Full Answer
What is the main idea of communism?
Communism (from Latin communis, 'common, universal') is a philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes and money,.
When did communism become a thing?
Although the term communism did not come into use until the 1840s, societies that may be considered communist were described as long ago as the 4th century BCE, when Plato wrote the Republic. That work described an ideal society in which the governing class devotes itself to serving the interests of the whole community.
What would happen to the state under a communist government?
The state would pass through a phase, often thought of as a socialism, and eventually settle finally on a pure communist society. In a communist society, all private ownership would be abolished, and the means of production would belong to the entire community.
How did communism contribute to Hitler’s rise?
Historians have considered several pivotal factors, including the Great Depression and the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, however, various historians have often accredited communism with a minimal role in contributing to Hitler’s rise, although acknowledging that there was widespread fear throughout Germany of a communist revolution.
How did the idea of communism develop?
In its modern form, communism grew out of the socialist movement in 19th-century Europe. As the Industrial Revolution advanced, socialist critics blamed capitalism for the misery of the proletariat—a new class of urban factory workers who labored under often-hazardous conditions.
What role does communism play in the government?
In a true communist economy, the community makes decisions. In most communist countries, the government makes those decisions on their behalf. This system is called a command economy. The leaders create a plan that outlines their choices, and it's executed with laws, regulations, and directives.
What is communism and who came up with the idea?
In the 1840s, German philosopher and sociologist Karl Marx, who was living in England after fleeing the authorities in the German states, where he was considered a political threat, began publishing books in which he outlined his theories for a variety of communism now known as Marxism.
Which statement best defines a communist government?
Which statement best defines a communist government? A communist government is led by one political party.
What are the benefits of communism?
The Benefits of CommunismPeople are equal. ... Every citizen can keep a job. ... There is an internally stable economic system. ... Strong social communities are established. ... Competition doesn't exist. ... Efficient distribution of resources.
What is communism in simple words?
Definition of communism 1a : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed. b : a theory advocating elimination of private property. 2 capitalized. a : a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Soviet Union.
What is the intention of communism?
communism, political and economic doctrine that aims to replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major means of production (e.g., mines, mills, and factories) and the natural resources of a society.
Who inspired the ideas of modern communism?
Where did modern communism stem from? Inspired by the ideas of Karl Marx. Most European socialists believed they could achieve their goals peacefully through democratic processes.
What is communism?
Communism is a political and economic system that seeks to create a classless society in which the major means of production, such as mines and fac...
Which countries are communist?
At one time about one-third of the world's population lived under communist governments, most notably in the republics of the Soviet Union. Today c...
How is communism different from socialism?
Exactly how communism differs from socialism has long been a matter of debate. Karl Marx used the terms interchangeably. For many, however, the dif...
What are the origins of communism?
Although the term communism did not come into use until the 1840s, societies that may be considered communist were described as long ago as the 4th...
What is communism history?
Since its start a century ago, Communism, a political and economic ideology that calls for a classless, government-controlled society in which everything is shared equally, has seen a series of surges—and declines.
What was the ideology behind the Cold War?
It was the ideology behind one side of the Cold War and saw a symbolic decline with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
When did the Cold War start?
Cold War Begins. • May 9, 1945: The U.S.S.R. declares victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. With Japan’s defeat, Korea becomes divided into the communist North (which the Soviets occupied) and the South (which had been occupied by the United States).
What was the motto of the Bolsheviks?
Its motto, “Workers of the world, unite!” quickly became a rallying cry. • November 7, 1917: With Vladimir Lenin at the helm, the Bolsheviks, ascribing to Marxism, seize power during Russia’s October Revolution and become the first communist government.
When did communism begin?
Although the term communism did not come into use until the 1840s , societies that may be considered communist were described as long ago as the 4th century BCE, when Plato wrote the Republic. That work described an ideal society in which the governing class devotes itself to serving the interests of the whole community.
What were the early visions of communism?
Other early visions of communism drew their inspiration from religion. The first Christians practiced a simple kind of communism—as described in Acts 4:32–37, for example—both as a form of solidarity and as a way of renouncing worldly possessions.
What is communism in economics?
Communism is a political and economic system that seeks to create a classless society in which the major means of production, such as mines and factories, are owned and controlled by the public. There is no government or private property or currency, and the wealth is divided among citizens equally or according to individual need.
