capitalism vs socialism

of 14

Capitalism vs Socialism Capitalism and socialism are somewhat opposing schools of thought in economics. The

central arguments in the socialism/capitalism debate are about economic equality and the role of

government: socialists believe economic inequality is bad for society and the government is

responsible for reducing it via programs that benefit the poor. e.g. free public education, free

or subsidized health care, social security for the elderly, higher taxes on the rich. On the other hand,

capitalists believe that government does not use economic resources as efficiently as private enterprise

and therefore society is better off with the free market determining economic winners and losers.

The U.S. is widely considered the bastion of capitalism and large parts of Scandinavia and Western

Europe are socialist democracies. However, the truth is every developed country has some programs

that are socialist.

An extreme form of socialiam is communism..

Comparison chart

Capitalism Socialism

Philosophy: Capital (or the "means of production")

is owned, operated, and traded for the

purpose of generating profits for

private owners or shareholders.

Emphasis on individual profit rather

than on workers or society as a whole.

From each according to his ability, to

each according to his contribution.

Emphasis on profit being distributed

among the society or workforce in

addition to receiving a wage.

Ideas: Laissez-faire means to "let it be";

opposed to government intervention in

economics because capitalists believe

it introduces inefficiencies. Free

market produces the best economic

outcome for society. Govt. should not

pick winners and losers.

All people should be given an equal

opportunity to succeed. Workers

should have most say in their factory's

management. The free market suffers

from problems like tragedy of the

commons.Government regulation is

necessary.

Economic System: Free-Market economy. Wealth redistributed so that everyone

in society is given somewhat equal

shares of the benefits derived from

labor, but people can earn more if they

work harder. Means of production are

controlled by the workers themselves.

Key elements: The accumulation of capital drives

economic activity - the need to

continuously produce profits and

reinvest this profit into the economy.

"Production for profit": useful goods

and services are a byproduct of

pursuing profit.

Economic activity and production

especially are adjusted to meet human

needs and economic demands.

"Production for use": useful goods and

services are produced specifically for

their usefulness.

Economic

coordination:

Relies principally on markets to

determine investment, production and

distribution decisions. Markets may be

Planned-Socialism relies principally

on planning to determine investment

and production decisions. Planning

of 14

Capitalism Socialism

free-markets, regulated-markets, or

may be combined with a degree of

state-directed economic planning or

planning within private companies.

may be centralized or decentralized.

Market-socialism relies on markets for

allocating capital to different socially-

owned enterprises.

Political

movements:

Classical liberalism, Social liberalism,

Libertarianism, Neo-liberalism,

Modern Social-Democracy

Democratic Socialism, Communism,

Libertarian Socialism, Anarchism,

Syndicalism

Ownership

structure:

The means of production are

privately-owned and operated for a

private profit. This drives incentives

for producers to engage in economic

activity.

The means of production are socially-

owned with the surplus value

produced accruing to either all of

society (in Public-ownership models)

or to all the employee-members of the

enterprise (in Cooperative-ownership

models).

Religion: Permitted/Freedom of Religion freedom of religion

Key Proponents: Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Milton

Friedman, Fredrich Hayek, Ayn Rand

Robert Owen, Pierre Leroux, Karl

Marx, Fredrick Engels, John Stuart

Mill, Albert Einstein, George Bernard

Shaw, Leo Tolstoy, Emma Goldman

Way of Change: Fast change within the system. In

theory, the relationship between buyer

and seller (the market) is what fuels

what is produced. Government can

change rules of conduct/business

practices through regulation or ease of

regulations.

Workers in a Socialist-state are the

agent of change rather than any

market or desire on the part of

consumers. Change by the workers

can be swift or slow, depending on

change in ideology or even whim.

Tenets

One of the central arguments in economics, especially in the socialism vs. capitalism debate,

is the role of the government. A capitalist system is based on private ownership of the means of

production and the creation of goods or services for profit. A socialist system is characterised

by social ownership of the means of production, e.g. cooperative enterprises, common ownership,

direct public ownership or autonomous state enterprises.

Proponents of capitalism espouse competitive and free markets, voluntary exchange (over forced

exchange of labor or goods). Socialists advocate greater government involvement but the differ in the

type of social ownership they advocate, the degree to which they rely on markets versus planning,

how management is to be organised within economic enterprises, and the role of the state in

constructing socialism.

Criticisms of Socialism and Capitalism

Criticisms of Capitalism

Critics argue that capitalism is associated with: unfair and inefficient distribution of wealth and

power; a tendency toward market monopol or oligopoly (and government by oligarchy); imperialism,

of 14

counter-revolutionary wars and various forms of economic and cultural exploitation; repressions of

workers and trade unionists, and phenomena such as social alienation, inequality, unemployment, and

economic instability. Critics have argued that there is an inherent tendency towards oligolopolistic

structures when laissez-faire is combined with capitalist private property. Capitalism is regarded by

many socialists to be irrational in that production and the direction the economy is unplanned,

creating many inconsistencies and internal contradictions.

In the early 20th century, Vladimir Lenin argued that state use of military power to defend capitalist

interests abroad was an inevitable corollary of monopoly capitalism. Economist Branko Horvat states,

"it is now well known that capitalist development leads to the concentration of capital, employment

and power. It is somewhat less known that it leads to the almost complete destruction of economic

freedom." Southern Methodist university Economics Professor Ravi Batra argues that excessive

income and wealth inequalities are a fundamental cause of financial crisis and economic depression,

which wil lead to the collapse of capitalism and the emergence of a new social order.

Environmentalists have argued that capitalism requires continual economic growth, and will

inevitably deplete thefinite natural resources of the earth, and other broadly utilized resources. Murray

Bookchin has argued that capitalist production externalizes environmental costs to all of society, and

is unable to adequately mitigate its impact upon ecosystems and the biosphere at large. Labor

historians and scholars, such as Immanuel Wallerstein, Tom Brass and latterly Marcel van der Linden,

have argued that unfree labor — by slaves, indentured servants, prisoners, and other coerced persons

— is compatible with capitalist relations.

Many religions have criticized or opposed specific elements of capitalism; traditional Judaism and

christianity, and islam forbid lending money sat interst, although methods of Islamic banking have

been developed. Christianity has been a source of both praise and criticism for capitalism, particularly

its materialist aspects.

Criticisms of Socialism

Criticisms of socialism range from claims that socialist economic and political models are inefficient

or incompatible with civil liberties to condemnation of specific socialist states. There is much focus

on the economic performance and human rights records of communist states, although there is debate

over the categorization of such states as socialist.

In the economic calculation debate, classical liberal Friedrich Hayek argued that a socialist command

economy could not adequately transmit information about prices and productive quotas due to the

lack of a price mechanism, and as a result it could not make rational economic decisions. Ludwig von

Mises argued that a socialist economy was not possible at all, because of the impossibility of rational

pricing of capital goods in a socialist economy since the state is the only owner of the capital goods.

Hayek further argued that the social control over distribution of wealth and private property advocated

by socialists cannot be achieved without reduced prosperity for the general populace, and a loss of

political and economic freedoms.

Hayek's views were echoed by Winston Churchill in an electoral broadcast prior to the British general

election of 1945:

a socialist policy is abhorrent to the British ideas of freedom. Socialism is inseparably interwoven

with totalitarianism and the object worship of the state. It will prescribe for every one where they are

to work, what they are to work at, where they may go and what they may say. Socialism is an attack

on the right to breathe freely. No socialist system can be established without a political police. They

would have to fall back on some form of Gestapo, no doubt very humanely directed in the first

instance.

Communism vs Socialism

In a way, communism is an extreme form of socialism. Many countries have dominant

socialist political parties but very few are truly communist. In fact, most countries - including staunch

capitalist bastions like the U.S. and U.K. - have government programs that borrow from socialist

principles. "Socialism" is sometimes used interchangeably with "communism" but the two

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Category:Countries

of 14

philosophies have some stark differences. Most notably, while communism is a political system,

socialism is primarily an economic system that can exist in various forms under a wide range of

political systems.

Comparison chart:-

Communism Socialism

Philosophy: From each according to his

ability, to each according to

his needs. Free-access to the

articles of consumption is

made possible by advances

in technology that allow for

super-abundance

From each according to his ability,

to each according to his contribution.

