Communism vs Socialism
It is true that Communism and Socialism have similarities and differences as well between them. It is interesting to know that both socialism and communism are collections of ideological principles. One of the basic differences between socialism and communism is regarding their nature. Socialism has a lot to do with the economic system whereas communism has a lot to do with the political system. Through this article let us examine the differences between these two ideological stances in depth.
What is Communism?
Communism is an ideological stance in which the property is owned by the community. Hence, one can claim that communism aims at classlessness. Communism just as Socialism believes in the management of economy not using planned social control but using the involvement of centralized organizations to bring about statelessness. Communism believes in the distribution of goods and services based on the needs of the people.
Although both socialism and communism aim at bring about classless society, their methods of approach are different. Communism believes in bringing about classless society by putting an end to capitalism and private ownership, but Socialism does not. With this let us move on to Socialism.
What is Socialism?
Socialism is an ideological stance in which the resources, industries and transportation should be owned and controlled by the state. Although both communism and socialism are conceptual towards economic growth, Socialism aims at collective social control. Socialism believes in the management of the economy using planned social control. Socialism believes in the distribution of goods to people based on hard work. Socialism believes in bringing about a classless society using capitalism and private ownership too.
One of the main differences between socialism and communism is their method of economic control. Socialists believe that economic control can be brought about by the involvement of as many people as possible in the setup. Communists, on the contrary, do not believe in the involvement of as many people as possible in the set up to bring about economic control. In fact, they believe in the phenomenon of concentration on small groups of people.
What is the Difference Between Communism and Socialism ?
Definitions of Communism and Socialism:
Communism: Communism is an ideological stance in which the property is owned by the community.
Socialism: Socialism is an ideological stance in which the resources, industries and transportation should be owned and controlled by the state.
Characteristics of Communism and Socialism:
Focus:
Communism: Communism concentrates more on the political system also to the economic system.
Socialism: Socialism has a lot to do with the economic system.
Capitalism:
Communism: Communism believes that the removal capitalism is the way to achieve a classless society.
Socialism: Socialism believes that class society can be brought about even through capitalists. Thus, socialism believes in the involvement of as many people as possible to bring about economic control.
Distribution of goods and services:
Communism: The distribution of goods and services should be based on the needs of the people.
Socialism: The distribution of goods to people should be based on hard work.
Method of Economic Control:
Communism: Communists believe in the phenomenon of concentration on small groups of people.
Socialism: Socialists believe that economic control can be brought about by the involvement of as many people as possible in the setup.
Image Courtesy:
1.”Communist Party of the Russian Federation meeting at Manezhnaya Square, Moscow, 2011-12-18” by Bogomolov.PL – Own work. [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
2.”Libertarian Socialist Flag” by Philip Kanellopoulos– Own work. [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons
