Socialism Vs Communism | What is the difference between Socialism and Communism?

Summary

In this educational video, Dan Zimmerman explores the origins and distinctions between socialism and communism, tracing their roots to the Industrial Revolution's socio-economic upheavals. He explains that socialism advocates for a democratically planned economy with equal shares of production factors, while communism envisions a classless society with collective ownership and distribution of goods. Key differences highlighted include compensation methods, property ownership, and the means of achieving these systems. The video also touches on democratic socialism and the practical implementations of these ideologies in modern nations like China, Cuba, and the Nordic countries.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The origins of socialism and communism can be traced back to the economic and social upheavals during the Industrial Revolution, particularly the growing economic inequality between workers and factory owners.
• 📜 Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, is credited as one of the most influential socialist thinkers, with their publication of the 'Communist Manifesto' in 1848.
• 🔄 Marx's theory posits that history is a series of class struggles, with the proletariat eventually overcoming the bourgeoisie to control the means of production.
• 🏛 Pure socialism envisions a system where the government, elected democratically, ensures an equal share of economic production factors for all individuals.
• 🌐 In socialism, the government uses centralized planning to allocate resources based on individual needs and societal demands, with economic output distributed according to contribution.
• 🌟 Pure communism is characterized by the collective ownership of property and resources, aiming for a classless society where money and individual wealth accumulation are obsolete.
• 🏙️ Under communism, the central government manages all aspects of production, and economic output is distributed based on the needs of the people, with basic necessities provided for all.
• 🤝 Both socialism and communism emerged from the opposition to unfair worker treatment during the Industrial Revolution and advocate for government or collective control of production.
• 💼 The key difference between socialism and communism lies in the basis of compensation: contribution-based in socialism versus need-based in communism.
• 🏡 In socialism, individuals can own property, but the means of production are communally owned, contrasting with communism's complete absence of private property.
• 🗳️ Socialism seeks change through democratic processes, while communism often envisions a revolutionary path to achieve its goals, including the overthrow of existing social classes.

Q & A

What economic and social changes during the Industrial Revolution led to the rise of socialism and communism?

The Industrial Revolution from 1760 to 1840 caused extreme economic and social changes, characterized by the struggles of the working class and growing economic inequality between workers and factory owners. This led to the emergence of early socialist thinkers who proposed models for reorganizing society based on cooperation and community.

Who are the key figures associated with the development of socialist and communist theories?

Karl Marx, a German political philosopher and economist, is one of the most influential socialist thinkers in history. Along with Friedrich Engels, he published the Communist Manifesto in 1848, which argued for the inevitable triumph of the working class over the capitalist class.

How does communism, as described by Marx, differ from socialism?

Communism, as defined by Marx, is sometimes referred to as revolutionary socialism. It is seen as an extreme form of socialism where all property and resources are collectively owned by a class-free society, and there is no need for money or the accumulation of individual wealth.

What is the main assumption of socialism regarding human nature and cooperation?

Socialism is based on the assumption that all people naturally want to cooperate but are unable to do so because of the competitive nature of capitalism. In a socialist system, the government employs centralized planning to allocate resources based on the needs of individuals and society as a whole.

How does the distribution of economic output differ between socialism and communism?

In socialism, economic output is distributed according to each individual's ability and level of contribution, rewarding effort and innovation. In contrast, under communism, people are compensated based on their needs, with the government providing most or all necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and other essentials.

What are the similarities between socialism and communism as economic theories?

Both socialism and communism grew out of opposition to unfair treatment of workers during the Industrial Revolution. They both assume that goods and services will be produced by government-controlled institutions or collective organizations, and the central government is responsible for all aspects of economic planning.

What are the main differences between socialism and communism in terms of property ownership and government control?

In socialism, individuals can own property, but industrial production is communally owned and managed by a democratically elected government. Under communism, there is no private property, all property is communally owned, and the government controls all aspects of economic production.

How does democratic socialism differ from pure socialism or communism?

Democratic socialism supports a mix of socialist and capitalist control of economic production, with extensive social welfare programs. It advocates for a democratically run society and economy dedicated to meeting the needs of the people, rather than encouraging individual prosperity as in capitalism.

Do any countries today fully practice pure socialism or communism as described by their ideologies?

No, pure socialism or communism does not exist today. Countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, which are often considered socialist, are closely aligned with policies of democratic socialism and have successful capitalist sectors. Countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam have varying degrees of communism, but none have fully achieved the elimination of personal property, money, and class systems that communist ideology requires.

What is the role of violent revolution in achieving a communist state according to Marx?

According to Marx, a violent revolution where workers rise up against the middle and upper classes is seen as an inevitable part of achieving a pure communist state. This contrasts with socialism, which seeks change and reform through democratic processes within the existing social and political structure.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Socialism and Communism

Dan Zimmerman introduces viewers to the concepts of socialism and communism, exploring their origins during the Industrial Revolution. Economic inequality and the struggles of the working class led to the emergence of socialist thinkers, most notably Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. They published the Communist Manifesto in 1848, advocating for a classless society where the proletariat controls the means of production. The video clarifies that while Marx's theories are foundational to both socialism and communism, the terms are often confused due to their intertwined histories. Socialism is presented as a system where resources are distributed by a democratic government, aiming for cooperation and community, whereas communism is an extreme form of socialism where all property is communally owned, and the government controls production and distribution according to people's needs.

