Communism and socialism are political and economic systems that are related but often confused with each other. Both of them reject capitalism in favor of greater equality and granting economic power to the working class.
Here is how socialism vs. communism compare in theory and in practice.
Key Takeaways
- Communism and socialism are political and economic systems that share certain ideologies, including greater equality in the distribution of income.
- Both are rejections of capitalism, instead giving economic power to the working class.
- One way communism differs from socialism historically is that the former calls for the transfer of power to the working class through revolutionary rather than gradual means.
- Both communism and socialism advocate public control of the means of production, although socialism allows for the continued existence of capitalism in some parts of the economy.
- In reality, communist systems have not been very successful to date.
Communism
At its most basic, communism is a philosophy based on the equitable distribution of wealth among a nation's citizens and common ownership of all property. In particular, it called for the control of the means of production, such as manufacturing and agriculture, by the working class, or proletariat. Its ultimate goal was achieving a classless society, at which point the state (or government) would "wither away."
Contemporary communism is an offshoot of socialism and is sometimes called revolutionary socialism for advocating the takeover of governmental powers by the working class through revolution rather than incremental reform.
Socialism
Socialism encompasses a broader spectrum of political beliefs but shares communism's emphasis on a fair (if not necessarily equal) distribution of wealth among citizens, as well as public ownership of the means of production (though not necessarily all of them). In that sense, socialist programs and policies can exist alongside capitalism in a society, which is less likely in a true communist system. Socialists may or may not see a communist system as their end goal.
History of Communism
Communism in today’s sense dates to the 19th century, particularly with the publication, in 1848, of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The philosophy they laid out is often referred to as Marxism.
"The basic thought running through the Manifesto," Engels wrote in a preface, was that "all history has been a history of class struggles, of struggles between exploited and exploiting, between dominated and dominating classes at various stages of social evolution; that this struggle, however, has now reached a stage where the exploited and oppressed class (the proletariat) can no longer emancipate itself from the class which exploits and oppresses it (the bourgeoisie), without at the same time forever freeing the whole of society from exploitation, oppression, class struggles..."
Engels dismissed socialism as a middle-class movement led by "social quacks who, by all manner of tinkering, professed to redress, without any danger to capital and profit, all sorts of social grievances." Communism, by contrast, was a working-class movement aimed at a total dismantling of the power structure.
Marx and Engels traced the inequality of their day to the Industrial Revolution that began in the 18th century, arguing that the mechanization of production had exacerbated social inequality, dividing society into two classes: those who owned the means of production and possessed wealth (the bourgeoisie) and the workers who were at their economic mercy (the proletariat).
To address the problem, they prescribed a system in which the workers themselves "take the control of industry and of all branches of production," along with the abolition of private property and "the communal ownership of goods."
Communist Revolutions
Following the Russian revolution of 1917, Vladimir Lenin, leader of the victorious Bolsheviks, expanded on the principles of Marxism, as did Lenin's eventual successor, Joseph Stalin. Their ideas evolved into Marxism-Leninism, which rather than seeing the state wither away, called for rule by a single political party. That was the system that governed the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991.
Today, only five countries—China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam—have communist governments, although they may call themselves socialist or have socialist economies. Vietnam, for example, is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In addition, a number of other nations have communist parties that participate in the political process to varying degrees.
One key difference between socialism and communism is the way in which each of these economic philosophies might be realized in a society. Communism would result from a violent overthrow of the status quo, while socialism would result from a gradual internal change.
History of Socialism
Like Marxism, modern socialism arose in the 19th century in response to the Industrial Revolution and what many perceived to be the excesses of capitalism. Instead of the individualism encouraged by a capitalist system, it emphasized the "collective good," or collectivism. It grew out of ideas about redistribution of wealth that developed during the Enlightenment and revolutionary movements of the 18th century.
Another major difference between socialism and communism was that socialism generally advocated a more gradual, even voluntary transfer of power from the wealthy to the working class. Among its leading proponents on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean was Robert Owen, himself a prosperous, Welsh-born owner of textile mills.
Some early socialists, including Owen, often referred to as utopian socialists, created communities based on shared property in Europe, Great Britain, and the United States. Similar ideas influenced the Shakers, a Quaker sect formed in England that established settlements throughout the eastern and Midwestern U.S. starting in the late 18th century.
Following Marx and Engels’ articulation of communist principles in 1848, the socialist movement split into two broad factions. Adherents who still called themselves socialists maintained their gradualist approach, while communists urged more aggressive action.
From the 19th century on, socialist principles have had an influence on public policy in Great Britain, France, and other countries—in particular through laws aimed at protecting workers' rights, including the right to form trade unions and bargain collectively.
Social democracy is a strain of socialism that allows capitalism to exist but attempts to rein in its excesses through regulation while also addressing inequality through government-run social programs. It gained ground after World War II, in part as a response to the economic failures and brutal governance of the Stalin-era Soviet Union. Countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden are examples of social democracies, run according to what is called the Nordic model. Many social welfare programs in the United States and elsewhere might also be seen as social democratic initiatives. Countries that combine both socialism and capitalism in this way are sometimes referred to as having mixed economies.
In some countries where socialism has not taken hold as the official form of government, political parties such as the Social Democratic Party of Germany and the Labour Party in the United Kingdom exert large influence.
Communism and Socialism in the United States
Communism has never gained much of a foothold in the United States, although the Communist Party USA, founded in 1919, has run candidates for public office over the years. As a result of the post-World War II Red Scare in the U.S., Congress passed legislation outlawing the Communist Party in 1954. But much of that law has since been repealed, and the party remains in existence.
Socialism has fared better but has also had its ups and downs. Numerous socialists have been elected to positions as mayors and several have been elected members of Congress. Eugene V. Debs, who was the socialist candidate for president in five elections (1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1920), earned close to 1 million votes on his final try. More recently, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, was a serious contender for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020.
For decades, the terms communist and socialist have been used in the U.S. to attack political opponents who are often neither. Similarly, countless government programs and legislative proposals have been denounced as socialist or communist by those who oppose them for one reason or another. Both of those traditions continue to this day.
Who Were the First Modern Socialists?
Two of the most famous early socialist thinkers were Robert Owen and Henri de Saint-Simon. Owen was a Welsh manufacturer who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries and was an influential advocate of utopian socialism. He was involved in community experiments on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Saint-Simon, whose life also straddled the 18th and 19th centuries, was born into a poor aristocratic French family. He became a social theorist and was one of the founders of Christian socialism, a mid-19th-century movement of Christian activists who sought to create social programs to address the plight of the poor.
What Is Democratic Socialism?
It is a version of socialism wherein the economy is socialist—production and wealth are generally collectively owned—but the government is a democracy. Democratic socialism is opposed to authoritarian forms of governance, and democratic socialists believe that government should help provide basic needs to all of a country's citizens, such as healthcare and education, for free or at a reduced cost.
Is Communism a Form of Socialism?
While related, socialism and capitalism are different, Socialism, for instance, seeks to bring equality to the means of production to the working class. Communism takes this a step further and revolutionizes both aspects of production and consumption. In that respect, communism can be viewed as a more extreme version of socialism.
What is the Difference Between Socialism and Capitalism?
In a nutshell, these two economic systems differ in their objectives as well as their structures of ownership and production. In a capitalist economy, also known as a free-market or market economy, private individuals and enterprises own the means of production and the right to profit from them. By contrast, in a socialist economy, the government owns and controls the means of production, and public officials regulate trade, the flow of capital, and other resources. Some countries have elements of both in what's known as a mixed economy.
FAQs
What are the main differences and similarities between socialism and communism? ›
Both communism and socialism seek to establish an equal society through distribution of resources. Both systems, in their ideal theoretical forms, utilize a democratic or participative form of decision making. The key difference between socialism and communism is how resources are distributed and property held.
What is the difference between communism and socialism for kids? ›Communism is often thought of as a more intense version of socialism, but the major difference is that in communism the government owns everything and is responsible for providing equally for all; but, like socialism, every citizen is still promised a home, food, clothes, medical care, and education.
What are the differences between communism socialism and capitalism? ›In a nutshell, communism advocates complete governmental control over all means of production and resources; socialism practices flexible forms of state control; and capitalism advocates a free economy and free-market without state intervention.
What is the difference between communism and socialism Brainly? ›Answer. Socialism is an economic system while communism is both an economic and political system. ... Socialists can own personal properties while communists can not.
What is the differences between socialism and communism? ›The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state (rather than individual citizens); under socialism, all citizens share equally in economic resources as allocated by a democratically-elected government.
What is a major difference between socialism and communism quizlet? ›Under communism, the government assumes total management of the economy, whereas under socialism, the government does not try to manage the overall economy.
What is the difference between socialism and capitalism? ›Capitalism is based on individual initiative and favors market mechanisms over government intervention, while socialism is based on government planning and limitations on private control of resources.
