How will a Communist society be achieved?

[Shropshire Socialist]

I am growing very interested in Communism and enjoying reading the threads here, and the recommendations for sites and literature.

One thing I am unsure about though, is how a Communist society will be achieved.

Can it only come about through revolution, or can it be done by the ballot box?

[Hit The North]

Because a communist society will entail a complete shift in society's relations of production, including the abolition of private ownership of the means of production and, instead, the democratic control over it by the direct producers, it is unlikely that it can be achieved through the ballot box. Even if the political state was neutral (which it isn't - it ultimately serves the interests of capital and the bourgeoisie), the extension of democracy to the economic and social spheres would require the self-activity of ordinary working class men and women, willing to seize control over their own lives. Plus, without this level of self-activity (or self-emancipation), it is unlikely that a political party, willing and able to formally abolish capitalism, would exist at the level of support necessary to win an election.

The emancipation of the working class (without which Communism is impossible) must be the act of the workers themselves.

[miltonwasfried...man]

The working class must first become aware that capitalism is not in their best interests, that they are being exploited and can in fact do something about it. Once the idea of communism has been thoroughly spread to the masses, trade unions, revolutionary groups and other likeminded people will be able to start the transformation through a revolution. Only a revolution for and by the people could enact such dramatic change, from capitalism to communism. As for elections, any left leaning candidate is in all reality centerist at best and like all politicians will require corporate donations to run, thusly compromising their integrity. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal" - Goldman.

[Shropshire Socialist]

Thanks for the answers so far. How do communist parties that participate in elections square the circle then? I know of some, such as in Nepal, who stood for, and won an election and are already changing their society. So does this mean they will ultimately fail, or have they broken the mould?

[Fopeos]

Many of the world's social-democracies elect socialists or communists to participate in their parliaments and in some cases can push through progressive legislation. However, any progress will require concessions from the capitalists. During economic booms, the capitalists are more willing to "share the wealth." During inevitable down-turns, these governments will roll those gains back.
My point is, we can't change society at the ballot box. Capitalisms first priority is sustaining itself. All means of production must be appropriated by the working class or the cycle of exploitation will continue.

[thesadmafioso]

Communist participation in the electoral process is not some alien concept which has never been attempted, it is just one which is incapable of achieving the ultimate goals of communism. It would be nearly impossible to liberate the proletariat from the exploitative nature of capitalism through electoral means alone, given the absolute hegemony of bourgeois culture and the fraudulent bias which these systems have against parties which represent the interests of the working class.

Though that is not to say that electoral actions is something to be forsaken, it is a channel which is simply too limited to provide the results demanded by the working class. Of course leftist parties should have a presence in politics, it just should not be confused with the intent on achieving direct electoral victories on a mass scale, as such a possibility is almost non existent. The ballot box provides the left with but another front through which to challenge the dominance of the capitalist class, and though it is utterly incapable of providing any sort of worthwhile change it is still important that the left capitalize on this opportunity to spread word of the nature of this struggle.

[Shropshire Socialist]

I get it now. Thanks to everyone for their advice. :thumbup1: