Differences between Communism and Socialism?

[CrazyMoron]

I already know that Socialism is the transitional period between the old government and Communist state. But what is it really?

[Jack]

In Marxist terminology

Socialism-has a state

Communism-no state

[LOLseph Stalin]

I already know that Socialism is the transitional period between the old government and Communist state. But what is it really?

First off, Socialism can be more than just the transitional stage between Capitalism and Communism. You can be Socialist without being Communist. You just believe in reform and getting democratically elected rather than using revolutionary means. Also, there's Social Democracy where you just believe in Capitalism, but in a more friendly form(If that's even possible. hehe). Now I go back to the original question. As you've mentioned, Socialism is indeed the transitional stage where the workers, led by the vanguard actually begin taking control of the means of production. There is also a "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" to give the workers more democratic power and prevent the Bourgeoisie from rising up against them. Of course, with mass support from the workers this could probably be prevented anyway as the Bourgeoisie are a small minority compared to the workers. This existance of a state fades away in Communism.

[Jack]

First off, Socialism can be more than just the transitional stage between Capitalism and Communism. You can be Socialist without being Communist. You just believe in reform and getting democratically elected rather than using revolutionary means. Also, there's Social Democracy where you just believe in Capitalism, but in a more friendly form(If that's even possible. hehe). Now I go back to the original question. As you've mentioned, Socialism is indeed the transitional stage where the workers, led by the vanguard actually begin taking control of the means of production. There is also a "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" to give the workers more democratic power and prevent the Bourgeoisie from rising up against them. Of course, with mass support from the workers this could probably be prevented anyway as the Bourgeoisie are a small minority compared to the workers. This existance of a state fades away in Communism.

So we can't emancipate ourselves without an oh so glorious vanguard party?

[ZeroNowhere]

In Marxist terminology

Socialism-has a state

Communism-no stateAs Marx may have said, "Je ne suis pas une Marxiste?" Him and Engels used the two as synonyms when discussing the social system (ie. a classless and thus stateless society), though not when referring to various socialist currents. So, for example, the utopian socialists and Proudhonists wouldn't have been called 'communist'. Later Marxists, such as De Leon and the SPGB, generally stuck to 'socialism', as the utopians had basically died out by their times.
As for the dictatorship of the proletariat, that is merely the political form corresponding to revolution, that is, the enforcement through law of the expropriation of the expropriators. As soon as the revolution ends, the state 'disappears'.