What is a example of socialism? ›Zambia's healthcare is universal and, therefore, an example of socialism. Turkmenistan is a strong example of socialism with energy subsidized by the government, many housing subsidies and an economy that is largely state-run.
What is a simple definition of socialism? ›Socialism is, broadly speaking, a political and economic system in which property and the means of production are owned in common, typically controlled by the state or government. Socialism is based on the idea that common or public ownership of resources and means of production leads to a more equal society.
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 are three major differences between capitalism and socialism? ›
| Basis for Comparison | Capitalism | Socialism |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Principle of Individual Rights | Principle of Equality |
| Advocates | Innovation and individual goals | Equality and fairness in society |
| Means of Production | Privately owned | Socially owned |
| Prices | Determined by the market forces | Determined by the Government |
Communism is a political and economic ideology that positions itself in opposition to liberal democracy and capitalism, advocating instead for a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally and private property is nonexistent or severely curtailed.
What are the 5 main characteristics of socialism? ›- Public Ownership. It has the public ownership of all the means of production and distribution. ...
- Planned Economy. ...
- Classless Society. ...
- State is Responsible for Basic Necessities of Life. ...
- Socialism Provides Equal Opportunity. ...
- Non-existence of Competition and Limited Choice of Consumer Products. ...
- Pricing Mechanism.
What was the basic idea of socialism? Answer: Socialists were against private property, and saw it as the root of all social ills of the time.
Who created socialism? ›Marx and Engels developed a body of ideas which they called scientific socialism, more commonly called Marxism. Marxism comprised a theory of history (historical materialism), a critique of political economy, as well as a political, and philosophical theory.
What do socialism and communism have in common? ›Both socialism and communism are essentially economic philosophies advocating public rather than private ownership, especially of the means of production, distribution and exchange of goods (i.e., making money) in a society.
Is socialism a type of communism? ›Communism is usually distinguished from socialism since the 1840s. The modern definition and usage of socialism settled by the 1860s, becoming the predominant term among the group of words associationist, co-operative and mutualist which had previously been used as synonyms.
What countries are communist or socialist? ›| Country | Since | Party |
|---|---|---|
| People's Republic of China | 1 October 1949 | Chinese Communist Party |
| Republic of Cuba | 16 April 1961 | Communist Party of Cuba |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2 December 1975 | Lao People's Revolutionary Party |
| Socialist Republic of Vietnam | 2 September 1945 | Communist Party of Vietnam |
In terms of production, what best describes the difference between capitalism and socialism? Capitalism is a system in which goods are made by private businesses, but socialism stresses government control over production.
What is socialism and communism quizlet? ›Socialism. Economic system where the government limits private businesses and it tries to redistribute the wealth. Communism. A economic system where all the property and businesses are owned and controlled by the state.
How are socialism and communism similar yet different quizlet? ›
How are the economic decisions made in a command economy? How are socialism and communism similar yet different? They are similar because they both involve government control of the economy. They are different because socialism can survive in a democracy.
Which is best socialism or capitalism? ›The verdict is in, and contrary to what socialists say, capitalism, with all its warts, is the preferred economic system to bring the masses out of poverty and to make them productive citizens in our country and in countries around the world. Remember this: Capitalism rewards merit, socialism rewards mediocrity.
What is opposite of socialism? ›The opposite of socialism is capitalism.
What are the similarities between communism and capitalism? ›Both communism and capitalism are a form of social organization, that is associated with trade and industry in the economy and discusses the ownership of property. As every coin has two aspects, a good and a bad, so as with the case of communism and capitalism.
Is China a socialist country? ›Du and Xu concluded that China is not a market socialist economy, but an unstable form of capitalism.
What are examples of communism today? ›Today communism is the official form of government in only five countries: China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam.
Which countries are most socialist? ›- China: The People's Republic of China is one of the foremost socialist states. ...
- Russia: Just like China, Russia was a country strictly Socialist in nature. ...
- Cuba: The Republic of Cuba is a core Socialist State. ...
- North Korea: North Korea is another core Socialist State.
Socialism is a way to organize a society. It deals mostly with the economy, or the part of a society that creates wealth. The goal of socialism is to spread wealth more evenly and to treat all people fairly.
What country is an example of socialism? ›Countries that have constitutional references to socialism and are thus considered to be socialist states include: Bangladesh (The People's Republic of Bangladesh), Eritrea (State of Eritrea), Guyana (Co-operative Republic of Guyana), India (Republic of India), Nepal (Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal), Nicaragua ( ...
