Distinguishing between the Dictatorship of the Proletariat and Socialism.

[AK]

It's said that Marx frequently interchanged the terms "socialist" and "communist" in his writings. As the DoP is the period before communism, is it necessary to distinguish between the DoP and socialism?

[Muzk]

Only in his earlier times, later they weren't exchanged with each other anymore.

Socialism is the dictatorship of the proletariat, but I would explain them in different ways. Like, for the dictatorship I wouldn't say equal opportunity, but repression of reactionary forces (the short way)

Have some Marx


Between capitalist and communist society there lies the period of the revolutionary transformation of the one into the other. Corresponding to this is also a political transition period in which the state can be nothing but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.

And Bebel


"The organisation of society in such a manner that any individual, man or woman, finds at birth equal means for the development of their respective faculties and the utilisation of their labour. The organisation of society in such a manner that the exploitation by one person of the labour of his neighbour would be impossible, and where everyone will be allowed to enjoy the social wealth only to the extent of their contribution to the production of that wealth."

So the DoP is the state in socialism, while socialism itself is the economical and political system which the DoP enforces (over a piece of land, over the world, whatever)