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<!-- [[Image:630px-Communist star.svg.png|thumb|150px|right]] --> | <!-- [[Image:630px-Communist star.svg.png|thumb|150px|right]] --> | ||
''"The theory of the Communism may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."'' | ''"The theory of the Communism may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."'' | ||
''- Karl Marx'' | ''- Karl Marx'' | ||
'''Communism''' refers to a theoretical [[stateless]] system of social organization and a political movement based on common ownership of the [[means of production]]. As a political movement, Communists have often sought to establish a global [[classless society]] by gaining control of the [[state]] and confiscating all productive [[private property]]. | '''Communism''' refers to a theoretical [[stateless]] system of social organization and a political movement based on common ownership of the [[means of production]]. As a political movement, Communists have often sought to establish a global [[classless society]] by gaining control of the [[state]] and confiscating all productive [[private property]]. Communism is generally considered the opposite of [[capitalism]]. | ||
Communist rule is characterized by large scale starvation as a tool of policy implementation, sending political opponents to [ | Communist rule is characterized by large scale starvation as a tool of policy implementation, sending political opponents to [https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005263 concentration camps], [http://www.dictionary.com/browse/genocide genocide], [http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/mass%20execution mass executions], denial of [https://freeenterprisecenter.net/free-enterprise-system-definition-and-characteristics individual rights] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_rights_(economics) property rights], and a very weak economy or gradually weakening economy. | ||
==Schools of communism== | ==Schools of communism== | ||
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*'''Leninism:''' Leninism refers to the political and economic theories of Lenin and his interpretations of Marxist theory. The term Leninism entered common usage in 1922. Two years later, in July 1924, at the fifth congress of the Communist International (Comintern), Soviet politician Grigory Zinoviev popularized Leninism as a Marxist ideological term denoting what Communists viewed as "revolutionary". | *'''Leninism:''' Leninism refers to the political and economic theories of Lenin and his interpretations of Marxist theory. The term Leninism entered common usage in 1922. Two years later, in July 1924, at the fifth congress of the Communist International (Comintern), Soviet politician Grigory Zinoviev popularized Leninism as a Marxist ideological term denoting what Communists viewed as "revolutionary". | ||
*'''Marxism-Leninism:''' Marxism-Leninism is a version of communism adopted by all former and contemporary Communist states and Communist parties. It emerged as the mainstream tendency among the Communist parties in the 1920s and was adopted as the ideological foundation of the Communist International during Stalin's era. The ideology of Marxism-Leninism was formulated by Stalin in his book ''The questions of Leninism''.<ref>?. ????????, ???? ? ??????????, ????? ???, 1989, ? 3, ?. 59 (in Russian)</ref> | *'''Marxism-Leninism:''' Marxism-Leninism is a version of communism adopted by all former and contemporary Communist states and Communist parties. It emerged as the mainstream tendency among the Communist parties in the 1920s and was adopted as the ideological foundation of the Communist International during Stalin's era. The ideology of Marxism-Leninism was formulated by Stalin in his book ''The questions of Leninism''.<ref>?. ????????, ???? ? ??????????, ????? ???, 1989, ? 3, ?. 59 (in Russian)</ref> | ||
*'''Stalinism:''' Stalinism refers to "the political, economic, and social principles and policies associated with Stalin; especially : the theory and practice of communism developed by Stalin from Marxism-Leninism and marked especially by rigid authoritarianism, widespread use of terror, and often emphasis on Russian nationalism".<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalinists stalinists] Merriam-Webster Online</ref> Stalin never used the term Stalinist to describe his political orientation, he called himself Marxist-Leninist. The term "Stalinism" was coined by Walter Duranty, the [[Moscow]] correspondent of the ''[[New York Times]]'' in the 1930s,<ref>C. W. E. Bigsby, ''The Cambridge Companion to modern American Culture'', Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 256, ISBN 9780521841320.