capitalism—is finally realized. What people acquire over and above
this will be what they have earned through their own activity.

4. "Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels."

This is a practical step intended not so much to aid the state in its drive towards public ownership
as to serve as a warning to the bourgeoisie not to engage in counter-revolutionary activity. The
proletariat's victory is not completed with the revolution, but must be fought over and won again
with all those left-overs of the old society whose hostility impairs the process of social
reconstruction. It is indicative of the humanity with which Marx confronts counter-
revolutionaries that confiscation is the most severe punishment ever mentioned.

5. "Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with
state capital and exclusive monopoly."

Carrying this measure into effect will deprive financiers of both their wealth and their power to
direct the economy. With exclusive control of credit facilities, the state can decide what parts of
the economy should be expanded and by how much. It will also enable the state to finance the
"national workshops" that Marx calls for elsewhere. Meanwhile, what are considered useless or
socially harmful enterprises will be squeezed out of existence by withholding funds. What is

15
particularly striking about his demand is that it shows the degree of independence to be allowed
individual enterprises, whether private or public. If all major decision were made by some central
authority, there would be no need for the state to use credit as a means of control.

6. "Centralization of communication and transport in the hands of the state."

Like the previous one, this measure aims at depriving a few capitalists of their power to control
the nation's economy, and allows the state to develop its internal communication system on the
basis of social need. Another immediate result is that all transpiration is made free to the poor.
Again, the need to specify that communication and transport are taken over by the state suggests
that most fields of endeavor are not.

7. "Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state, the

bringing in cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in
accordance with a common plan."

The involvement of the state in the economy is not concluded when it takes over enterprises and
gains control of others though its monopoly of credit facilities. The state cannot sit on the
production laurels of the capitalist economy which preceded it, as imposing as these may be.
With the aid of a plan, every effort is made to increase nature's bounty by increasing and
perfecting the means by which it is produced.

8. "Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for

agriculture."

The new order brings to an end the parasitic situation existing under capitalism, where the few
who don't work are supported by the many who do. Everyone works in communism. Those who
don't work don't eat: "Apart from surplus0labor for those who on account of age are not yet, or
no longer able to take part in production, all labor to support those who do not work would
cease." The freedom to choose one's work is not affected, as some critics assert; just the privilege
of choosing not to work is abolished. With everyone working, "productive labor ceases to be a

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class attribute," allowing Marx to claim that communism "recognizes no class differences
because everyone is a worker like everyone else." In calling for the establishment of industrial
armies, especially for agriculture, Marx is as concerned with changing the personalities of the
people involved as he is with promoting greater economic efficiency.

9. "Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of

the distinction between town and country."

One of the least known of the harmful divisions Marx sees in the human race is between man the
"restricted town animal" and man the "restricted country animal." We must remember that, for
Marx, peasants are a "class of barbarians," whose way of existence he labels the "idiocy of rural
life." People in the country, therefore, need the city and all that it represents in the way of
advanced technology and culture, just as people living in the city need the country, its fresh air,
inspiring scenery, and toil on the land itself in order to achieve their full stature as human beings.
The first stage of communism sees an attempt to create new economic arrangements which will
allow people to spend time in cities as well as in the country. The importance Marx attaches to
this development can be gathered from this claim that, "The abolition of the antagonism between
town and country is one of the first conditions of communal life." Marx believes that the
necessary means for healing the split between town and country have already been provided by
the preceding mode of production: capitalism, he says, "creates the material conditions of a
higher synthesis in the future, namely, the union of agriculture and industry on the basis of the
more perfected forms they have each acquired during their temporary separation." We are left to
guess what this "higher synthesis" actually looks like, but it appears to involve moving some
industries to the country as well as greatly expanding the amount of unencumbered land inside
cities for parks, woodland, and garden plots. I suspect, too, that Marx would like to see the
number of people living in any one city reduced, and more small and medium size cities set up
throughout the countryside, resulting in "a more equable distribution of population over the
country" and making possible the establishment of industrial armies for agriculture.

10. "Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory
labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production"

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In 1848, even elementary education had to be paid for in most countries, so we can easily
understand why public education was not a major reform. By "public schools" Marx did not
mean "state schools" as this expression is commonly understood. In his "Criticism of the Gotha
Program," Marx opposes the Socialist Party's demand for control of "elementary education by
the state." He says, "Defining by a general law the expenditure of the elementary schools, the
qualifications of the teaching staff, the branches of instruction, etc. and, as is done in the United
States, supervising the fulfillment of these legal specifications by state inspectors, is a very
different thing form appointing the state as the educator of the people. Government and church
should rather be totally excluded from any influence on the schools." The people themselves,
directly or through social organs still unspecified, will supply the guidelines of their educational
system.

CHAPTER:6

SOCIALISM VS COMMUNISM

There are a number of political systems prevalent in different countries of the world.
Communism and socialism are two such economic system, which are commonly juxtaposed by
the people. While communism is described as a social organization system where the community
owns the property and each individual contributes and receives wealth as per their needs and
ability.

On the other hand, Socialism is an economic theory wherein the means of production,

distribution, and exchange are owned and controlled by the society as a whole. Wealth
distribution in socialism is done as per the efforts and contribution. Here you should know that
Communism is a subset of socialism. Just take a read of this article to know the important
differences between communism and socialism. Communism refers to the political and economic
system which is based on the ideas of common ownership on the factors of production and there
is no presence of class, state and money. It aims at establishing a communist society.

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The word ‘communism’ is a Latin origin, which means ‘common’. In communism, the factors of
production are owned by the people commonly. Here the wealth is distributed among people on
the basis of their needs. It is based on the principle of economic equality. China, Cuba, North
Korea, Vietnam and Laos are some of the countries where communism still exists.

The economic system in which the factors of production are commonly owned, managed and
controlled by the society. It is based on the principle of equality where all the people have similar
rights. In this form of social organization wealth is distributed among people as per the efforts
made by them. In socialism, there is an equal distribution of income which aims at filling the gap
between rich and poor.1

A Central Planning Authority exists in this system that sets the socioeconomic objectives. In this
economy, people have the right to work, but they cannot select the occupation of their choice.
Occupation of people is decided only by the authority. Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Canada
are some countries where socialism exists

Communism is defined as the system of social organisation where the focus is made on
communal ownership and a classless society. Socialism refers to the social organisation in which
there is public or cooperative ownership of the means of production. Communism is both
political as well as economic theory while socialism is an economic theory. Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels, the German Philosophers, propounded the concept of communism whereas
Robert Owen propounded Socialism The theme of communism is to achieve equality among
members of society and advocates a society free from class. On the other hand, achieving
equality and fairness among the society members is the main idea of socialism.

In communism, the wealth is distributed among the people according to their needs. Conversely,
in socialism, the distribution of wealth is based on the contribution made by them. The members
of the state collectively own the means of production in communism. As opposed to socialism
where the means of production are owned by the citizens. In communism, the management of
resources lies in the hands of few people belonging to a particular authoritarian party. In the case
of socialism, the management of resources is done by the people.

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Communism does not allow people to own personal property, but this is not so in the case of
socialism. Communism tries to remove capitalism, whereas, in socialism, somehow capitalism
exists.

CHAPTER:7

COMMUNISM VS CAPITALISM
Capitalism and communism are different in their political and economic ideologies. Capitalism
and Communism never go together. One of the major differences between capitalism and
communism is with regard to the resources or the means of production. In Communism, the
community or society solely owns the resources or the means of production. On the other hand,
in capitalism, the resources or the means of production lies with a private owner. While the profit
of any enterprise is equally shared by all the people in communism, the profit in a capitalist
structure belong to the private owner only. While the private party controls the resources in
capitalism, it is the society that controls the whole means of production in communism. For
Communists, the society is above individuals. But for capitalists, individual freedom is above the
state or society. While capitalism is a self regulated economic system, communism is a
government run economy. In capitalism, the individual has full control over production and
decides on the price structure. Contrary to this, it is the society or the government that determines
the price structure in communism. Communism stands for equal sharing of work, according to

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the benefits and ability. But in capitalism, an individual is responsible for his works and if he
wants to raise the ladder, he has to work hard. While Communism stands for abolishing private
property, Capitalism stands for private property. Moreover, communism stands for a class less
society, which doesn’t see any difference between the rich and the poor. On the other hand,
capitalism divides the society into rich and poor. Capitalism can be said to be the exploitation of
the individual. While everyone is equal in communism, there is a great divide of the class in
capitalism.2

Adam Smith, the renowned Scottish Economist, wrote a book, The Wealth of Nations in which
he sparked the idea of Capitalism. On the other hand, Karl Marx, a famous Philosopher, and
Sociologist, from Germany, initiated the idea of Communism, in his book The Communist
Manifesto, as a response to Capitalism. These two political theories are in opposition to each
other as in the former promotes private ownership, the latter stands against it. Take a full read of
the article given below, to have a clear understanding of the differences between capitalism and
communism.

