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View Full Version : communism, socialism, marxism - what's the difference



CHUX39
16th November 2001, 02:33
I've tried to find the books, i've asked jeeves, could somebody tell me what the hell is the difference between communism, socialism, and marxism? or are they interchangeable?

RedCeltic
16th November 2001, 05:28
This was asked on another thread in Q & A...

http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/top...rum=12&topic=19 (http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/topic.pl?forum=12&topic=19)

Also the link Moskitto gave on that thread is a good resource...

http://www.geocities.com/redencyclopedia

(Edited by RedCeltic at 12:33 am on Nov. 16, 2001)

koba
16th November 2001, 05:35
ok i dont got much time on my hands but here's a quick definition:

Communism : is the general idea that there should be no private property and ALL should be held in common (by everyone). The abolition of classes, especially the Bourgeois (the employing class). So there is one and unique ruling class the Proletariat (the workers or employed). Also seen (by Hegel) as the peek of a human society first going through slavery, feudalism and then to capitalism. Also often seen as the most radical part of socialism, so in other words Communism is socialism but socialism is not necessarily communism. Communism is a theory within socialism. Often Communists beleive that the only way to abolish the current system (capitalism) is to do it through violent and armed revolution, where as someone who is a socialist might not beleive in this. But it all depends on whose communism theories you follow, for example Stalin's, Mao's or Marx's or maybe even Fidels and Che's which renewed/modified certain things.

Socialism: is the Top category, so communism, Social-democracy, Democratic Socialism, and many others fall under this. The general idea is to have social equallity so have one class, the Proletariat. And that most MAJOR industries are controlled by the state, so all industries which are vital to a country. But other Private industries might be still allowed to exist like the corner store for example, or the local restaurante or book store. Usually socialists beleive in acheiving their goals by DEMOCRACY and not by violent means, But all this depends of which theory you fallow under socialism.



Marxism: is the socialist theory of Karl Marx, Marxism is communism, but defined by Karl Marx more clearly. He beleives in the enivitable crumbling of the Capitalist society and the stages that society goes through (which he took from Hegelian philosophy). Marxism is the theory of Karl Marx which was formed and influenced by many others, what he did is clearify what communism is. Those who agree with his idea's and theories are Marxists. I could keep blabing about Marx's ideas but instead I will suggest you the Communist Manifesto written by Marx and Engels which clearly explains what marxism is. Das Kapital is another one I suggest you for further readings.

___
I hope this helped u clarify things for you.
If you need even more explaining on all the other terminology i suggest you check out the Red dictionary:

http://www.geocities.com/redencyclopedia/index.htm

and for books I suggest you check out the Pathfinder book stores near you, email them here, just explain that you would like to know where the nearest bookstore is is in your area, this is the email of the one that i go to, :

Librairie Pathfinder Montréal [[email protected]]




I hope all of this has helped you.
Have a good day camarade :)

Karo Chevez
20th November 2001, 23:12
Marx envisioned a social revolution going through stages
in which the proletariat gains political power and sets up
a dictatorsip by which to reorganize society,once social
justice and equality are established Marx then foresees
that the state will then melt away,this stateless society
is what Marx determines to be true communism.One can
therefore deduce that there has never existed nor can
there exist a communist state.The USSR and China were
meant to be workers states but resulted in dictatorships
of individuals who used communism as a means of self-
promotion building their states on the cult of personality,
hardship,and oppression.Communism as conceived by
Marx can therefore be seen as a form of anarchy in that
it expresses no need of a state,whereas socialism holds
to the basic principles pf Marx,Engels,Lenin,etc,however
it promote the socialist state as the highest means of
human advancement,and though some socialists hold to
the democratic notion of apeaceful transition of power,
there are socialists such as myself that promotes gaining
political power by any means including armed revolution.
It should be understood that Che was a revolutionary
socialist,rather than a communist.I study the writings of
various socialist thinkers,Marx,Lenin,Trotsky,etc,and one
should not refer to oneself as a Marxist,Leninist,etc,no
more than a physicist should call himself a Newtonian.I
am and ever shall be a socialist.-Karo

Freiheit
21st November 2001, 07:49
the is a serie in greenhaven press called opposing viewpoints, one book of this serie is socialism another one is communism, theyre about 15 years old, so you cant buy them any more, but you can get them in library.

the books show the different opinions about the topics, but you see very quick the general opinion that people in the west have about communsim: stalinism.
but it is a very interesting book as well as socialsim.