Emphasis on profit being distributed

among the society or workforce in

addition to receivinga wage.

Definition: A theory or system of social

organization based on the

holding of all property in

common, with actual

ownership ascribed to the

community or state

A theory or system of social

organization based on the holding of

most property in common, with

actual ownership ascribed to the

workers

Ideas: Human societies have always

been divided into warring

classes. The Industrial

Revolution has enriched the

wealthy and impoverished

the poor. The workers must

overthrow the bourgeois.

All people should be given an equal

opportunity to succeed. Workers

should have most say in their

factory's management. The free

market suffers from problems like

tragedy of the

commons.Government regulation is

necessary.

Economic

System:

Wealth redistributed so that

everyone in society is given

equal shares of the benefits

derived from labor. All

means of production are

controlled by the state.



somewhat equal shares of the

benefits derived from labor, but

people can earn more if they work

harder. Means of production are

controlled by the workers

themselves.

Political System: No leader, directed directly

by the people. This has never

been actually practiced, and

has just used a one-

party system.

Multiple parties, but the

ruling partyusually goes by the name

"Socialist".

Social

Structure:

All class distinctions are

eliminated.

Class distinctions are diminished

Economic

Coordination:

Government controls all

business, as well as Business

decisions.

Planned-Socialism relies principally

on planning to determine investment

and production decisions. Planning

may be centralized or decentralized.

of 14

Communism Socialism

Market-socialism relies on markets

for allocating capital to different

socially-owned enterprises.

Free Choice: In real communism, where a

leader does not exist,

everything is chosen

freely.In those that have been

practiced though, all choices,

including education, religion,

employment and marriage,

are controlled by the state.

All choices, including education,

religion, employment and marriage,

are up to the individual.

All healthcare and education is

provided free to everybody

Political

Movements:

Leninism, Trotskyism,

Marxism-Leninism, Maoism,

Left-Communism

Democratic Socialism, Communism,

Libertarian Socialism, Anarchism,

Syndicalism

Key elements: An enhanced form of the

principle of "Production for

use".

Economic activity and production

especially are adjusted to meet

human needs and economic

demands. "Production for use":

useful goods and services are

produced specifically for their

usefulness.

Religion: Abolished. freedom of religion

Private

Property:

Abolished two kinds of property, private

property, such as land, houses,

clothing, etc. owned by the

individual. Public property,

factories, and means of production

owned by the state but with worker

control

Key

Proponents:

Karl Marx, Fredrich Engels,

Vladimir Lenin, Leon

Trotsky

Robert Owen, Pierre Leroux, Karl

Marx, Fredrick Engels, John Stuart

Mill, Albert Einstein, George

Bernard Shaw, Leo Tolstoy, Emma

Goldman

Discrimination: In theory, all members of the

state are considered equal

The people are considered equal,

laws are made when necessary to

protect people from discrimination

Ownership

structure:


commonly-owned, meaning

no entity or individual owns

productive property.

Importance is ascribed to

"usership" over "ownership".


socially-owned with the surplus

value produced accruing to either all

of society (in Public-ownership

models) or to all the employee-

members of the enterprise (in

of 14

Communism Socialism

Cooperative-ownership models).

Way of Change: Government in a

Communist-state is the agent

of change rather than any

market or desire on the part

of consumers. Change by

government can be swift or

slow, depending on change

in ideology or even whim.

Workers in a Socialist-state are the

agent of change rather than any

market or desire on the part of

consumers. Change by the workers

can be swift or slow, depending on

change in ideology or even whim.

Means of

control:

Proletariat engages in violent

rebellion.

Proletariat engages in taking charge

of the factories and means of

production.

Variations: Include Marxism, Leninism,

Stalinism and Maoism

libertarian-socialism, and anarcho-

socialism, anarcho-syndicalism

Economic differences between socialists and communists

In a Socialist economy, the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively

or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy. On the other hand, in a

communist society, there is no centralized government - there is a collective ownership of property

and the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.

For a Capitalist society to transition, the first step is Socialism. From a capitalist system, it is

easier to achieve the Socialist ideal where production is distributed according to people's deeds

(quantity and quality of work done). For Communism (to distribute production according to needs), it

is necessary to first have production so high that there is enough for everyone's needs. In an ideal

Communist society , people work not because they have to but because they want to and out of a

sense of responsibility.