Capitalism is an economic system in which the trade and industry of the economy is owned and
controlled by private individuals, to make profit. Communism refers to social system in which
country's trade and industry are controlled by the community and the share of each individual
relies on his ability and needs. The term ‘capitalism’ implies an economic system that advocates
private ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, to earn the profit. In
this system, the determination of production and price of the goods and services are done by the
market, i.e. the demand and supply forces play a significant role here. The key features of
capitalism are individual rights, private property, accumulation of wealth, market economy, free
and competitive market, self-interest, minimal government intervention. In a capitalist economy,
it is the owners who decide and invest, in financial and capital market on the production inputs.
The competition in the economy decided the price and distribution of merchandise in the
economy. A form of socialism, in which the means of production, resources, and property are
owned and controlled by the egalitarian society, i.e. by the community equally is called
Communism. It is based on the idea of shared ownership. The theory of communism was mainly
sparked by the German philosophers cum sociologist Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The

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central principle behind communism is, the contribution and share of each would be based on his
ability and needs. In this political system, the government owns everything and all the individual
works for a common goal. Therefore, the class distinction does not exist, as all are considered
equal. Communism aims at removing the gap between wealthy and poor, and establishing
equality in the economy.

The following points are noteworthy so far as the difference between capitalism and communism
is concerned:

1. An economic system in which the trade and industry of the economy are owned and
controlled by private individuals to generate profit is called Capitalism. A social system in
which country’s trade and industry are controlled by the community and the share of each
individual relies on his ability and needs, is called communism.
2. Capitalism is based on the Principle of Individual Rights, whereas Communism is based on
the Principle of Community Rights.
3. Capitalism is in favor of class distinction, i.e. working class and capitalist class, hence the
degree of class distinction between rich and poor is very high. On the contrary, communism
opposes a division of society according to class, as it promotes classless society, so, there is
no gap between rich and poor.

4. There is a democratic system of government in capitalism. As against this, totalitarian

government system exists in socialism. Totalitarian is a form of government in which
government owns and controls almost everything.

5. Under capitalism, the government does not have much involvement. In contrast communism,
there is a high level of government intervention.

6. In capitalism, every individual has to work for himself to create wealth. As opposed to this,
in communism wealth is distributed as per needs and ability.

7. The production inputs like land, labor, and capital are privately owned by the individuals and
enterprises, while the means of production are held by the state, in the case of communism.

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8. In communism, more preference is given to society rather than an individual which is not in
the case of capitalism, i.e. freedom of individual is vital.

9. In capitalism, fierce competition exists between the firms whereas in communism, as the
market is controlled by the state, the competition is quite low.

10. In communism, the profit earned by the enterprise is distributed among all the people of the
economy. On the contrary, the profit of the enterprise, in capitalism, is enjoyed by the owner
only.

11. While capitalism can be found in western countries, socialism is more popular in eastern
countries of the world.

CHAPTER:8

COMMUNISM VS DICTATORSHIP

Communism and dictatorship are very different in all aspects, political as well as economic
ideologies. In communism, the society or the community is on top of everything. But in
dictatorship, society or community is only secondary and it is the dictator who governs
everything. Communism regards the society or community as powerful. But in dictatorship, it is
the dictator who is the most powerful. Dictatorship is a system in which a single person rules the
nation. On the other hand, in communism the power is not vested in a single individual. In
communism, the profit is shared equally in the community. Whereas in dictatorship, the profit is
accumulated in only one person. When the society dictates the overall economy in communism,
it is the dictator who has the last say in the economics of a nation in dictatorship.
When communism believes in common ownership, dictatorship believes in individual
ownership. It is the community that handles the resources or the means of production in
Communism. But in dictatorship, the dictator handles the means of production or resources.
Communism stands for a free society where everyone is equal.

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Communism does not believe in private property and the wealth is owned by every person. In
dictatorship, it is just the opposite. In communism, everyone is equal. But in dictatorship, there
are no equals. Communism does not authorise any person to take any decisions according to their
aspirations. On the other hand, a dictator has a free hand in taking any decision. When
communism stands for a stateless or class less society, dictatorship only has its footing only if
there is a state. While communism is strongly based on socialism, dictatorship is based on power.
Communism is by definition an economic system, not a political one. A dictatorship is a political
system, not an economic one, with a single leader who has nearly unlimited power, and can have
nearly any economic system.

