Comunism Versus Communism
Communism has many definitions, some more valid than others. One school of thought defines it as a system of mutual aid based upon collectivism. It is similar to other collectivist philosophies like Communism, Fascism, and National Socialism. However, other socialist-leaning philosophies also advocate communism, but they typically advocate free-market capitalism.
Communism, by its strictest definition, is an ideology, a political theory, or a system of organized collectivism that privileges the working class and leaves all other aspects of society out of sight or out of control. Communism is also a philosophy, a political theory, or a system of organized collectivism that privileges the working class and leaves all other aspects of society out of sight or out of control. Communism is often defined as a state when used in conjunction with another. It can also be used to describe a set of beliefs or practices held by an ethnic group or a cultural group that are fundamentally collectivist. Communism as a theory can also be used to describe a system of government where the state owns the wealth instead of citizens owning it through private ownership of property, capital goods, raw materials, or natural resources.
The distinguishing features of communism are its advocacy of revolutionary doctrines, its rejection of private ownership and central planning, its rejection of private violence, its advocacy of communal harmony and communally organized industries, its rejection of violence and its guarantee of rights to economic freedom, liberty, and peace. Although these doctrines are not all exclusive to communism. For example, for syndicalists, freedom and justice are inherent in the doctrines of classical liberalism. For most classical liberal theorists, freedom and justice are principles shared by most western nations. Liberalism also advocates the recognition and guarantee of individual rights and toleration of pluralistic political institutions. Still, liberal ideas differ widely from classical liberal ideas on the definition of liberty, rights and justice, and on the nature of society.
Most classical liberal theorists hold to the view that liberalism is compatible with communistic doctrines, but does not support communism. According to them, private ownership of property is compatible with freedom and justice, since markets ensure the protection of access to property by ensuring adequate supplies of goods and services. Moreover, markets provide the opportunity for large-scale production of goods and services that yield significant advantages over markets that do not.
However, unlike classical liberals, most modern-day communists also hold to an abstract form of ‘communism,’ defined as a system of relationships in which there are no trace of property, as well as hierarchy. A key concept of ‘communism’ is ‘socialism,’ the sense of which is derived from the German word for ‘common.’ According to this concept, common property and public property are no longer fundamental features of modern society. Instead, there arises a sharing of resources, as well as an exchange of favors, obligations, and duties based on the fact that everyone has something to offer and someone else to give.
The differences between classical liberal and communist thought can be illustrated with reference to education. In the case of liberalism, the goal is typically to ensure equal access to education for all. For instance, a liberal thinker may oppose racial segregation, or the teaching of inferior languages or dialects. On the other hand, a communist believes that all humans are equal, regardless of their race, culture, or language. The similarities often appear in other areas as well, such as medical theory or economics.
In modern history, the meaning of the terms comunist, communist and liberal have undergone many changes. For instance, the former often refers to an advocacy of the freedom of association, while the latter describes an intolerance for centralized authority. Comunist laws typically restrict freedom of speech and restrict freedom of the press. Conversely, a communist constitution guarantees the right to free assembly and opposition parties.
Today, the words “comunist” and “Communist” are rarely heard outside of academic circles. In recent years, they have become commonly used as labels to identify political extremists. A minority of people in the United States consider themselves to be both. Comunism versus communism remain a controversial topic, but are unlikely to disappear any time soon.