What is the goal of socialism? ›A primary goal of socialism is social equality and a distribution of wealth based on one's contribution to society, and an economic arrangement that would serve the interests of society as a whole. Socialism in Europe: Europe has far more socialist democracies than the United States.
Who started communism? ›
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 is the opposite of communism? ›Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in an intense rivalry.
Does communism have a government? ›Communist Revolutions
Today, only five countries—China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam—have communist governments, although they may call themselves socialist or have socialist economies.
What is the difference between Capitalism and Socialism? - YouTube
What are the benefits of socialism? ›Advantages of Socialism
According to the socialistic system, each person is guaranteed access to basic goods, even those who are not able to contribute. As a result, the system helps to minimize poverty levels in the society.
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.
What is the main principle of communism? ›The principles of Communism rely on the fact that the Bourgeoisie control land and wealth that they did not earn, and instead got off the labor of workers, or the Proletariat. Communists believe that giving power to the laborers and abolishing the systems of wealth held by the Bourgeoisie creates a more equal society.
What is a sentence for communism? ›How to use Communism in a sentence. They aimed at communism in all things. Communism can lead to a loss of personal freedoms and individualism. There are no longer any traces of communism, and the colony's property is actually held by an organization of the local Roman Catholic church.
How does communism benefit society? ›Communist ideology supports widespread universal social welfare. Improvements in public health and education, provision of child care, provision of state-directed social services, and provision of social benefits will, theoretically, help to raise labor productivity and advance a society in its development.
What is the main similarity between communism and socialism? ›Both socialism and communism are essentially economic philosophies advocating public rather than private ownership, especially of the means of production, distribution and exchange of goods (i.e., making money) in a society.
What are the similarities and differences between socialism and capitalism? ›
Capitalism is based on individual initiative and favors market mechanisms over government intervention, while socialism is based on government planning and limitations on private control of resources.
What are the similarities between communism and capitalism? ›Both communism and capitalism are a form of social organization, that is associated with trade and industry in the economy and discusses the ownership of property. As every coin has two aspects, a good and a bad, so as with the case of communism and capitalism.
What are the similarities between capitalism and socialism? ›The basic factor that makes capitalism and socialism similar is the fact that they consider labor and capital as the primary forces of an economy. They both agree with the fact that the world is endowed with diverse natural resources that human labor activates.
What is a example of socialism? ›Zambia's healthcare is universal and, therefore, an example of socialism. Turkmenistan is a strong example of socialism with energy subsidized by the government, many housing subsidies and an economy that is largely state-run.
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.
| Country | Since | Party |
|---|---|---|
| People's Republic of China | 1 October 1949 | Chinese Communist Party |
| Republic of Cuba | 16 April 1961 | Communist Party of Cuba |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2 December 1975 | Lao People's Revolutionary Party |
| Socialist Republic of Vietnam | 2 September 1945 | Communist Party of Vietnam |
Competition between multiple businesses is an integral part of a Capitalist Economy. In a Socialist Economy, there is no competitor to the government. The distribution of income is unequal in a Capitalist Economy. The distribution of income is more or less equal in a Socialist Economy.
What are three major differences between capitalism and socialism? ›| Basis for Comparison | Capitalism | Socialism |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Principle of Individual Rights | Principle of Equality |
| Advocates | Innovation and individual goals | Equality and fairness in society |
| Means of Production | Privately owned | Socially owned |
| Prices | Determined by the market forces | Determined by the Government |
Terms in this set (10)
What is the main difference between how capitalists and socialists view profits? Capitalists believe that profits are beneficial and socialists believe that profits are immortal.
Antonyms & Near Antonyms for Communism. democracy, self-governance, self-government, self-rule.
What are advantages of communism? ›
Communist ideology supports widespread universal social welfare. Improvements in public health and education, provision of child care, provision of state-directed social services, and provision of social benefits will, theoretically, help to raise labor productivity and advance a society in its development.
What are the good things about communism? ›- Everyone gets the same chance. ...
- Almost everyone is employed. ...
- Almost everyone is educated. ...
- Agriculture and manufacturing are emphasized. ...
- Individual rights are restricted. ...
- There is no unauthorized opposition. ...
- People are kept in ignorance. ...
- Violence tends to be the only option for dissent.
Communism is a political and economic ideology that positions itself in opposition to liberal democracy and capitalism, advocating instead for a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally and private property is nonexistent or severely curtailed.
What is opposite of socialism? ›The opposite of socialism is capitalism.
Is China a socialist country? ›Du and Xu concluded that China is not a market socialist economy, but an unstable form of capitalism.