What is the meaning of communism?
Full Article. Communism, political and economic doctrine that aims to replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major means of production (e.g., mines, mills, and factories) and the natural resources of a society . Communism is thus a form of socialism —a higher ...
What is the transitional stage of communism?
However, none of these meet the true definition of communism. Instead, they can be said to be in a transitional stage between the end of capitalism and the establishment of communism . Such a phase was outlined by Karl Marx, and it came to include the creation of a dictatorship of the proletariat.
Why did Plato believe that the guardians of the house must live as a large family?
Because private ownership of goods would corrupt their owners by encouraging selfishness, Plato argued, the guardians must live as a large family that shares common ownership not only of material goods but also of spouses and children. Other early visions of communism drew their inspiration from religion.
Where did communism originate?
Since then, communism has been largely, if not exclusively, identified with the form of political and economic organization developed in the Soviet Union and adopted subsequently in the People’s Republic of China and other countries ruled by communist parties.
What were the principles of communism?
Another French thinker, Étienne-Gabriel Morelly also contended that private property was the source of all vice in society and developed the basic principles for a communist society namely, the abolition of property, the right to live and work for all, and the duty of all citizens to work for the common good.
Who believed in communism?
One of the first writers to espouse a belief in the primitive communism of the past was the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated," How happy was the primitive age when the bounties of nature lay in common...They held all nature in common which gave them secure possession of the public wealth.".
What is communism in ancient times?
Communism in antiquity. Further information: Pre-Marxist communism, Primitive communism, and Religious communism. The 1st century BC Roman philosopher Seneca believed that humans had fallen from a Golden Age of primitive communism. Many historical groups have been considered as following forms of communism.
What was the impact of the Soviet Union on the spread of communism during the 20th century?
This was to have a phenomenal impact on the spread of communism during the 20th century as the Soviet Union installed new Marxist–Leninist governments in Central and Eastern Europe following World War II and indirectly backed the ascension of others in the Americas, Asia and Africa.
What is communism history?
The history of communism encompasses a wide variety of ideologies and political movements sharing the core theoretical values of common ownership of wealth, economic enterprise and property. Most modern forms of communism are grounded at least nominally in Marxism, a theory and method conceived by Karl Marx during the 19th century.
What was Restif's idea of eliminating private property?
Restif himself wrote many novels centered around the idea of eliminating private property, first using the term "community of goods" in 1783 and then the term "communism" in 1793, rendered in French as communisme.
When did the Marxist-Leninist movement end?
In 1978, Spain's PCE replaced the historic "Marxist–Leninist" catchphrase with the new slogan of "Marxist, democratic and revolutionary". The movement faded in the 1980s and collapsed with the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989.
What is the core principle of council communism?
The core principle of council communism is that the government and the economy should be managed by Workers' councils which are composed of delegates elected at workplaces and recallable at any moment. As such, council communists oppose state-run authoritarian state socialism and state capitalism.
When did communism become a term?
Since the 1840s , communism has usually been distinguished from socialism. The modern definition and usage of the latter would be settled by the 1860s, becoming the predominant term over the words associationist, co-operative and mutualist which had previously been used as synonyms. Instead, communism fell out of use during this period.
What is Marxism analysis?
Marxism is a method of socioeconomic analysis that frames capitalism through a paradigm of exploitation, analyzes class relations and social conflict using a materialist interpretation of historical development and takes a dialectical view of social transformation. Marxism uses a materialist methodology, referred to by Marx and Engels as the materialist conception of history and now better known as historical materialism, to analyze and critique the development of class society and especially of capitalism as well as the role of class struggles in systemic economic, social and political change. First developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the mid-19th century, it has been the foremost ideology of the communist movement. Marxism does not lay out a blueprint of a communist society per se and it merely presents an analysis that concludes the means by which its implementation will be triggered, distinguishing its fundamental characteristics as based on the derivation of real-life conditions. Marxism considers itself to be the embodiment of scientific socialism, but it does not model an ideal society based on the design of intellectuals, whereby communism is seen as a state of affairs to be established based on any intelligent design. Rather, it is a non- idealist attempt at the understanding of material history and society, whereby communism is the expression of a real movement, with parameters that are derived from actual life.