An extreme example was Hong Kong under British rule, which was governed by a Governor
General appointed by the Queen of England, but had one of the freest economic systems in
history, with individual rights to own property, and the same British legal system that is the
foundation of US law. Communist countries always refer to themselves as “democratic” or a
“republic”, but are dictatorships in practice. This is because communism involves, by definition,
“control of the means of production” by the political leadership. This means forcing individuals
to conduct their lives according to the commands of central planners. Thus to compel them to
make life choices “for the good of the people” rather than the life choices they would prefer to
make as individuals. “The will of the people” and “needs of the people” override any individual
rights or needs. The result is a “command economy” where power is concentrated at the top,
operating in the name of the people. Thus, inevitability, without exception, a dictatorship.

Communism refers to an economic and political system which aims to distribute resources to
each person as per their needs. Dictatorship is a political system in which a single person holds
all the power and makes all the decisions. Communism and dictatorship are ideological
principles. They differ in their beliefs as to how a country should be run.  Communism is an
economic system that holds the society and community as the primary interest, whereas
dictatorship is a political system, which holds the interests of the dictator as primary and
everything else, including the society and community as secondary. There are many different
types of dictatorship, including:

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  Military dictatorship – In which, the head of state may assume the responsibilities and
power of a dictatorship in the event of an emergency, or catastrophe. Once the
emergency, catastrophe or crisis is managed or handled, the head of state gives up power
and returns to the previous social order.

 Single-party state – a single party assumes the role of a dictator and the complete
control and full power associated with the role.

 Personalist – one person reaches the top and assumes the role of a dictator. (Example:
Sadam Hussein, Fidel Castro, etc.)

 Hybrid – any combination of the pervious types.3

The main difference is that communism holds that centralized organizations should manage the
economy to bring about statelessness and classlessness, i.e. everyone will be equal. Dictatorship,
on the other hand holds that one person should manage everything. The dictator, or the dictator’s
office, holds all the power and makes all the decisions. Communism, however, believes in
bringing about classlessness by putting an end to capitalism and private ownership. It says that
all properties, factories, etc. should be owned by the central government, while the work and
profit should be divided equally among the people. Whereas, dictatorship believes that the
dictator and the people closest to the dictator should control everything and gain all the profit,
while the people do all the work.

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 CHAPTER:9

COMMUNISM VS DEMOCRACY
Communism and democracy are two different ideologies that have rendered great impact in the
world. Communism can be termed as a socio-economic structure that stands for the
establishment of a classless, egalitarian and stateless society. Democracy is a political system of
governance either carried out by the people directly or by elected representatives. Communism is
a political ideology that is based on a common ownership, mainly concerned with equality and
fairness. In communism, the power is vested in a group of people who decide the course of
action. It is this group of people who decide on the activities of the public. These groups of
people may interfere in the public life of others. On the other hand, democracy, which also
stands for equality in the society, is governed by a group of elected people. Democracy is a rule
by the people and the elected representatives are bound to fulfil the wishes of the society. A big
difference seen between democracy and communism is in the term of economic systems. In
communism, the government has complete control over the production and distribution of goods
and all the resources and it is shared in the society equally. But in democracy, this aspect is not
there. In communism, it is the community or the society that holds the major resources and

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production. This helps in preventing any single person or a group of people from raising to a
higher position than others or becoming rich. But in democracy, free enterprising is allowed,
which means that people or groups can have their own businesses. This can lead to rich and poor
in society.4
Coming to democracy, there are no specific principles that define it. But democracy is based on
the principle of equality and freedom. It is also based on the principle that all citizens have equal
rights. Another principle that defines democracy is that the citizens have certain liberties and
freedoms, which are protected by the constitution. In communism private ownership is not
allowed whereas in democracy it is allowed. Communism refers to an economic and political
system which aims to distribute resources to each person as per their needs. Democracy is a form
of government where all citizens have equal rights to elect their officials. Communism and
democracy are ideological principles. They differ in their beliefs as to how a country should be
run.  Communism is an economic system that holds the society and community as the primary
interest, whereas democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal
say in the social, economic and cultural decisions. Citizens vote to choose representatives who
will run and make the hard decisions of the government. The word communism comes from the
Latin word "communis", which means "shared" or "belong to all". It is the idea of a free society
with no division or alienation, where the people are free from oppression and scarcity. According
to dictionary.com, the definition of communism states that it is a theory or system of social
organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to
the community as a whole or to the state. Communism is a system of social organization in
which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single
and self-perpetuating political party. The term, democracy, originates from the Greek:
dēmokratía, which stands for the rule of the people. According to dictionary.com, democracy is a
type of government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested
in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral
system. It can be a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are
democracies. It is a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. It
has political or social equality; a democratic spirit.

