Communism what is the meaning

Communism is often compared to or confused with socialism. Communism is based on socialism and is often seen as an extreme or the ultimate form of it. Socialism is also based on community ownership of the means of production , often in the form of a centralized government. However, individuals can own the products created by the community.

Communism, on the other hand, is generally based on the elimination of private property. Politically, Communism does not allow for a democratic form of government. Communism is associated with and often developed from the theoretical system of Marxism , in which socialism is considered a middle stage in the transition from capitalism to communism. Communism is a controversial and divisive concept and practice, and it has had a significant and lasting impact on modern history and global politics.

The first records of the word communism come from around Radical socialists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels heavily influenced the modern understanding of communism. Specifically, their book The Communist Manifesto influenced many political thinkers and leaders.

Communism is associated with violent revolution, which many communists view as necessary to end capitalist systems they view as unjust. All of the above examples of Communist leaders are associated with such revolutions.

They are also associated with their oppressive regimes, which are often cited as examples of the dangers of communism by those who oppose it. Relatedly, communism is often viewed as the opposite of capitalism. The clash between Communist nations and those that oppose Communism has led to wide scale conflicts, notably the Cold War. Communism has historically been associated with the color red. Communist parties have often used red flags.

This association has led to use of the word Red to describe things involving communism including, sometimes, in a derogatory way by those who oppose it. Historians and economists debate about what societies and systems constitute examples of Communism. Still, many nations have established systems labeled or widely regarded as Communism. Notably, the Soviet Union was widely regarded as Communist though its name—the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics —used the word socialist.

A handful of countries call themselves communist , including China, Cuba, and North Korea — though many communists would disagree.

We can find the roots of the word communist in the Latin communis , meaning "common" or "shared. It was first used in English as both a noun and an adjective in , taken from the French communiste. Translations of communism in Chinese Traditional. See more. Need a translator? Translator tool. What is the pronunciation of communism?

Browse communion. Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes. Image credits. Word of the Day sweetheart. Blog Outsets and onsets! Read More. November 08, To top. English American Business Examples Translations. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. Socialism refers to a system of social organization in which private property and the distribution of income are subject to social control. The conception of that control has varied significantly over time.

In the modern era, "pure" socialism has been seen only rarely and usually briefly in a few Communist regimes. When it was first used in the midth century, communism referred to an economic and political theory that advocated the elimination of private property and the common sharing of all resources among a group of people; in this use, it was often used interchangeably with the word socialism.

Today, the word communism usually refers to the political and economic ideologies originating from Karl Marx's theory of revolutionary socialism, which advocates a proletariat overthrow of capitalist structures within a society; societal and communal ownership and governance of the means of production; and the eventual establishment of a classless society. The countries of China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and North Korea are the existing countries typically identified as being communist.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'communism. Send us feedback. French communisme , from commun common. See more words from the same year. Accessed 11 Nov. More Definitions for communism.

Nglish: Translation of communism for Spanish Speakers.