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SSR – Do you have your novel?. Communism vs. Socialism. Rise of C ompeting Governments. Communism. Socialism . A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of most property in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the workers .
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Communism vs. Socialism Rise of Competing Governments
Communism Socialism A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of most property in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the workers A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the community or state
Philosophy Communism Socialism From each according to his ability, to each according to his contribution. Emphasis on profit being distributed among the society or workforce in addition to receiving a wage. • From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Free-access to the articles of consumption is made possible by advances in technology that allow for super-abundance
Political and Social Structure Communism Socialism Multiple parties, but the ruling party usually goes by the name "Socialist". Class distinctions are diminished • No leader, directed directly by the people. This has never been actually practiced, and has just used a one-party system. • All class distinctions are eliminated.
Economic System Communism Socialism Wealth redistributed so that everyone in society is given somewhat equal shares of the benefits derived from labor, but people can earn more if they work harder. Means of production are controlled by the workers themselves. • Wealth redistributed so that everyone in society is given equal shares of the benefits derived from labor. All means of production are controlled by the state.
Free Choice Communism Socialism All choices, including education, religion, employment and marriage, are up to the individual. All health care and education is provided free to everybody • In real communism, where a leader does not exist, everything is chosen freely.In those that have been practiced though, all choices, including education, religion, employment and marriage, are controlled by the state.
Private Property, Religion, and Discrimination Communism Socialism There are two kinds of property: private property, such as land, houses, clothing, etc. owned by the individual. Public property, factories, and means of production owned by the state but with worker control Freedom of religion The people are considered equal, laws are made when necessary to protect people from discrimination • Abolished • Abolished • In theory, all members of the state are considered equal
Socialism’s emergence • Liberal political parties in 19th century Europe failed to address the desperate needs of working people. • Classical liberalism views poverty as an individual choice or failure, not the result of social structures. Also suspicious of big government. • Socialism provides a different conception of individual responsibility & of government.
Socialism’s principles • egalitarianism or equality. Humankind will be unified and cooperative, once wealth is owned and used for the common good. Capitalism exploits the very people who create society’s wealth. • Moralism. Division of rich & poor is evil; capitalism is fundamentally unjust. Instead, the ideal future emphasizes peace, social justice and true liberty for all.
Karl Marx • German political thinker in 19th century. • Did most of his work in Britain. • Influenced by German philosopher Hegel. • Published Communist Manifesto in 1848 with co-author Frederick Engels. • Wrote multi-volume Capital (Das Kapital), starting in 1867.
Define Bourgeois: modern capitalists who own the means of production and therefore get to keep all the profits. Today, this would include major stockholders in corporations.
Define Proletarians: modern wage laborers who sell their labor to live and don’t get any of the profits that they help to create. This includes everyone who is not a stockholder or owner of capital, even professionals who work for a salary.
Karl Marx’s key ideas Economic systems go through historic cycles. Over time, an economic system becomes rigid and cannot adjust to new technologies, so a new system emerges, with new class relations and oppression. Someday, a perfect classless society will emerge and there will be no further cycles.
Marx’s key ideas Slave system gave way to feudal economy 2. Feudal economy broke down with growth of manufacturing, towns, navigation & transportation, emergence of middle class 3. Industrial capitalism emerged, with only two classes: proletariat and bourgeoisie.
Industrial Capitalism – Negative Effects • Destroys important human values, replacing even religious belief with naked exploitation. • Undermines an individual’s sense of personal value in one’s work. • Undermines human relationships; all relationships are based on cash. • Destroys human freedom. The only freedom it protects is free trade.
Industrial Capitalism – Positive Effects • Unprecedented exploration and technological advancements. • War less likely. • Urbanization opens people’s minds to new ideas. • Economic production centralized, leading to favorable conditions for communism to emerge.
Communist Revolution Inevitable Capitalism creates huge factories. Workers become concentrated and begin to organize for legal reforms (higher wages/better working conditions). Their effort fails. Fierce competition between capitalists leads to new technologies, which leads to lower costs.
Communist Revolution Inevitable In the competition, some capitalists go bankrupt & have to become workers, and many workers lose their jobs as new technology replaces them. (Consider reports that U.S. workers’ productivity is going up. Fewer workers are making more goods, which means technology is replacing them.)
Communist Revolution Inevitable • Greater numbers of people permanently unemployed. Misery widespread. • Fewer people can afford the products of capitalists, so fewer companies survive. • Class struggle reaches a climax. • Conditions now ripe for revolution. The proletariat, having nothing to lose but their chains, rise up.
Communist Revolution • Revolution will eliminate private property. No longer will man have the means of exploiting another man. • Bourgeoisie will fight, so revolution will be violent. • A dictatorship of the proletariat will follow to weed out remaining capitalist elements.
The Worker’s Utopia • In the end, a classless society with no more oppression or internal contradictions. • People will be free to choose how they labor, and can be creatively productive. They will be able to live to their fullest potential. Consider the description in Marx’s Communist Manifesto in 1845:
The Worker’s Utopia • “In communist society, …nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes,… to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, … without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic.”
