When we talk about communism it’s easy to conflate it with Marxism.
While there is considerable overlap, and it is certainly difficult to talk about the former in the modern context without referring to the latter, there is a perceptible distinction between the two. To put it simply, communism generally refers to a classless system of governance in which private property and the means of production are owned communally. Nevertheless, most forms of communism today are rooted in Marxist principles.
In the Communist Manifesto Karl Marx argues that in capitalist societies, the bourgeois class (those who own the means of production) rely on constantly expanding their means of production. However, due to the nature of the world, we are faced with limited resources and in turn, workers will have to sell their labour for increasingly less. Marx argues that eventually the working class will come to realise this exploitation and in turn will collaborate and form collectives to protect themselves against the ruling class. Through social revolution they will overthrow the capitalists and communism will materialise.
Marx outlines ten key measures by which communism may arise:
1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes
2. Heavy progressive/graduated income tax
3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels
5. Centralisation of credit in the hands of the state with national state bank and exclusive monopoly
6. Centralisation of communication and transport in hands of the state
7. Instruments of production owned by state
8. Equal liability of all to work
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; abolition of distinction between town and country
10. Free education for all children in public schools
In practice, however, despite seemingly progressive ideals, communism has taken the shape of oppressive regimes.
We have to ask ourselves why. Is it the result of a grotesque misinterpretation of Marx’s philosophy, or is there something inherently totalitarian in the logic of communism?
Further Helpful Resources and topical readings
The Marxist Library Entry on Communism: https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/c/o.htm
Ding, D., & Li, Z. (2021). The theoretical origin of the knowledge-sharing mode of open access: From knowledge communism to academic capitalism. Cultures of Science, 4(4), 199-207. https://doi.org/10.1177/20966083221075424
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