Political differences

Socialism rejects a class-based society. But socialists believe that it is possible to make the

transition from capitalism to socialism without a basic change in the character of the state. They hold

this view because they do not think of the capitalist state as essentially an institution for the

dictatorship of the capitalist class, but rather as a perfectly good piece of machinery which can be

used in the interest of whichever class gets command of it. No need, then, for the working class in

power to smash the old capitalist state apparatus and set up its own—the march to socialism can be

made step by step within the framework of the democratic forms of the capitalist state. Socialism is

primarily an economic system so it exists in varying degrees and forms in a wide variety of political

systems.

On the other hand, communists believe that as soon as the working class and its allies are in a position

to do so they must make a basic change in the character of the state; they must replace capitalist

dictatorship over the working class with workers’ dictatorship over the capitalist class as the first step

in the process by which the existence of capitalists as a class (but not as individuals) is ended and a

classless society is eventually ushered in.

Communism vs Fascism

In many ways, communist and fascist movements had opposing ideologies but both ended up

being repressive political systems based on the control of a single leader. While communism is based

of 14

around a theory of economic equality, fascism is based around the glory of the state and strength

displayed through violence and conquest. Both communism and fascism originated in Europe and

gained popularity in the early to mid 20th century.

Comparison chart:-

Communism Fascism


ability, to each according to

his needs. Free-access to the

articles of consumption is

made possible by advances

in technology that allow for

super-abundance

No single philosophy. The state must

gain glory through constant conquest,

aka war. Belief that the past was

glorious, and that the State can be

renewed.

Economic

System:




derived from labor. All

means of production are

controlled by the state.

Focused on glorifying and

strengthening the State. Both Fascist

Italy and Nazi Germany attempted to

pursue self-sufficiency.

Ideas: Human societies have always

been divided into warring

classes. The Industrial

Revolution has enriched the

wealthy and impoverished

the poor. The workers must

overthrow the bourgeois.

Union between businesses and the

State, with the state telling the business

what to do, with private ownership.

Also Known as National-Socialism.




common, with actual

ownership ascribed to the

community or state

A government system led by a dictator

having complete power, forcibly

oppressing opposition and criticism,

regimenting all industry and

emphasizing an aggressive nationalism.

Economic

Coordination:

Government controls all

business, as well as Business

decisions.

People control businesses properly, but

Government makes business decisions.

Political System: No leader, directed directly

by the people. This has never

been actually practiced, and

has just used a one-party

system.

One charismatic leader has absolute

authority. Often the symbol of the state.

Political

Movements:

Leninism, Trotskyism,

Marxism-Leninism, Maoism,

Left-Communism

Nazism, Falangism

Social

Structure:


eliminated.

Strict class structure believed necessary

to prevent chaos. Everyone has a

of 14

Communism Fascism

specific, defined role. While a certain

race is considered superior,

individuality among members of that

race is discouraged.

Religion: Abolished. Fascism is a civic religion - citizens

worship the state through nationalism.

The state only supports religious

organizations that are

nationally/historically tied to that state;

e.g. the Iron Guard in Romania

supported the Romanian Orthodox

church.


leader does not exist,

everything is chosen

freely.In those that have been

practiced though, all choices,

including education, religion,

employment and marriage,

are controlled by the state.

The individual is considered

meaningless; they must be dedicated to

the power of the State. Traditional

gender roles are upheld.

Key

Proponents:

Karl Marx, Fredrich Engels,

Vladimir Lenin, Leon

Trotsky

Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler

Private

Property:

Abolished Permitted

History: First conceived by Thomas

More in his book Utopia in

1516. Most famously

associated with Karl Marx

and his Communist

Manifesto in 1848. First used

by the Bolshevik party when

they took control of Russia

in the 1917 October

Revolution.

Term coined by Mussolini in the 1920 s

when he gained control of Italy. Other

major fascist regimes include the Nazi

Party in Germany (1933-45), the

National Union in Portugal (1934-68),

and Francoist Spain (1936-1975).

Key elements: An enhanced form of the

principle of "Production for

use".