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The main difference is that communism holds that centralized organizations should manage the
economy to bring about statelessness and classlessness, i.e. everyone will be equal. Communism
believes in bringing about classlessness by putting an end to capitalism and private ownership. It
says that everything, including properties, factories, etc. should be owned by the central
government, while the work and profit should be divided equally among the people by the
government. Everyone should have equal access to work, shelter, food, etc. Democracy, on the
other hand, acknowledges that we can’t get rid of classlessness. It promotes the individuals' right
to own property and means of production. It supports capitalism, in which individuals' can open
and run their own businesses. In a democracy, every person is equal, and they have the right to
work to support themselves and to move up or down the social ladder. Democracy also supports
and promotes the idea of freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of
press, among equal right for the citizens. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law and
government. It allows eligible citizens to have an equal say in the decisions, including proposal,
development, and creation of laws, that affect their lives. Citizens can either do this directly or
through elected representatives.

There are various types of democracies:

 Direct democracy – In which citizens have direct and active participation in the decision
making of the government.

 Representative democracy – Citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is
exercised indirectly through elected representatives.

 Parliamentary democracy – a representative democracy where government is appointed

by representatives.

 Presidential Democracy – the public elects the president through free and fair elections.
The president serves as both the head of state and head of government controlling most of the
executive powers. The president serves for a specific term and cannot exceed that amount of
time.

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 Constitutional democracy – a representative democracy in which the ability of the
elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law, and
usually moderated by a constitution.

 Hybrid democracies or semi-direct democracies – which combine elements of

representative democracy and direct democracy.

The only problem is that in the real world, ideologies get distorted. In modern terminology,
communism has become synonymous to an Oligarchy. In an oligarchy, everything is ruled by an
elite few. In modern communist regimes, one person or one party comes to power and the
policies of states get controlled by these communist parties. They turn the communist regimes
into dictatorships.

CHAPTER:10

COMMUNISM VS NATIONALISM
Communism and nationalism are two different theories. There is not much confusion between
the two and there are explicit differences between the two terms. Nationalism can be defined as
an acute belief in one’s country. Communism can be termed as a form of socialism that looks
forward for a class less society and where there is no private ownership. This makes it clear
that communism does not stand for any regional or nation specific aspirations. On the other
hand, nationalism pertains to a specific nation only. Communism is a theory that stands for a
stateless society. On the other hand, nationalism stands for a state or nation. Nationalism can be
termed as compartmentalized whereas communism is not like that. Nationalism means the
development of a particular nation.For nationalists, state or nation is the primary importance.
However, for communist, the whole class or the whole world is a single entity. It is the
community that prevails over others in communism whereas in nationalism, it is the national
spirit that prevails over other thoughts. In nationalism, there is a belief that one nation is superior

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to other nations. Moreover, the citizens of a country are more valued than the citizens of other
countries. This belief does not hold in communism. For the communists, community stands
above all. Unlike the nationalists, the communists think globally. Nationalism is a term that was
coined by Johann Gottfried Herder in the late 1770s. Though it is difficult to state when and
wehere nationalism had emerged, it can be seen that the word had developed ater the French
revolution and the American War of Independence. On the other hand Communism developed as
a theory after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917. The term got popularized through ‘Communist
Manifesto’, a book written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Communism is a theory that
stands for a stateless society. On the other hand, nationalism stands for a state or nation.
Nationalism can be termed as compartmentalized whereas communism is not like that.
Nationalism means the development of a particular nation. For nationalists, state or nation is the
primary importance. However, for communist, the whole class or the whole world is a single
entity. It is the community that prevails over others in communism whereas in nationalism, it is
the national spirit that prevails over other thoughts.5

CHAPTER:11
COMMUNISM VS LIBERALISM

Communism and liberalism are two different political ideologies. Communism cannot be termed
liberalism and liberalism cannot be termed as communism as the two have distinct features that
separate them. Liberalism is an ideology that believes in individual freedom. Liberalism is a
political ideology that thinks that an individual is free from all interferences and restrictions. On
the other hand, communism does not give any emphasis to individual freedom. Communism is a
political ideology that stands for equality of all. Communism pertains to the welfare of the
society or community. It stands for a stateless or class less society. In communism, power is
equally shared by everyone. But in Liberalism there is no power sharing but every one considers
being free from the other. While Communism gives priority to the welfare of a society,
liberalism gives priority to the rights of an individual. Communism does not think that an
individual is above others. When talking about economy, Liberalism thinks of a free market but

