What is Communism? | Success and Failures of Communism | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

This video delves into the ideologies of communism, socialism, and liberalism, exploring their meanings, historical impacts, and implications. It focuses on communism, highlighting its principles of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,' and its evolution from tribal societies to modern political systems. The video discusses Karl Marx's vision, the Russian Revolution, and the divergence from Marx's ideas under Lenin and Stalin. It also touches on the successful and failed aspects of communism, its influence on modern society, and the challenges of implementing it on a large scale without succumbing to dictatorship.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Communism is an ideology based on the principle 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs', envisioning a society without money, classes, or discrimination.
• 🏭 Karl Marx, considered the father of communism, introduced the concept in his 1848 Communist Manifesto, advocating for a classless society where the means of production are owned collectively.
• 👷‍♂️ The industrial revolution and its exploitation of workers inspired Marx to propose communism as a solution, aiming to prevent the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.
• 🏛️ Communism in practice often diverged from its theoretical foundations, leading to the rise of dictatorships and one-party states, as seen in the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin.
• 🛑 The Soviet Union's implementation of communism included nationalization of industries, redistribution of land, and the establishment of an 8-hour workday, but also led to a one-party state and suppression of dissent.
• 🔄 The failures of communism are often attributed to the lack of incentive for individual effort and innovation, as well as the tendency to result in dictatorships due to power vacuums.
• 🏡 The idea of a classless society has influenced modern values, promoting equality and the rejection of discrimination based on race, caste, or wealth.
• 💼 Concepts like inheritance tax and workers' rights, which originated from communist thought, have been adopted in various forms by many democratic countries to prevent exploitation and promote fairness.
• 🏥 Successful implementations of communist principles are rare but can be found in small communities that practice shared ownership and collective work, such as Auroville in India.
• 📚 The video series aims to explore not only communism but also capitalism and socialism, providing a comparative understanding of these economic and social systems.

Q & A

What is the basic principle of communism as described in the script?

The basic principle of communism is 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,' meaning everyone works according to their ability and receives according to their needs in a society without money, class, or state boundaries.

How does the script relate the early human hunter-gatherer lifestyle to communism?

The script suggests that early humans living in tribes, without the concept of money or private ownership, shared a lifestyle that resembles a primitive form of communism.

Who is considered the father of communism and what did he publish?

Karl Marx is considered the father of communism, and he published the 'Communist Manifesto' in 1848.

What were the conditions during the era when Karl Marx was living, as mentioned in the script?

Karl Marx lived during the era of the Industrial Revolution, a time when laborers often worked in poor conditions and were exploited by wealthy factory owners.

What were the key proposals of the Communist Manifesto according to the script?

The Communist Manifesto proposed the overthrow of existing monarchies and governments, the collective ownership of the means of production by the public, and the establishment of a classless society with free education and healthcare.

How did Lenin's implementation of communism differ from Marx's ideas?

Lenin's implementation involved nationalizing factories and redistributing land, but it also led to a one-party state with secret police and suppression of dissent, which diverged from Marx's vision of public control and freedom.

What is Soviet Communism and how does it relate to the script's discussion?

Soviet Communism refers to the political and economic system implemented in the Soviet Union, characterized by a one-party state and government control over production, which the script contrasts with the original communist ideals of public ownership and freedom.

What are some successful ideas from communism that the world has adopted, as per the script?

The script mentions the successful adoption of ideas like a classless society, opposition to inheritance, worker rights, minimum wage, and concepts of free education and healthcare from communism by various countries.

What are the fundamental problems with communism as discussed in the script?

The script identifies the lack of incentive for hard work and innovation, the power vacuum leading to dictatorships, and the potential for corruption when a single party or government controls everything as fundamental problems with communism.

Can the script provide examples of successful practical implementations of communism?

The script suggests that while communism has not been successfully implemented on a large scale without turning into a dictatorship, it has worked in small communities, such as the OSHO ashram in the US and Auroville in India.

What is the script's stance on the feasibility of communism in large societies?

The script implies that communism has consistently failed when attempted on a large scale, such as in countries, and tends to result in dictatorships rather than the envisioned classless, stateless society.