Used to want to control the government,

usually used by a harsh or demanding

leader.



Belief in one superior race (Nazism).

Blames society’s problems on members

of other races or social groups.

Way of Change: Government in a

Communist-state is the agent

Change can only occur within the party

and the system itself.

of 14

Communism Fascism

of change rather than any

market or desire on the part

of consumers. Change by

government can be swift or

slow, depending on change

in ideology or even whim.

Famous

Examples:

Stalin (USSR), Mao

(People’s Republic of China)

Mussolini (Italy), Hitler (Germany),

Franco (Spain), Ion Antonescu

(Romania)

Modern

Examples:

Cuba Recent far-right dictatorships include

Pinochet's regime in Chile and Peron's

regime in Argentina. Many Neo-Fascist

organizations exist and engaged in

terrorist attacks in the US, Germany and

the UK in the 1990s.



Nazism, National Socialism, Falangism,

Strasserism

Means of

control:

Proletariat engages in violent

rebellion.

Force and national fanaticism through

rallies etc.

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, two of the most brutal and evil fascist leaders in history.

Contents

1 What is Communism and

Fascism?

2 Philosophy

3 Social Structure and Class

Hierarchies

4 Political System

5 Economic System

6 Individual Rights

7 Videos explaining the difference

8 History of Fascism and

Communism

9 Modern Examples

What is Communism and Fascism?

Communism is a system or a theory of social organizations where the holding of all property is

common, with actual ownership ascribed to the community or state.

Fascism is a system where the government is led by a dictator. The dictator has complete authority

and forcibly oppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry and emphasizing an

aggressive nationalism.

Philosophy

Communists believe that a utopian (perfect) society can be achieved if, and only if, the proletariat (or

working classes) overthrow the capitalist system in a social-revolution, usually using armed

rebellion. Communism is an extreme form of socialism.

of 14

Fascism is based around the glory of the nation state. Fascists believe that constant conquest of other

nations is necessary to uphold this glory. Fascist parties and movements in various countries differed

significantly from each other. But they also had many characteristics in common, including extreme

militaristic nationalism, opposition to parliamentary democracy conservative economic policy that

favored the wealthy, contempt for political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy

and the rule of elites, and the desire to create a Volksgemeinschaft (German: “people’s community”),

in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation.

Social Structure and Class Hierarchies

Communists inspired by Karl Marx believe class hierarchies must be abolished by the state

seizing control of private property and industry, thereby abolishing the capitalist class. Oh the other

hand, fascists believed in a rigid class hierarchy, especially rule by an elite, and were opposed to

socialist movements. Fascism upholds a strict class structure, ensuring that every member of society

has a specific, unchangeable role. Often in fascist societies a certain racial group is considered

superior and national and ethnic unity is encouraged at the expense of individuality. For example,

Hitler's fascist regime glorified the Aryan race and called for the extermination of Jews during World

War II.

Political System

Both fascism and communism are against the democratic process but with some differences.

Fascism looks down upon parliamentary democracy. Fascist leaders

like Hitler and Mussolini participated in electoral politics before coming to power. But after seizing

power, fascist leaders tended to abolish political parties, oppose universalsuffrage and became

dictators and rulers for life.

In a communist system, there is rule -- in theory -- by a single party. Democracy was to be practiced

only within the party, constrained by the policy of democratic centralism i.e. full and vigorous debate

would lead to a decision that would determine the party’s “line” on an issue, whereupon the party’s

central leadership would close off debate and require adherence to the party line. In short, the

revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat had to be a dictatorship of the communist party in the

name of the proletariat.

Economic System

Communism is based on the equal distribution of wealth. The tenet of Marxian communism was

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." Everyone in society receives an

equal share of the benefits derived from labor, e.g. food and money. In order to ensure that everyone

receives an equal amount, all means of production are controlled by the state.

Fascism allows for private enterprise, but its economic system is focused entirely on strengthening

and glorifying the state. Both Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany aimed for self-sufficiency, so that each

country could survive entirely without trade with other nations. See Fascist corporatism

Individual Rights

In both communism and fascism, individual choice or preference matter less than society as a whole.