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in Communism, it is the community or society that controls the economy and means of
production. The profit is equally shared in communism. 6

When Liberalism focuses on a balance between individual and community responsibilities,

Communism focuses entirely on community responsibility. Communism is an ideology that
entirely revolves round the good will of a community. On the other hand, Liberalism has its base
on individuals only. Liberalism has many slippery slopes that makes it one or tops two steps
from outright communism. Let’s look at the similarities. Liberalism evidently doesn’t value life.
Communists have killed over 100 million people since 1917. Liberalism has, through abortion
killed 50 million babies in a massive infanticide. They are also pushing the legalization of doctor
assisted suicide. Communism’s stance on life: worthless. Liberalism’s stance on life: Worthless
except when you are a criminal. Then you are a poor person indicted by an unfair justice system.

Liberalism and communism are separate somewhat in the areas of private property. Communists
see that all property should be owned in common and overseen by the governing authorities.
Liberalism doesn’t mind having private property as long as everyone else’s is taxed enough to
provide for the common good. Evidence Michael Moore: He rails against capitalism in his new
propagate, I mean documentary yet when questioned by Sean Hannity about his own personal
wealth he him-hawed around the questions surrounding how he became so exorbitantly wealthy.
The truth is, liberals don’t mind wealth so long as yours goes towards their goal of social justice
and redistribution of wealth.

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 CHAPTER:12

COMMUNISM VS TOTALITARIANISM

Communism and totalitarianism stands apart in their political and economic ideologies. Some
people may link communism to totalitarianism but the fact is that they two are different in every
aspect. Totalitarianism is a term that means total control. But in communism there is no total
control. While the society is all-powerful in communism, it is the state that is powerful in
Totalitarianism. In Totalitarianism, the state controls everything and there is no value for an
individual’s thoughts or opinions. On the other hand, Communism is a political ideology that
believes in a stateless or class less society. Totalitarianism can also be termed as authoritarianism
or monarchism. The individuals have no share in the decision-making. Communism thinks in
terms of the society as a whole and it is the community that takes all major decisions.7

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In Totalitarianism, the individuals lack much freedom and they are bound by the state. On the
other hand, the society has a free hand in communism. Even the people live in far at the hands of
a totalitarian government. While a totalitarian government is right wing, communist government
is left wing. Communism believes in the common ownership of everything. On the other hand,
Totalitarianism is a system, which believes in the state ownership. For communists, the society
or the community is the sole owner of resources or the means of production. But in
Totalitarianism, it is the state that handles all resources. Totalitarianism is a system in which the
state controls everything, including the political, economic matters. Moreover, it even controls
the beliefs and values of the society and also interferes in the private life of individuals. In
Communism, one cannot come across such controls.8

Communism is the notion that the means of production (industry and agriculture) should be
owned by the populace as a whole. Either that no one owns anything, or that everyone owns
everything. Totalitarianism is the notion that the government can interfere in every aspect of a
citizen’s life without recourse. Typically this would be managed by force, but if the people
willingly gave up all personal liberties it would still be totalitarianism.

Ideologically the two are unrelated. However in practice many states claiming to follow
Communist ideals have used Totalitarian means to achieve them.
Communism is a form of government that relies on totalitarianism for implementation of its
policies. Totalitarianism is a philosophy of governance wherein the state assumes control of
everything that may comprise both public and private life. Therein, the state recognizes no limit
to its mandate and no accountability to its citizens. Communism is one ideology that is still
popular in some parts of the world though it has got much diluted after the demise of Soviet
Union in the eighties. The erstwhile breakaway republics of USSR today have leanings towards
capitalism as they are impressed by the progress western countries have made. Communism aims
for a classless society where everyone is equal, and even the state is redundant. This is an ideal
scenario which is not possible to achieve hence communism can never be perfect. It believes in
common ownership and free access to articles of consumption. Communism does not believe in
private property and even profit of the individual. There are many who think that socialism and
communism are same but according to Marx, socialism is only the beginning to a long march
8
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towards communism. Totalitarianism is an ideology that believes in total political power to be in
the hands of a single person, or a particular class. This political system does not recognize the
rights of the individuals and places no restrictions on the authority of the state. This is akin to
personality cultism where the charisma of a single person works upon the masses through false
propaganda and ruthless use of brute state power. Other means to suppress any opposition are
state terrorism, mass surveillance and restriction of speech and liberty of action. This political
system is close to authoritarianism and dictatorship but falls short of both.

CHAPTER:13

COMMUNIST COUNTRY

1. China (People's Republic of China)9

Mao Zedong took control over China in 1949 and proclaimed the nation as the People's Republic
of China, a communist country. China has remained consistently communist since 1949 although
economic reforms have been in place for several years. China has been called "Red China" due
to the Communist Party's control over the country. China does have political parties other than
the Communist Party of China (CPC), and open elections are held locally throughout the
country. That said, the CPC has control over all political appointments, and little opposition
typically exists for the ruling Communist Party. As China has opened up to the rest of the world
in recent decades, the resulting disparities of wealth have eroded some of the principles of
communism, and in 2004 the country's constitution was changed to recognize private property.
China has one of the biggest and most prosperous economies of the world and, somewhat

9
https://financesonline.com/10-most-recent-current-communist-nations-in-the-world

34
surprisingly, remains a Communist superpower. The Communist party gained control of the
country in 1949, initially led by Mao Zedong and his Little Red Book which wielded Communist
control around the nation. The goal of Mao’s Cultural Revolution was to eliminate cultural and
capitalist influences from the nation. Market economics were introduced to China in the 1970s,
when it was increasingly clear that Mao’s ideas were effectively destroying China. Ever since,
China’s economy has been among the fastest growing in the world: turning it into the
superpower that it is today, a lucky benefit of the capitalist reforms introduced into the nation’s
Communist ideology.

2. Cuba (Republic of Cuba)10

A revolution in 1959 led to the takeover of the Cuban government by Fidel Castro and his
associates. By 1961, Cuba became a fully communist country and developed close ties to the
Soviet Union. At the same time, the United States imposed a ban on all trade with Cuba. When
the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cuba was forced to find new sources for trade and financial
subsidies, which the nation did, with countries including China, Bolivia, and Venezuela. In 2008,
Fidel Castro stepped down, and his brother, Raul Castro, became president; Fidel died in 2016.
Under U.S. President Barack Obama, relations between the two nations were relaxed and travel
restrictions loosened during Obama's second term. In June 2017, however, President Donald
Trump tightened travel restrictions on Cuba. The Cuban Revolution in all of its glory is one of
the most well-known events in the history of the Americas. Today, Cuba remains the only
Communist country outside of Asia, since its revolution in 1959. Fidel Castro has continued to
be the single-party ruler of the small Caribbean island since the date of the revolution’s success
in the 1960s. The Cuban Revolution was a bloody event, and the Communist dictatorship
succeeded in executing thousands of citizens for political crimes. The United States has
attempted to eliminate Fidel Castro on several occasions, but failing repetitively. Unlike some
other Communist nations, Cuba has a respectable healthcare system available to all citizens;
it’s ranked one of the best in the world.

10
Ibid 1

35
 3. Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic)11

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, became a communist country in 1975
following a revolution supported by Vietnam and the Soviet Union. The country had been a
monarchy. The country's government is largely run by military generals who support a one-party
system grounded in Marxist ideals. In 1988, the country began allowing some forms of private
ownership, and it joined the World Trade Organization in 2013. Supported by both neighboring
Vietnam and the Soviet Union, Laos underwent a Communist revolution in 1975. The nation’s
governing system is run by high-ranked officials in Laos’ military. Laos has historically been
largely influenced by Vietnam’s Communist government–leaving it largely isolated from trade
with the rest of the world, among other consequences to its economic development. Laos has
been accused of committing genocide against the nation’s Hmong minority. In fact, during the
late 1900s the United States received hundreds of thousands of Hmong refugees who were
fleeing their homeland’s communist repression and persecution. Today Laos is ranked #23 of the
world’s poorest countries.

4. North Korea (DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea)12

Korea, which was occupied by Japan in World War II, was divided following the war into a
Russian-dominated north and an American-occupied south. At the time, no one thought the
partition would be permanent. North Korea did not become a communist country until 1948
when South Korea declared its independence from the North, which quickly declared its own
sovereignty. Backed by Russia, Korean communist leader Kim Il-sung was installed as leader of
the new nation. The North Korean government doesn't consider itself communist, even if most
world governments do. Instead, the Kim family has promoted its own brand of communism
based on the concept of juche (self-reliance). First introduced in the mid-1950s, juche promotes
Korean nationalism as embodied in the leadership of (and cultlike devotion to) the Kims. Juche
became official state policy in the 1970s and was continued under the rule of Kim Jong-il, who
succeeded his father in 1994, and Kim Jong-un, who rose to power in 2011. In 2009, the
11
Supra note 1
12
Supra note1

36
country's constitution was changed to remove all mention of the Marxist and Leninist ideals that
are the foundation of communism, and the very word communism was also removed. Much like
the case of Vietnam, Korea was split into two countries in 1910–the Soviet-backed North Korea
and the United States-backed South Korea. In 1948 North Korea turned Communist. In the 1950s
the Korean War was fought over the two nations’ sovereignty, and while fighting between the
two nations has ceased, there was never a signed treaty–meaning that they are still technically at
war. The infamous Kim family has acted as dictators since 1948, and the family is in fact
constitutionally defined as rulers according to a 2013 constitutional amendment. Today, North
Korea is avidly protected by its Communist neighbor China and it is also, worrisomely, one of
the only nations in the world with nuclear technologies, which it has threatened to use against
foreign nations including the United States many times.

5. Vietnam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam)13

Vietnam was partitioned at a 1954 conference that followed the First Indochina War. While the
partition was supposed to be temporary, North Vietnam became communist and supported by the
Soviet Union while South Vietnam was democratic and supported by the United States.

Following two decades of war, the two parts of Vietnam were unified, and in 1976, Vietnam as a
unified country became a communist country. And like other communist countries, Vietnam has
in recent decades moved toward a market economy that has seen some of its socialist ideals
supplanted by capitalism. The U.S. normalized relations with Vietnam in 1995 under then-
President Bill Clinton. A commonality between the aforementioned Communist nations are their
connection to the USSR, and Vietnam’s current status is no different. After the First Indochina
war Vietnam was split into two halves–North Vietnam becoming Communist with the support of
the Soviet Union, and South Vietnam remaining democratic with support from the United States.
After the Vietnam War, and decades of national and international conflict, the United States and
South Vietnam lost the war and Vietnam was reunited as a Communist nation in 1976. While
Vietnam remained truly communist from 1976-1986, the country eventually needed to reach out
for international support and aid; which resulted in many political and economic reforms. As a
result of these reforms, Vietnam is today one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Yet,

13
Supra note1

37
there are still problematic aspects of the country’s system: income inequality, access to medicine,
and gender equality being some of the biggest.

CONCLUSION

Communism has lost its existence with the passage of time. The only reason for the non-
existence of communism in most of the countries is that it removes the incentives that inspire
people to work harder. The man who works hard will receive the same amount of money as an
idle man gets. Quite possibly, there’s always and probably always will be a struggle for absolute
power or control over the people or population of an area.  Communism is the end of a process,
not a regime or a state of sorts.  Communism is a stateless, classless society that strives only by
the will of the individual and how they relate to the collective.  That is a super simplified version
of it.  Private property would essentially be in the hands of the people, but you could still do
what you wish as long as it did not hurt other people. One might argue that this is all that came
out of Marxist or Communist countries, yet all Marxist countries did not forever suffer the same
fate.  Cuba is a good example of a country that survived quite well as a Marxist nation.  North
Korea actually did quite well economically up until the mid-70s, and only starting to suffer
drastically in the 80s and 90s during the famine. Most of these problems occur from a lack of
education.  My personal opinion would be with the right education, the problems of these in the
future can be prevented. Education would not rid these problems, but the frequency of there
happenings would dissolve for the most part.

38
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS:

1. Communism By Tom Lansford

2. Communism: A Very Short Introduction By Leslie Holmes

3. Communism By Jennifer Fandel

4. Comrades: A History of World Communism By Robert Service

5. Communism: A Primary Source Analysis By Theodore Link

6. The Meaning of Communism by William Johnson Miller

7. The Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

8. Definition of Communism by Gerald David Schine

39
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3. https://www.thebalance.com/communism-characteristics-pros-cons-examples-3305589

4. http://keydifferences.com/difference-between-communism-and-socialism.html

5. http://www.differencebetween.net/business/difference-between-dictatorship-and-

communism-2/

6. http://keydifferences.com/difference-between-capitalism-and-communism.html

7. http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-communism-and-

democracy/#ixzz4zARDy5nS

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communism-and-nationalism/#ixzz4zAVTYluX

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liberalism/#ixzz4zAeSlNhs

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totalitarianism/#ixzz4zAhY8iXL

11. http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_communism.html

12. https://www.thoughtco.com/communist-countries-overview-1435178

13. https://financesonline.com/10-most-recent-current-communist-nations-in-the-world/

40