Communism

Definition of Communism

A political or economic system in which the major resources and means of production are owned by the community rather than by individuals

Definition of Communism (continued)

Communists traditionally have called for government ownership rather than private ownership of land, factories, and other economic resources (the means of production)

There is also government planning of economic activities

Definition of Communism (continued)

A long-range goal of communism is a society that provides equality and economic security for all

Karl Marx

German philosopher that transformed communism into a revolutionary movement

Karl Marx (continued)Marx's basic ideas were first expressed

in the Communist Manifesto (1848), a pamphlet that he wrote with Friedrich Engels (a German economist)

Both Marx and Engels lived during the Industrial Revolution when factories were being built and people worked in horrible conditions

Karl Marx (continued)

Marx believed the only way to ensure a happy, harmonious society was to put the workers in control

His ideas were partly a reaction against hardships suffered by workers in England, France, and Germany during the Industrial Revolution

Karl Marx (continued)

Marx believed that the triumph of communism was inevitable

Marx claimed that the owners of factories and other means of production—the ruling class—used their economic power to force their will on the working class

Karl Marx (continued)

Marx assumed that the ruling class would never willingly give up power

As a result, he believed that struggle and violence were inevitable to overthrow this system

Karl Marx (continued)

Marx called for the abolition of capitalism, an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned

Karl Marx (continued)

Under capitalism, Marx argued the bourgeoisie (“the haves”) were the owners and managers of the means of production and the workers, or proletariat (“the have-nots”), were being exploited

Karl Marx (continued)

Marx believed that eventually the workers would revolt against capitalism and take control of the means of production and set-up a classless, communist society

Examples of Communism Communism came to the Soviet Union

in 1917 as a result of the Russian Revolution– It would last until the 1990s when

communism collapsedCommunism came to China through

a revolution in 1949 and the People’s Republic of China was born

Examples of Communism (continued)

Throughout the 1940-1960s communism also spread to various countries in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia

In 1959 communism came to Cuba through a revolution as Fidel Castro took power

References

Information courtesy of World Book Online Encyclopedia