In communism, religion and private property are both abolished, the government controls all labor

and wealth, and individual choices such as job or education are dictated by the government. While

private property is permitted in fascism, most other choices are also controlled to increase the strength

of the State.

History of Fascism and Communism

Communism can be traced back to Thomas More, who wrote about a society based around

common ownership of property in Utopia in 1516. Communism is most commonly associated with

Karl Marx and his 1848 book The Communist Manifesto. Marx was a critic of the Industrial

Revolution who disagreed with how capitalism took advantage of the working classes. He imagined

that a utopia would be formed when all people were economically equal.

The first real-world example of Marxist Communism was in Russia in 1917, when the Bolshevik

Party seized control in the October Revolution. This was the beginning of many communist

revolutions in the 20th century, including in China, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,

Angola and Mozambique.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksgemeinschaft

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Category:Rulers

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Category:Government

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Career_vs_Job

of 14

Modern Fascism originated in Italy in the 1920s, when Mussolini gained control and coined the term

“fascism” to describe his form of government. Fascism then spread throughout Europe, including to

Germany beginning in 1933 with the Nazis, and Portugal in 1934.

Modern Examples

Communism is still practiced in Cuba and North Korea. Communism is also nominally the system of

government in China, but China’s current economic system is far more capitalist in nature than

traditional communism.

No countries are currently ruled by fascism, but neo-fascists (or neo-Nazis) exist in many countries,

including the US. The bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995 was caused by neo-fascists.

Communism vs Democracy

Diffen ›

Economics

Democratic and communist political systems are based on different ideological principles. Although

superficially they seem to share the "power to the people" philosophy, in practice the two systems of

government structure the economic and political fabric of society in markedly different ways.

In the economic sphere, communism calls for the government to take control of all the capital and

industry in the country in an effort to get rid of economic inequality. On the other hand,

a democracy respects individuals' right to own property and means of production.

The political landscape is also very different in a democracy vs. under communism. In a democratic

society people are free to create their own political parties and contest in elections, which are free of

coercion and fair to all contestants. In a communist society, however, the government is controlled by

one political party and political dissent is not tolerated.

Comparison chart

Communism Democracy


ability, to each according to his

needs. Free-access to the articles

of consumption is made possible

by advances in technology that

allow for super-abundance

All eligible citizens get equal say in

decisions




common, with actual ownership

ascribed to the community or

state

is ruled by the omnipotent majority.

In a Democracy, an individual, and

any group of individuals composing

any minority, have no protection

against the unlimited power of the

majority. It is a case of Majority-

over-Man.

Economic

System:




derived from labor. All means

of production are controlled by

the state.

Usually capitalist

Political System: No leader, directed directly by

the people. This has never been

Elected officials

http://www.diffen.com/

of 14

Communism Democracy

actually practiced, and has just

used a one-party system.

Social

Structure:


eliminated.

Class distinctions can become

pronounced due to capitalist society.

Varies from state to state


leader does not exist, everything

is chosen freely.In those that

have been practiced though, all

choices, including education,

religion, employment and

marriage, are controlled by the

state.

Permitted within legal limits

Religion: Abolished. Permitted

History: First conceived by Thomas

More in his book Utopia in

1516. Most famously associated

with Karl Marx and

his Communist Manifesto in

1848. First used by the

Bolshevik party when they took

control of Russia in the 1917

October Revolution.

Originated in ancient Athens

Private

Property:

Abolished Permitted



In theory, all citizens have an equal

say and so are treated equally.

However often allows for the

tyranny of the majority over the

minority

Famous

Examples:

Stalin (USSR), Mao (People’s

Republic of China)

Ancient Greece, the United States,

France, the UK

Modern

Examples:

Cuba More than half of the world,

including the US, Canada, Western

Europe, Australia, New Zealand,

Japan, etc.



Include direct democracy,

parliamentary democracy and

presidential democracy

Democracy

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Image:Democracy.jpg

of 14

Contents

1 Ideology

2 Origins

3 Modern Development

4 Government system

5 Variations

6 Current Examples

7 Criticism

Ideology

Communism is a socialist movement that aims to create a society without class or money. As an

ideology, it imagines a free society without any division, free from oppression and scarcity. The

proletariat (working class) overthrow the capitalist system in a social revolution, usually via an armed

rebellion.

