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Communism is a political and economic system in which the government owns all property and controls the economy. The idea behind communism is that everyone should share everything equally so there are no rich or poor people. This means that the government decides how resources are shared and distributed instead of individuals owning businesses or land.
Unsafe working conditions in factories during the Industrial Revolution caused two German philosophers, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, to develop a solution to improve worker conditions. They believed that the workers needed to rise and take away control of the factors of production (factories, mines, farms, etc.) from the wealthy owners. This economic system is known as Communism, from the root word “common,” where all property is commonly owned (shared). In Communism, the government would take ownership of all businesses, property, and resources under the short-term leadership of a powerful dictator.
Under Communism, there is no private ownership of anything. According to Marx, the government represents the people's will and ensures everyone is given equal resources such as housing, education, and essential utilities. There would be no need for one person to have more than another. This would create total equality for all people. Marx’s view of the Free Enterprise system as an exploitation of workers, his thoughts on the class conflict between the workers and the owners, and his promotion of Communism are collectively referred to as Marxism.
In practice, however, Communist systems have never fully achieved this goal. Countries that have seen Communist Revolutions have had all-powerful dictators (that were meant to be temporary) take control of the government and then never step down from power. A system with a leader that has total control over the government is known as Totalitarianism.
Historically, Communism has always been paired with Totalitarianism, so our idea of Communism today is an economic and political system in which the government, under the control of one influential leader, has complete control over what is produced, how it is produced, who makes it, how much it costs, and who can have the products. There is no variety in the products produced because there is no competition from different companies.
Finally, the government also controls employment, so creative individuals have little to no opportunity to develop new ideas and products or fund new enterprises. As a result, there is limited economic growth in a Communist system.
Key Principles of Communism
Common Ownership: In a communist society, all goods and resources are owned collectively. No person can own a large piece of land or a successful business. Instead, everything belongs to the community.
Classless Society: Communism aims to create an equal society. There are no classes like the rich or the poor. This is intended to prevent any group of people from having more power or wealth than others.
Central Planning: The government oversees economic planning. This means they decide what to produce, how much to produce, and how to distribute products. The goal is to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.
Historical Context
Communism became popular in the 19th century, especially after Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published "The Communist Manifesto" in 1848. They argued that capitalism, a system in which people own businesses and make profits, leads to inequality and suffering for the working class. Marx believed that a revolution was necessary to create a communist society.
In the 20th century, several countries tried to implement communism, the most notable being the Soviet Union. The Soviet government took control of industries and farms, aiming to create a classless society. However, in practice, many people faced hardships, and the government's strict control led to problems like food shortages and lack of personal freedoms.
Communism Today
Today, very few countries are fully communist. Some countries, like China and Cuba, identify as communist but have also introduced market reforms, allowing some private ownership and capitalism. This blend of systems shows that many nations are experimenting with different ways to balance equality and economic growth.
Communism is an extreme form of socialism where all property is publicly owned, meaning no person can own anything by themselves. Instead, everyone works together and is paid based on their abilities and needs. The idea behind communism is to create a society where everyone is equal, and there are no rich or poor people, which seeks to eliminate poverty and inequality. It promotes unity and cooperation among people, encouraging them to work together for the common good.
However, communism can also suppress individual freedoms and creativity, as the government often controls many aspects of life. Historically, countries that have tried to implement communism have sometimes ended up with authoritarian governments, where a single leader or party has too much power, making it difficult for people to express their thoughts and opinions freely.
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