05:01

🌐 Defining Socialism and Communism

This section delves into the definitions of socialism and communism. Pure socialism is described as an economic system where the government, elected democratically, ensures equal distribution of resources and economic output is shared based on individual contribution. In contrast, pure communism envisions a classless society with collective ownership of all resources, no money, and no private wealth, with the government providing for all basic needs. The similarities between the two ideologies include their origins in opposition to worker exploitation, their collective approach to production, and government control over economic planning. The differences are highlighted in terms of compensation, property ownership, and the means of achieving these systems, with socialism favoring democratic reforms and communism advocating for revolutionary change.

🏛️ Democratic Socialism and Its Modern Relevance

The video discusses democratic socialism as a moderate approach that combines elements of socialism and capitalism, with an emphasis on social welfare and meeting societal needs over individual prosperity. It contrasts this with the pure forms of socialism and communism, noting that countries often labeled as socialist, such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, are more accurately described as democratic socialists due to their mixed economic models. The video also addresses the existence of varying degrees of communism in countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam, acknowledging that a purely communist state, as envisioned by theory, has never been realized. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to engage with the content, like, share, and subscribe for more educational videos on similar topics.

Keywords

💡Socialism

Socialism is an economic and political system where the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned or regulated by the community as a whole. In the context of the video, socialism is presented as a system that aims to reduce economic inequality by advocating for cooperative and community-based models of organization. The video explains that pure socialism involves a democratically elected government ensuring an equal share of economic production factors for each individual, with economic output distributed according to each person's contribution.

💡Communism

Communism is a social, political, and economic ideology that seeks to establish a classless society where all property and resources are communally owned and managed. The video script describes communism as an extreme form of socialism, where Karl Marx's theories are taken to their logical conclusion, envisioning a society without classes, money, or private ownership of economic resources. The script also notes that pure communism has never been fully realized, with countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam having elements of communism but not achieving the complete elimination of personal property and class systems.

💡Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution, which occurred from 1760 to 1840, was a period during which agrarian societies became industrialized. The video script highlights that this era was marked by significant economic and social changes, leading to the rise of socialist and communist ideologies as a response to the growing economic inequality between workers and factory owners.

💡Karl Marx

Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist whose ideas have greatly influenced the development of socialist and communist theories. The video script mentions Marx as one of the most influential socialist thinkers in history, who, along with Friedrich Engels, published the Communist Manifesto in 1848. Marx's theories on class struggle and the inevitable triumph of the proletariat over the bourgeoisie are central to understanding the origins of communism.

💡Class Struggle

Class struggle refers to the conflict between different social classes, particularly the working class and the capitalist class. In the video, Marx's view of history as a history of class struggles is discussed, emphasizing the inevitable conflict between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, which, according to Marx, would lead to the establishment of a communist society.

💡Proletariat

The proletariat, in Marxist theory, refers to the working class that has no means of production and must sell its labor to survive. The video script explains that the proletariat would triumph over the bourgeoisie, gaining control over the means of production, which is a key aspect of the transition from capitalism to socialism and eventually to communism.

💡Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie is the social class that owns the means of production and employs the proletariat for wages. In the video, the bourgeoisie is described as the capitalist class that Marx believed would be overthrown by the proletariat, leading to a classless society.

💡Democratic Socialism

Democratic socialism is a political ideology that advocates for a democratic political system alongside a socialist economic system. The video script describes democratic socialism as a moderate version that supports a mixed economy with both public and private ownership, aiming to meet the needs of the people through government distribution of services and social welfare programs.

💡Means of Production

The means of production refers to the physical and organizational resources used to produce goods and services in an economy. The video script explains that in socialism, these means are controlled by the government, while in communism, they are collectively owned by a class-free society.

💡Economic Inequality

Economic inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income, wealth, and resources among individuals within a society. The video script discusses how the growing economic inequality during the Industrial Revolution led to the development of socialist and communist ideologies as a means to address and reduce such disparities.

Highlights

Introduction to the differences between socialism and communism.

Origins of socialism and communism during the Industrial Revolution.

The role of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in shaping socialist thought.

The Communist Manifesto and its influence on class struggle theory.

Definition of communism as revolutionary socialism.

Confusion between socialism and communism due to Marx and Engels' writings.

Pure socialism defined as an economic system with equal shares of production factors.

Centralized planning in socialism for resource allocation.

Definition of pure communism with collective ownership and no private property.

Communism's vision of a class-free society with no need for money.

Similarities between socialism and communism: opposition to worker exploitation.

Both systems assume government control over production and distribution.

Central government's role in economic planning in both socialism and communism.

Difference in compensation: contribution-based in socialism vs. needs-based in communism.

Property ownership in socialism vs. communal ownership in communism.