What was communism in the Industrial Revolution?
As the Industrial Revolution advanced, socialist critics blamed capitalism for the misery of the proletariat — a new class of urban factory workers who labored under often-hazardous conditions.
What is the political party of communism?
Political parties by region. Political ideologies. Politics portal. v. t. e. Communism (from Latin communis, 'common, universal') is a philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership ...
What is libertarian Marxism?
Libertarian Marxism is a broad range of economic and political philosophies that emphasize the anti-authoritarian aspects of Marxism. Early currents of libertarian Marxism, known as left communism, emerged in opposition to Marxism–Leninism and its derivatives such as Stalinism, Trotskyism and Maoism.
What was the role of the Soviet Union in World War II?
Its leading role in World War II saw the emergence of the Soviet Union as an industrialized superpower, with strong influence over Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. The European and Japanese empires were shattered and communist parties played a leading role in many independence movements. Marxist–Leninist governments modeled on the Soviet Union took power with Soviet assistance in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Poland, Hungary and Romania. A Marxist–Leninist government was also created under Josip Broz Tito in Yugoslavia, but Tito's independent policies led to the expulsion of Yugoslavia from the Cominform which had replaced the Comintern and Titoism was branded " deviationist ". Albania also became an independent Marxist–Leninist state after World War II. Communism was seen as a rival of and a threat to western capitalism for most of the 20th century.
What is the strategy of communism?
One strategy is to look at the difference between the ideology of communism and its implementation. Young people often focus on the ideas behind communism—a political and economic system, first envisioned by Karl Marx, which calls for the elimination of private property and a profit-based economy.
How did Stalin's legacy shape the Soviet Union?
Stalin died in 1953, but his legacy shaped the Soviet Union for decades. His policies traumatized and killed millions and also propelled the Soviet Union into conflict with the United States. The Cold War, as it was called, never saw the United States and the Soviet Union launch into head-to-head combat.
Why did women protest in 1917?
Petersburg) in February 1917 to protest food shortages and high bread prices. Over the next few days, hundreds of thousands of people joined the protests and, eventually, military leaders defected to their side.
What countries were under communism?
Others who lived directly under communist regimes in countries like Cambodia, Cuba, and the Soviet Union recall painful experiences of poverty, loss, hunger, and political repression. To them, communism was a failed experiment, not a forward-looking solution.
What percentage of baby boomers are communist?
Just 6 percent of Baby Boomers (ages fifty-six to seventy-four) and only 3 percent of their predecessors, the Silent Generation (ages seventy-five to ninety-three), view communism favorably.
How did the CCP influence China?
Today, the majority of China’s economic growth is driven by private businesses. And while the government is supportive of private enterprise, they maintain close relationships with and exert influence on Chinese corporations .
Who was the leader of the Communist Party in 1919?
Russian communist revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin giving a speech in the Red Square, Moscow on May 25, 1919. Source: Keystone via Getty Images. Share on Facebook.
Where did communism originate?
In the late 19th century, communist philosophy began to develop in Russia. In 1917, the Bolsheviks seized power through the October Revolution.
What was the communist movement?
In 1848 they wrote and published "The Communist Manifesto." They desired to end capitalism feeling that it was the social class system that led to the exploitation of workers. The workers that were exploited would develop class consciousness. Then there would be a fundamental process of class conflict that would be resolved through revolutionary struggle. In this conflict, the proletariat will rise up against the bourgeoisie and establish a communist society. Marx and Engels thought of the proletariat as the individuals with labor power, and the bourgeoisie as those who own the means of production in a capitalist society. The state would pass through a phase, often thought of as a socialism, and eventually settle finally on a pure communist society. In a communist society, all private ownership would be abolished, and the means of production would belong to the entire community. In the communist movement, a popular slogan stated that everyone gave according to their abilities and received according to their needs. Thus, the needs of a society would be put above and beyond the specific needs of an individual.
What did Stalin do to the USSR?
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 the USSR.
What is the proletariat against the bourgeoisie?
In this conflict, the proletariat will rise up against the bourgeoisie and establish a communist society. Marx and Engels thought of the proletariat as the individuals with labor power, and the bourgeoisie as those who own the means of production in a capitalist society.
What are the main ideas of the Communist manifesto?
