Marxism In a Nutshell

[T.A.Frawley]

For myself and hopefully to benefit others too I've begun to blog about what I'm learning about and my opinions on history, politics, religion, current events, etc.

I'm getting ready to publish something and would like to ask you all if following is a fair nutshell description of communism.

I'm new to Communism, but as I understand in the simplest form it is: a classless society, where the means of production are owned cooperatively by all and the products are available to all as needed; all local, regional, and global decisions are made democratically by all who choose to participate; everyone is equal and treated with equality and equity in everything, all necessities are distributed according to need, and everyone has the opportunity to learn and do the work they desire and have aptitude for; and less desirable, but necessary labor is shared by all.

[RedWorker]

Pretty much correct. But more relevant than this definition is the way that it has been come to; it is not in a vacuum but rather must be understood in the context of historical materialism, and it has not been arbitrarily defined by intellectuals but rather has been attempted to be derived from a real analysis. It is not utopian and it is not idealist.

Also worth it to mention that communists do not advocate the immediate establishment of this social order (as if that can even be a thing) but rather wage a real struggle. This definition is theoretical. If it is reached it will not be because of the definition and its advocacy but rather because of the mechanisms historical materialism describes.