Writers Guild

Sun, 11 Nov, 2018

Unveiling Communism: Origins, Pros, Cons, and Practical Realities!

Linked table of contents

Communism is an ideology that refers to an idea wherein each and every human is seen as equal and there are no boundaries of any class. The assets, properties, and wealth belong to the state.

Origin of Communism

Communism

The concept of communism was introduced by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles. In the year 1848, they published the book The Communist Manifesto. This book is considered the foundation of the idea of communism. 

It developed during the French revolution, and it described why one class of people would solve all the problems caused due to different classes and categories of people. The bourgeoisie (the merchant class) of the French Revolution was responsible for creating dominion over the other categories of people because of their inheritance of wealth and control of production. 

Thus, the labour class who were selling their efforts and dedication wanted to have a system of society where the wealth and production would be controlled by the general masses/state.

Pros and Cons of Communism

The table below shows the pros and cons associated with communism.

Pros of Communism

Cons of Communism

  1. Everyone in the country gets equal opportunities.

  1. Communist countries generally do not have many opponents at the government level.

  1. Employment and education are easily accessible by the general masses of the country.

2. The individuals of the country might not receive basic rights.

  1. Agriculture and manufacturing receive major importance in the budgeting of the country.

3. A communist society might lead to the creation of idle and lazy individuals.

  1. Low levels of unemployment are expected.

4. No savings and personal wealth are allowed.

  1. Low levels of inequality are expected.

5. Communist countries might be violent at times and completely ignore the idea of democracy.

  1. People are prioritised over profits.

6. People might not get the freedom of speech and religion.

 

Communism in Practice

The ideas propagated through the ideology of Karl Marx and Lenin (Russian revolutionary) are seldom observed in real-life society. In the year 1985, about one in every three individuals lived in a communist area. 

However, now only five countries are communist countries, i.e., China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam. All these countries are considered as Communist as the central governments control the political and economic aspects of the country. However, these countries also allow individuals to have personal wealth and properties.

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FAQs

  1. What are some examples of Communist countries?

China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba, and Vietnam are some countries that can be considered communist countries.

  1. Is communism a good form of governance?

It is quite subjective. The ideology of communism is indeed good. However, in practice, it might not be very lucrative for the general masses.

  1. What is the difference between communism and socialism?

In communism, properties and wealth are owned by the state, and in the case of socialism, all citizens share equal resources.

  1. Can an individual own property in communism?

No. Communism does not support the concept of ‘individual property.’

  1. Who is known as the father of communism?

Karl Marx is the father of communism.

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