What Are the Main Ideas in the Communist Manifesto? The main ideas in the Communist Manifesto are that the exploitation of one class by another class is wrong, and the working class needs to come together to take control of the state in order to eliminate class.
Why was the Communist manifesto written?
The Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in order to share the communist beliefs with others. The Communist Manifesto talks about destroying the ownership of private property, as well as the belief that a move towards communism is inevitable, as capitalism is not stable. The manifesto also argues that the only way that ...
How many sections are there in the Communist manifesto?
The government cannot make rules and laws to bring about these changes on their own. The Communist Manifesto contains four sections. The first section looks at the history of communism, as well as the theory. The second section looks at the relationship between the different classes of people.
How did communism affect the middle class?
This was seen most evidently in the government’s inability to assume effective leadership and administer the economic situation in an assertive manner.
How many votes did the Communist Party get in 1930?
This sudden growth in the communist movement was most evident as the 1930 Reichstag elections resulted in the Communist Party receiving almost 4,600,000 votes. And this growing movement, a direct result of the darkening Depression, began to affect politics and society to an extent far exceeding its own numbers.
What was the middle class looking for?
The middle class was desperately searching for a source of leadership and authority to lead them out of the chaos, economic poverty and threat posed by communism in their land; and secure and authoritative leadership was exactly the brand that Hitler and the Nazi Party evoked and were offering the middle class.
How many seats did the Nazi Party have in the 1930s?
In the 1930 Reichstag elections, the Nazi Party attained a total of 107 seats, equivalent to 18.3 per cent of the electoral vote.
Why was Hitler's rise to power important?
Hitler’s rise to power is of significant interest as it contributes to the understanding of the features and factors within a state that can lead to the end of a democracy and the establishment of an authoritarian state , which in this case arguably triggered World War II and caused the death of millions of people.
Was the Great Depression a part of the growth of communism?
Although the growth of communism was pivotal to Hitler’s rise, it is reasonable to conclude that there w Great Depression was more significant. The Depression itself was the basis of growth for communism, as it caused the mass unemployment that the Communist Party used to build support.
Overview
Communism (from Latin communis, 'common, universal') is a far-left philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common or social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership, and can involve the absence of social classes, money, and the state. Communism is a specific, yet distinct, form of socialism. Commun…
Etymology and terminology
Communism derives from the French communisme, which developed out of the Latin roots communis and the suffix isme. Semantically, ccommunis 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. Communism may be interpreted as "the state of being of or for the community"; this semantic constitution has led to numerous usages of the word in its evolution. Prior to becomin…
History
According to Richard Pipes, the idea of a classless, egalitarian society first emerged in Ancient Greece; since the 20th century, Ancient Rome has also been discussed, among them thinkers such as Aristotle, Cicero, Demosthenes, Plato, and Tacitus, with Plato in particular being discussed as a possible communist or socialist theorist, or as the first author to give communism a serious consider…
Theory
Communist political thought and theory are diverse but share several core elements. The dominant forms of communism are based on Marxism or Leninism but non-Marxist versions of communism, such as anarcho-communism and Christian communism, which remain partly influenced by Marxist theories and libertarian and humanist Marxism in particular, also exist. Common element…
Analysis
Emily Morris from University College London wrote that because Karl Marx's writings have inspired many movements, including the Russian Revolution of 1917, communism is "commonly confused with the political and economic system that developed in the Soviet Union" after the revolution. Historian Andrzej Paczkowski summarized communism as "an ideology that seemed clearly the opposite, that was based on the secular desire of humanity to achieve equality and social justice…
See also
• American Communist History
• Anti anti-communism
• Commons-based peer production
• Communism by country
Bibliography
• Adami, Stefano; Marrone, G., eds. (2006). "Communism". Encyclopedia of Italian Literary Studies (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-57958-390-3.
• Daniels, Robert Vincent (1994). A Documentary History of Communism and the World: From Revolution to Collapse. University Press of New England. ISBN 978-0-87451-678-4.
External links
• "Communism" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
• "Communism". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
• Libertarian Communist Library at Libcom.org contains almost 20,000 articles, books, pamphlets, and journals on libertarian communism. Archived 11 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 August 2021. One example being "Marx on the Russian Mir, and misconceptions by Marxists".