</ref> and is in use since the 1930s.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements">''Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: A to F'', Volume 1, Taylor & Francis, 2003, p. 2178, ISBN 9780415939218</ref> A central tenet of Stalinism is the thesis of ''"Socialism in One Country"'', put forth by Stalin, which believed that given the failures of Communist takeover in European countries from 1917-1921 except their own (Russia), the idea that an underdeveloped and agrarian country like Russia would be able to build socialism in the more industrialized parts of Europe, should be abandoned. According to the Stalinist concept of "Socialism in One Country", the Soviet Union should begin to strengthen itself internally. Characteristics of Stalinism include cult of personality, elimination of political rivals, centralized state control over all aspects of life including literature and the arts, use of terror tactics like show trials, a network of labor camps (Gulag), denunciations etc.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements"/> | *'''Stalinism:''' Stalinism refers to "the political, economic, and social principles and policies associated with Stalin; especially : the theory and practice of communism developed by Stalin from Marxism-Leninism and marked especially by rigid authoritarianism, widespread use of terror, and often emphasis on Russian nationalism".<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalinists stalinists] Merriam-Webster Online</ref> Stalin never used the term Stalinist to describe his political orientation, he called himself Marxist-Leninist. The term "Stalinism" was coined by Walter Duranty, the [[Moscow]] correspondent of the ''[[New York Times]]'' in the 1930s,<ref>C. W. E. Bigsby, ''The Cambridge Companion to modern American Culture'', Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 256, ISBN 9780521841320.</ref> and is in use since the 1930s.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements">''Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: A to F'', Volume 1, Taylor & Francis, 2003, p. 2178, ISBN 9780415939218</ref> A central tenet of Stalinism is the thesis of ''"Socialism in One Country"'', put forth by Stalin, which believed that given the failures of Communist takeover in European countries from 1917-1921 except their own (Russia), the idea that an underdeveloped and agrarian country like Russia would be able to build socialism in the more industrialized parts of Europe, should be abandoned. According to the Stalinist concept of "Socialism in One Country", the Soviet Union should begin to strengthen itself internally. Characteristics of Stalinism include cult of personality, elimination of political rivals, centralized state control over all aspects of life including literature and the arts, use of terror tactics like show trials, a network of labor camps (Gulag), denunciations etc.<ref name="Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements" /> | ||
*'''Trotskyism:''' Trotskyism is the theory advocated by [[Leon Trotsky]]. After Lenin's death a conflict ensured between Stalin and Trotsky over state power. In the quest for state power, Trotsky and Stalin created a "faux ideological battlefield".<ref name="Our Stalin and Trotsky">Jim Fedako, [http://blog.mises.org/archives/008918.asp Our Stalin and Trotsky] Mises Economics Blog</ref> Tortsky labeled the Stalinist USSR as "Degenerated workers' state" and Stalin described Trotsky as a "fascist". The core belief of Trotskyism is the theory of ''"Permanent Revolution"'' which was antagonistic to the theory of ''"Socialism in One Country"''. According to Trotsky's theory of "permanent revolution", a new "workers' state", as he described it, would not be able to hold out against the pressures of the rival capitalist world, so socialist seizure of state power should quickly take place in other countries as well. Communist parties which adhere to Trotsky's ideas describe themselves as "Trotskyist" while Communist parties which adhere to Stalin's ideas describe themselves as "Marxist-Leninist". The second group forms the majority among the Communists. | *'''Trotskyism:''' Trotskyism is the theory advocated by [[Leon Trotsky]]. After Lenin's death a conflict ensured between Stalin and Trotsky over state power. In the quest for state power, Trotsky and Stalin created a "faux ideological battlefield".<ref name="Our Stalin and Trotsky">Jim Fedako, [http://blog.mises.org/archives/008918.asp Our Stalin and Trotsky] Mises Economics Blog</ref> Tortsky labeled the Stalinist USSR as "Degenerated workers' state" and Stalin described Trotsky as a "fascist". The core belief of Trotskyism is the theory of ''"Permanent Revolution"'' which was antagonistic to the theory of ''"Socialism in One Country"''. According to Trotsky's theory of "permanent revolution", a new "workers' state", as he described it, would not be able to hold out against the pressures of the rival capitalist world, so socialist seizure of state power should quickly take place in other countries as well. Communist parties which adhere to Trotsky's ideas describe themselves as "Trotskyist" while Communist parties which adhere to Stalin's ideas describe themselves as "Marxist-Leninist". The second group forms the majority among the Communists. | ||