Democracy is a form of government that gives all eligible citizens an equal say in decisions that affect

their lives. All people can participate equally, either directly or through elected representatives, in the

creation of laws.

Origins

Communism is traced back to 16th century English writer Thomas More, who described a society

based on common ownership of property in his book Utopia. It first emerged as a political doctrine

after the French Revolution, when Francois Noel Babeuf talked of the desirability of common

ownership of land and total equality among citizens. Modern communism emerged from the industrial

revolution, when Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published the Communist Manifesto.

Democracy originated in Athens in Ancient Greece. The first democracy was established in 508-7

BC. Athenians were randomly selected to fill government administrative and judicial offices, and the

legislative assembly was made up of all Athenian citizens, who had a right to speak and vote.

However, this excluded women, slaves, foreigners and anyone under the age of 20.

Modern Development

Hammer, sickle and the red star are universal symbols of communism. Also seen are some famous

communists, from bottom clockwise, Chen Duxiu, Leon Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx,

Friedrich Engels.

In the 1917 October Revolution, the Bolshevik Party seized power in Russia. They changed their

name to the Communist Party and created a single party regime devoted to implementing a specific

type of communism known as Leninism. They nationalized all property and put all factories and

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Image:communism-symbol.jpg

of 14

railways under government control. AfterWorld War II, Communism spread throughout central and

eastern Europe, and in 1949, the Communist Party of China established the People’s Republic of

China. Communism also emerged in Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Angola,

Mozambique and other countries. By the early 1980s, almost one-third of the world’s population lived

in Communist states.

The first nation to become democratic in modern historywas the Corsican Republic in 1755. However,

it was short-lived, and the first modern nation to establish an official democratic system was France,

which established universal male suffrage in 1848. The founding fathers of theUnited States did not

describe their new nation as a democracy, but they also espoused principles of national freedom and

equality. All men in the US were nominally given the right to vote in the late 1860s, and full

enfranchisement of citizens was secured when Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Democracy was a popular government system after World War I, but the Great Depression led to

dictatorships throughout much of Europe and Asia. After World War II, the American, British and

French sectors of Germany, Austria, Italy and Japan became democracies. By 1960, the majority of

countries were nominally democracies, although many had sham elections or were, in reality,

communist states. Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Boliva, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile all became

democracies in the 1970s to 1990s.

Government system

In its ideological form, communism has no governments. However, it considers a dictatorship to be a

necessary intermediate stage between capitalism and communism. In practice, communist

governments take many different forms, but usually involve an absolute dictator.

Democratic governments take many forms, but in modern democracy, they usually involve elections,

where citizens vote for individuals and parties to represent their concerns in government.

Variations

There are a wide range of interpretations of communism, usually named after the dictator who created

them. They include Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Trotskyism, Maoism, Titoism and

Eurocommunism.

There are many forms of democracy. They include representative, parliamentary, presidential,

constitutional, and direct democracy, as well as constitutional monarchies.

Current Examples

Current communist states are the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Cuba, Lao People’s

Democratic Republic and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Some people also consider North Korea

to be a communist state.

According to Freedom House, there are currently 123 electoral democracies in the world. The World

Forum on Democracy claims 58.2% of the world’s population live in democracies.

Criticism

Communism has been criticized as an ideology because it leads to slow technological advance,

reduced incentives, and reduced prosperity. It has also been criticized as unfeasible. Communist states

have been criticized for poor human rights records, with the belief that Communist governments have

been responsible for famines, purges and war. Stephane Courtois argues that communism was

responsible for the deaths of almost 100 million people in the 20th century.

Democracy has been criticized as inefficient and a creator of wealth disparity. It is criticized as a

system that allows the uninformed to make decisions with equal weight as the informed, and one

which allows for oppression of minorities by the majority.

Note:- it is just a mere copy paste from google because of lack of time. I have done this because i felt

guilty without my contribution i am using all other’s.but soon i will come with my own document

Dr. Pavan Kumar Turlapati

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Category:Countries

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Category:History

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Commonwealth_vs_State

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Capitalism_vs_Socialism

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Category:People

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Billion_vs_Million