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.