Comparison Of Communism And Socialism

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Comparison of Communism and Socialism
Introduction:
Communism and Socialism which are regarded as the two different shades of Marxism are often used inter-changeably. Both the systems are opposed to the capitalistic system and share some similarities as well as differences in their approaches. The theory of Communism developed by German philosopher Karl Marx, is both a political and an economic system that is based on the collective ownership of the production of goods. The word Communism has been originated from a Latin word meaning “common”. Communism rejects individual ownership of industry, and promotes the manufacture of goods in order to satisfy the basic needs of the economy and the people. In communist societies, production for individual …show more content…

A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of most property in common which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Key Proponents Karl Marx, Fredrik Engels, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky. Robert Owen, Pierre Leroux, Karl Marx, Fredrick Engels, John Stuart Mill, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Thorstein Veblen, Emma Goldman.
Concept of State According to Marxian point of view, communism regards state as a negative institution that has been instrumental in the exploitation of the oppressed classes at the hands of the wealthy classes. Thus, communism wants to abolish state structure after attaining the goal of classless society. On the other hand, the exponents of socialism regard state as a positive institution which can effectively implement the economic principles of socialism. They believe that the rights of the wage-earners are better safeguarded when all economic activities are carried out within the rules and regulations enacted by the …show more content…

The communists believe that the first step while establishing the communist state should be that the working class with workers’ dictatorship must replace the capitalist dictatorship. The socialist political system can coexist with different political systems. Socialists believe that it is possible to make the transition from capitalism to socialism without a basic change in the character of the state. They believe that there is no need for the working class in power to smash the old capitalist state apparatus and set up its own. The march to socialism can be made step by step within the framework of the democratic forms of the capitalist