*'''Maoism:''' Maoism is the Marxist-Leninist trend of Communism established by [[Mao Zedong]]. Mao emphazized the role of the peasantry in a Communist revolution. The core belief of Maoism is ''"People's war''", a concept according to which the Communist rebels, usually consisting of the peasants, will engage in guerrilla war tactics to surround the cities from the countryside for purpose of capturing state power. | *'''Maoism:''' Maoism is the Marxist-Leninist trend of Communism established by [[Mao Zedong]]. Mao emphazized the role of the peasantry in a Communist revolution. The core belief of Maoism is ''"People's war''", a concept according to which the Communist rebels, usually consisting of the peasants, will engage in guerrilla war tactics to surround the cities from the countryside for purpose of capturing state power. | ||
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One thing should be remembered that despite so many different names, all schools of communism resemble at one point, i.e. [[Anti-capitalism|opposition of capitalism]], property rights and individual freedom. Some communists fought among themselves for power. For example, Trotsky opposed Stalin, but that does not justify Trotsky as a legitimate opposition to Stalin. Trotsky opposed Stalin to capture state power, not for the sake of liberty. According to Mises, | One thing should be remembered that despite so many different names, all schools of communism resemble at one point, i.e. [[Anti-capitalism|opposition of capitalism]], property rights and individual freedom. Some communists fought among themselves for power. For example, Trotsky opposed Stalin, but that does not justify Trotsky as a legitimate opposition to Stalin. Trotsky opposed Stalin to capture state power, not for the sake of liberty. According to Mises, | ||
:''"The truth is that Trotsky found only one fault with Stalin: that he, Stalin, was the dictator and not himself, Trotsky. In their feud they both were right. Stalin was right in maintaining that his regime was the embodiment of socialist principles. Trotsky was right in asserting that Stalin’s regime had made Russia a hell."''<ref name="Our Stalin and Trotsky"/> | :''"The truth is that Trotsky found only one fault with Stalin: that he, Stalin, was the dictator and not himself, Trotsky. In their feud they both were right. Stalin was right in maintaining that his regime was the embodiment of socialist principles. Trotsky was right in asserting that Stalin’s regime had made Russia a hell."''<ref name="Our Stalin and Trotsky" /> | ||
Hoxhaism, Castroism, Juche and Songun are just regional variations of Stalinism. Luxemburgism and Council communism, despite their opposition to Lenin and Stalin, should not be equated with liberty because both ideas are collectivist ideas in which the individual is subordinate to the community, the individual has no right to lead life in his/her own way. Both Luxemburgism and Council communism advocate violent seizure of private property. | Hoxhaism, Castroism, Juche and Songun are just regional variations of Stalinism. Luxemburgism and Council communism, despite their opposition to Lenin and Stalin, should not be equated with liberty because both ideas are collectivist ideas in which the individual is subordinate to the community, the individual has no right to lead life in his/her own way. Both Luxemburgism and Council communism advocate violent seizure of private property. | ||
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|source = — [[Murray N. Rothbard]] on anarcho-commuism}} | |source = — [[Murray N. Rothbard]] on anarcho-commuism}} | ||
Anarcho-communism is one of the two ideologies adopted as guiding theoretical positions by the New Leftists, the other being Marxism-Leninism. Many leftists, who were disillusioned with Marxism-Leninism by the bureaucratic and statist tyranny of Stalinist, were attracted to anarcho-communism.<ref name="Death Wish of the Anarcho-Communists">[[Murray N. Rothbard]], [http://mises.org/story/2197 | Anarcho-communism is one of the two ideologies adopted as guiding theoretical positions by the New Leftists, the other being Marxism-Leninism. Many leftists, who were disillusioned with Marxism-Leninism by the bureaucratic and statist tyranny of Stalinist, were attracted to anarcho-communism.<ref name="Death Wish of the Anarcho-Communists">[[Murray N. Rothbard]], [http://mises.org/story/2197 The Death Wish of the Anarcho-Communists], ''[[The Libertarian Forum]]'', January 1, 1970.</ref> | ||
