Communism

Introduction

• Political and economical ideology that aims to establish a society based on a socioeconomic order of common ownership of resources and advocates the absence of all forms of social class, money and state.
• Based on Karl Marx's ideas outlined in "The Communist Manifesto."

Types of Communism

• Marxism: Perspective with differing sub-perspectives, critiquing capitalist society.
• Marxism-Leninism: Emerged in the 1920s, associated with Joseph Stalin, building on Marx and Lenin's ideas, serving as the foundation for Soviet Communism.
• Stalinism: Joseph Stalin's vision of Communism, associated with a personality cult, secret police, and totalitarianism.
• Trotskyism: Supported by Leon Trotsky, emphasising international proletarian revolution and true dictatorship.
• Luxemburgism: Based on Rosa Luxemburg's texts, diverging from Lenin and Trotsky on democratic centralism, emphasising people's involvement and opposing authoritarianism.
• Maoism: Derived from Mao Zedong's teachings, practised in the People's Republic of China, introducing ideas like Social-Imperialism, mass line, people's war, and new democracy.

Positive Impact of Communism

• Equality and Social Justice: Communism aims to create a classless society, promoting equality and social justice by redistributing wealth and resources more equitably among all members of society.
• Collective Ownership and Control: Means of production is owned and controlled by the community, ensuring that everyone has access to basic necessities and reduced disparities in wealth and power.
• Elimination of Exploitation: Communism seeks to create a system where workers have more control over their labor and the fruits of their labor.

Negative Impact of Communism

• Suppression of individual freedoms: Limitations on freedom of speech, expression, and dissent under communist regimes curtail personal liberties.
• Economic inefficiencies: Centralized planning and state control hinder innovation, productivity, and market mechanisms, leading to reduced economic efficiency.
• Lack of political pluralism: Communist systems stifle political competition, restrict multiple parties, and suppress diverse viewpoints, limiting political pluralism.
• Human rights violations: Communist regimes associated with abuses like repression, censorship, forced labor, and curtailed civil liberties.
• Economic equality at the expense of individual prosperity: Emphasis on economic equality can hinder personal prosperity and incentives for individual achievements in favor of collective goals.