Marxist and Communist whats the difference?

[!Injustice!]

i have seen everyone say "oh i'm a marxist" or "i'm a communist" i truly want to know what the difference is between these two...
any kind of information can be helpful

[MrDoom]

A Marxist is a specific type of communist, one who adheres to Marxism; consisting of Dialectic Materialism and recognition of class struggle.

The word "communist" almost always means "Marxist" nowadays, but it can also refer to religious "communism".

[Hegemonicretribution]

Basically a Marxist is someone that adheres to the work of Marx, although the term is used in a variety of ways. Like communism, the meaning will depend on the tone and context of the situation. At school for example "communism" is synonomous with authoritarian regimes, on this board it carries an opposite meaning.

"Marxist" is often used by anti-revisionist Leninists in a different way than an anarchist might. The point is there are so many terms and meanings you will just have to submerge yourself into the whole mess just to get an idea. Don't worry about actual words as much as ideas, the words themselves are fairly interchangable. For the most part there is some sort of consensus here amongst most ofthe board members...but that is for ease of discussion. In general you generally have to define concepts anyway if you want to get anywhere, so it isn't too important.

[!Injustice!]

thanks Hegemonicretribution for your reply i can understand what you are saying and i can understand the difference

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Most Communists today are Marxists as he is basically the father of modern day socialist theory. At the very least, you have people who agree with his critique on capitalism, those are usually religious and/or reformist socialists.

[apathy maybe]

Despite what some people might tell you, communism is not restricted to Marxists. Yes Marx and Engels were perhaps the first propose such a system (the anarchists at the time were mostly collectivists or mutualists), anarchists have since taken up the idea. Kropotkin is perhaps the most well known of these early anarchist communists.
Communism is a class-less state-less society where goods and property are held in common. Often the ideal of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs" is put forward as the basis for such society. There are different degrees of communism, some people hold that all property will belong to the community, including individual items such as toothbrushes and under ware. Others hold that such items while 'belonging' to the community, are for the exclusive use of the person who uses them.


Originally posted by MrDoom+--> (MrDoom)A Marxist is a specific type of communist, one who adheres to Marxism; consisting of Dialectic Materialism and recognition of class struggle.

The word "communist" almost always means "Marxist" nowadays, but it can also refer to religious "communism". [/b]First bit yes, second bit no. On this board at least about half of the communists are anarchists. But they might use a Marxian class analysis.


LeftyHenry
Most Communists today are Marxists as he is basically the father of modern day socialist theory. At the very least, you have people who agree with his critique on capitalism, those are usually religious and/or reformist socialists.Marx is the father of one branch of modern socialist theory. While many anarchists accept a lot of what he said, most would not call themselves Marxists. I wish people would not confuse Marxism with communism and I am glad !Injustice! asked the difference. The two are different.

Marxism supposedly provides a scientific basis for believing that communism is inevitable.

[Floyce White]

I have to answer that question so often, I created a "personal signature" to do so. It follows this and every post I make.