Anarcho-communism can be described as the theoretically form of communism, i.e. focusing on the hypothetical classless and stateless society instead of a Soviet-style government. Now the question rises, is anarcho-communism logical? Anarcho-communists wrongly beilive that the state is the protector of private property. The anti-statism of the anarcho-communists come from their hatred for private property. Since they view the state as protector of property, they believe "the only route toward abolition of property is by destruction of the State apparatus."<ref name="Death Wish of the Anarcho-Communists"/> | Anarcho-communism can be described as the theoretically form of communism, i.e. focusing on the hypothetical classless and stateless society instead of a Soviet-style government. Now the question rises, is anarcho-communism logical? Anarcho-communists wrongly beilive that the state is the protector of private property. The anti-statism of the anarcho-communists come from their hatred for private property. Since they view the state as protector of property, they believe "the only route toward abolition of property is by destruction of the State apparatus."<ref name="Death Wish of the Anarcho-Communists" /> | ||
The difference of the anarcho-communists from the Marxist is that Marxists believe in a transitional phase between capitalist system and "communist society", which they describe as the "dictatorship of the proletariat", while on the other hand, anarchist-communists such as Peter Kropotkin theorized an immediate transition to a classless society without going through any transitory phase. This marks the difference between anarcho-communism and Marxist school of communism. | The difference of the anarcho-communists from the Marxist is that Marxists believe in a transitional phase between capitalist system and "communist society", which they describe as the "dictatorship of the proletariat", while on the other hand, anarchist-communists such as Peter Kropotkin theorized an immediate transition to a classless society without going through any transitory phase. This marks the difference between anarcho-communism and Marxist school of communism. | ||
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===Establishment of the first Communist state=== | ===Establishment of the first Communist state=== | ||
One branch of the RSDLP, commonly known as the [[Bolshevik]]s and headed by [[Vladimir Lenin]], toppled the [[Russian Provisional Government]] in the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]]. In 1918, this party changed its name to the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU), thus establishing the contemporary distinction between communism and socialism. | One branch of the RSDLP, commonly known as the [[Bolshevik]]s and headed by [[Vladimir Lenin]], toppled the [[Russian Provisional Government]] in the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]]. In 1918, this party changed its name to the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU), thus establishing the contemporary distinction between communism and socialism. | ||
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After the success of the [[October Revolution]] in Russia, many socialist parties in other countries became communist parties, owing allegiance of varying degrees to the CPSU. | After the success of the [[October Revolution]] in Russia, many socialist parties in other countries became communist parties, owing allegiance of varying degrees to the CPSU. | ||
Coalition governments, which included Communists, were established in most [[Eastern European]] countries after the end of the [[World War II]]. But the Communists, with active Soviet help, destabilized existing governments and established Communist regimes.<ref name=Rao>[B. V. Rao, ''History of Modern Europe Ad 1789–2002: A.D. 1789–2002'', Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 280. ISBN 1932705562.</ref> Communist regimes were formed in the Eastern European countries of [[Poland]], [[Yugoslavia]], [[Albania]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]], [[Hungary]], [[Czechoslovakia]], and [[East Germany]]. These countries became satellite states of the Soviet Union<ref name=Rao/> and formed the [[Eastern Block]].<ref>[http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15577511 The end of history, revisited], ''[[The Economist]]'', February 25, 2010.