Means of achieving socialism and communism: democratic processes vs. violent revolution.

Definition and characteristics of democratic socialism.

Existence of pure socialism or communism in modern countries.

Examples of countries with democratic socialist policies.

Current forms of communism in China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam.

Call to action for viewers to like, share, subscribe, and comment on the video.

Transcripts

hey it's dan zimmerman welcome to

illustrate to educate

don't forget to subscribe for weekly

objective videos on topics that matter

have you ever wondered what is the

difference between socialism and

communism

in this video we will look at the

similarities and differences between

these economic and political theories

let's first take a look at where these

two originated during the industrial

revolution from 1760 to 1840

there were extreme economic and social

changes caused by the struggles of the

working class

the economic inequality between workers

and the factory owners continued to grow

this is what spawned early socialist

thinkers who presented models for

reorganizing society along the lines

of cooperation and community most

notably came karl marx the german

political philosopher

and economist who had become one of the

most influential socialist thinkers in

history

along with friedrich engels he published

what was called the communist manifesto

in 1848.

he argued that all of history was a

history of class struggles

and that the working class or the

proletariat would inevitably triumph

over the capital class or the

bourgeoisie and would win control over

the means of production

forever erasing all classes this is

where communism comes into play

which is sometimes referred to as

revolutionary socialism

it came to be defined by marx's theories

taken to an extreme

in fact marxists often refer to

socialism as the first necessary step on

the way from capitalism to communism

marx and angles themselves didn't

consistently or clearly differentiate

communism from socialism

which is why there continues to be

confusion between the two terms

now let's define what socialism is pure

socialism is an economic system

under which each individual through a

democratically elected government

is given an equal share of the four

factors of economic production

labor entrepreneurship capital goods

and natural resources in essence

socialism is based on the assumption

that all people naturally

want to cooperate but cannot because of

the competitive nature of capitalism

in socialism the government employs

centralized planning

to allocate resources based on both the

needs of the individual

and society as a whole economic output

is distributed according to each

individual's ability

and level of contribution now that we've

defined what socialism is

let's define what communism is pure

communism is an economic political

and social system in which most or all

property and resources

are collectively owned by a class free

society rather than by individual

citizens

according to karl marx pure communism

results in a society

in which all people are equal and there

is no need for money

or the accumulation of individual wealth

there is no private ownership of

economic resources

with a central government controlling

all facets of production

economic output is distributed according

to the needs of the people

under pure communism the central

government provides the people with all

basic necessities such as food housing

education and medical care thus allowing

the people to share equally from the

results of collective labor

now that we've defined socialism and

communism we can look at some of the

bigger similarities between the two

number one both grew out of the

opposition of unfair treatment of

workers by wealthy businesses during the

industrial revolution

number two both assume that all goods

and services will be produced

by the government controlled

institutions or collective organizations

rather than by privately owned

businesses

and number three the central government

is mainly responsible for all aspects of

economic planning

including matters of supply and demand

next

let's look at the main differences

between the two first

socialism is based on the premise that

people will be compensated based on

their level of individual contribution

to the economy

effort and innovation are thus rewarded

under socialism

however under communism the people are

compensated for based on what the

government considers

are their needs by providing most or all

food clothing

housing and other necessities second

under socialism

individuals can own property but

industrial production

or the chief means of generating wealth

is communally owned and managed by a

democratically elected government

whereas under communism there is no such

thing as private property

all property is communally owned and

each person receives a portion based on

what they need

and the government controls all aspects

of economic production

the last key difference is the means of

achieving them socialism seeks change

and reform through democratic processes

within the existing social and political

structure

but in communism a violent revolution in

which workers rise up against the middle

class

and upper class is seen as an inevitable

part of achieving a pure communist state

since democratic socialism is more of

what we see today let's look briefly at

what it is

democratic socialism is an economic

social and political ideology

it supports that both society and the

economy should be run democratically

and should be dedicated to meeting the

needs of the people as a whole rather

than encouraging individual prosperity

as in capitalism

other goals include government

distribution of universally used

services such as utilities

mass transit and health care while

consumer goods should be distributed by

a capitalist free market

a moderate version advocates for a

mixture of socialist and capitalist

control of all means of economic

production

supplemented by extensive social welfare

programs

does pure socialism or communism exist

now

today most countries generally

considered socialists such as norway

sweden and denmark

are not socialist countries and are

closely aligned with policies of

democratic socialism

all three countries do provide free

healthcare education and lifetime

retirement income

as well as having very successful

capitalist sectors

today varying degrees of communism exist

in china cuba

north korea laos and vietnam although in

reality

a purely communist state has never

existed such countries can be classified

as communists because in all of them

the government controls nearly all

aspects of the economic and political

system

but none of them have fully achieved the

elimination of personal property

money and class systems that the

communist ideology requires

did you enjoy this video comparing

socialism and communism

hopefully it gave you a good

introduction of the similarities and

differences between the two

please like and share the video

subscribe to illustrate to educate

and comment on your thoughts about

socialism and communism and don't forget

to check out some of my other videos to

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