Is Communism a form of government?

[Natalenko]

I beleive that it is.

Most definately,as with every dictatorship or central legaslative state.

[Felicia]

Honestly, I don't know. I have always considered it is a social system based on Marxism. Why a social system? Because of the socialized health care and the free education, and a ruling middle class (dosn't happen though). Communism seems to go well with a dictatorship, but the way I see it is that the dictatorship is the government, communism is the political ideology the government attemps to follow. Perhaps in most cases they are one and the same. In Canada we are technically a "democracy" (for arguements sake I'll go along with this) and we have a liberal government in power, if elections were held and the conservatives (right-wingers) came into power tomorrow canada would still be considered a "democracy" regardless of the differing political views(unless, ofcourse, the new ideology called for a structual change, as for centralization of power). Governments do seem to be classified in accordance to their ideologies (communist, fascist, etc) instead of thier structure (democratic, dictatorship, autocracy, etc). I think that this is a strongly arguable issue. Not that I want to argue with you.

[Supermodel]

so, communism is a form of government, yet there are many forms of communism.

[Hattori Hanzo]

I like to think of it as an economic system

[Felicia]

I think a compromise can be met here

[Xvall]

I don't think it's a government.. That's why it branches off...

Leninism/Marxism - Democratic Communism ( I think? )
Stalinism/Maoism - Autoritarian Communism
Bakunism - Anarchist Communism

I believe it varies?

[Natalenko]

Marxism = Idealogical Communism
Leninism = Bolshevism = Socilist Communism
Stalinism = Authoritarian Centralised National Statism
Maoism = South-east Asian communism (Vietnam and Laos) = Authoritarian Communism
Bakuninism = Anarchism
Castroism = Marxist Leninist Communism (Finally someone got it right)

Clarified enough?

But communism has a stage of Dictator ship of the state (present stage of communism in Cuba) where the state is centralised and petty-authoritarian (petty-bourgeoise), the state also has a private military. But the corporations are still nationalised and the medication, produce and education are nationalised and "communised" if you like (from each according to ability, to each according to need).

So in a way, communism is a form of government, AT THE MOMENT but when it is acheived to reach anarchy, then we might call communism just an idealogy.


(Edited by Natalenko at 6:22 pm on June 7, 2002)

[Felicia]

sure, I'll go with that.

(p.s. love the new avatar!)


(Edited by felicia at 12:38 pm on June 20, 2002)

[Natalenko]

thankyou

[thebigcom]

Well of course it is. its just not a very good one. if you are going to make it more then a philosiphy it probably needs some tweaking.

[Menshevik]

Any system with a state is a government. I thought that would be self-explanatory. Only social-system without a government is Anarchy.

[Menshevik]

Any system with a state is a government. I thought that would be self-explanatory. Only social-system without a government is Anarchy.

[RGacky3]

I don't think communism is a form of government, its an economic system. communism is compateble with almost all governmet types.

[timbaly]

I completly agree with RGacky3 even though it doesn't work well with all governments.

[Menshevik]

What are you people talking about. Please, tell me what you think a government is.

[Super Xero]

In Communism the People are the State

[Menshevik]

not exactly, SX. In theory, it's a dictatorship of the proletariat, but the entire country isn't in charge. There can only be room for a few party members who represent the proletariat to run things. Though, often the outcome is a dictatorship of one man.

[samaniego]

Communism is an Economic theory, It is the polarity of Capitalism. Marx belived that capitalism would evolve into Socialism and eventually Communism. Lenin however felt that the Proletariot was to stupid to become conscious on his own so he belived we needed Communist leaders to help us. That's perhaps the govt. aspect of his theory, Marx felt that history would repeat itself and the proletariot would naturally revolt away from the Capitalist system.