</ref> The Communists in the Eastern Block, after gaining control of the police, press and the radio, used it to spread [[Communist propaganda]].<ref name=Rao/> | Coalition governments, which included Communists, were established in most [[Eastern European]] countries after the end of the [[World War II]]. But the Communists, with active Soviet help, destabilized existing governments and established Communist regimes.<ref name="Rao">[B. V. Rao, ''History of Modern Europe Ad 1789–2002: A.D. 1789–2002'', Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 280. ISBN 1932705562.</ref> Communist regimes were formed in the Eastern European countries of [[Poland]], [[Yugoslavia]], [[Albania]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]], [[Hungary]], [[Czechoslovakia]], and [[East Germany]]. These countries became satellite states of the Soviet Union<ref name="Rao" /> and formed the [[Eastern Block]].<ref>[http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15577511 The end of history, revisited], ''[[The Economist]]'', February 25, 2010.</ref> The Communists in the Eastern Block, after gaining control of the police, press and the radio, used it to spread [[Communist propaganda]].<ref name="Rao" /> | ||
In 1949 the Communists in China, led by [[Mao Zedong]], came to power and established the [[People's Republic of China]]. Among the other countries in the [[Third World]] that adopted a Communist form of government at some point were [[Cuba]], [[North Korea]], [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], [[Angola]], and [[Mozambique]]. By the early 1980s, almost one-third of the world's population lived under Communist states. | In 1949 the Communists in China, led by [[Mao Zedong]], came to power and established the [[People's Republic of China]]. Among the other countries in the [[Third World]] that adopted a Communist form of government at some point were [[Cuba]], [[North Korea]], [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], [[Angola]], and [[Mozambique]]. By the early 1980s, almost one-third of the world's population lived under Communist states. | ||
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==Characteristics of Communism in practice== | ==Characteristics of Communism in practice== | ||
===Mass killings and genocide=== | ===Mass killings and genocide=== | ||
Mass killings occurred in the nations where Communist regimes were established. According to [[Rudolph Joseph Rummel]], the killings done by Communist regimes are the result of "the marriage of an absolutist ideology [Marxism] with absolute power."<ref>{{cite book |title=Pioneers of genocide studies |last=Totten |first=Samuel |authorlink= |coauthors=Steven L. Jacobs |year=2002 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |location= |isbn=0765801515 |page=168}}</ref> | Mass killings occurred in the nations where Communist regimes were established. According to [[Rudolph Joseph Rummel]], the killings done by Communist regimes are the result of "the marriage of an absolutist ideology [Marxism] with absolute power."<ref>{{cite book |title=Pioneers of genocide studies |last=Totten |first=Samuel |authorlink= |coauthors=Steven L. Jacobs |year=2002 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |location= |isbn=0765801515 |page=168}}</ref> | ||
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*[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx/ Karl Marx] Biography of Marx in the ''[[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'' | *[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx/ Karl Marx] Biography of Marx in the ''[[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'' | ||
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/communism Communism] [[Answers.com]] | *[http://www.answers.com/topic/communism Communism] [[Answers.com]] | ||
*[https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005263 Concentration Camps, 1933-1939] [https://www.ushmm.org/ United States Holocaust Memorial Museum] | |||
*[http://www.dictionary.com/browse/genocide Genocide] [https://www.dictionary.com Dictionary.com] | |||
*[http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/mass%20execution Mass Execution] [http://www.thesaurus.com Thesaurus.com] | |||
*[https://freeenterprisecenter.net/free-enterprise-system-definition-and-characteristics Free Enterprise System Definition and Characteristics] [https://freeenterprisecenter.net Global Free Enterprise Center] | |||
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_rights_(economics) Property Rights (Economics)] [https://en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia] | |||
{{Public Domain}} | {{Public Domain}} | ||
[[Category:Economics]] | [[Category:Economics]] | ||