What Is Communism?

Communism is an economic system where the group owns the factors of production. The factors of production are labor, entrepreneurship, capital, and land. Although the government doesn't legally own the labor force, the central planners tell the people where they should work.

The Origins of Communism

German philosopher Karl Marx developed the theory of communism. He said it was, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." In his view, capitalistic owners would no longer siphon off all the profits. Instead, the proceeds would go to the workers. To Marx, this meant that people would work at what they loved and did well. They would happily contribute these skills for the good of all. The economy would prosper because they would work harder than in capitalism.

"To each according to his need" meant the community would take care of those who couldn't work. It would distribute goods and services to everyone as they required them. Those who were able to work would be motivated by enlightened self-interest.

10 Characteristics of Communism in Theory

In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and co-author Friedrich Engels outlined the following 10 points. 

• Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes
• A heavy progressive tax or graduated income tax
• Abolition of all rights of inheritance
• Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels
• Centralization of credit in the hands of the state
• The state would control communication and transportation
• The state factories and instruments of production would cultivate wastelands and improve the soil
• Equal liability of all to labor and establishment of industrial armies (especially for agriculture)
• The gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country
• Free education for all children in public schools and the abolition of children's factory labor

The manifesto mentions state ownership in its last three points, making even this pure vision of communism sound like socialism. But Marx argued that state ownership is a valid stage in the transition to communism.

The leaders create a plan that outlines their choices, and it's executed with laws, regulations, and directives. The goal of the plan is to give to "each according to his need." Communist countries have free health care, education, and other services. The plan also seeks to increase the nation's economic growth, secure national defense, and maintain infrastructure.

The state owns businesses on behalf of the workers, which, in effect, means the government owns a monopoly. The government rewards company managers for meeting the targets detailed in the plan. In communism, central planners replace the forces of competition and the laws of supply and demand that operate in a market economy, as well as the customs that guide a traditional economy.

Differences Among Communism, Socialism, Capitalism, and Fascism

Communism is most similar to socialism. In both, the people own the factors of production. The most significant difference is that output is distributed according to need in communism. Communism is most different from capitalism, where private individuals are the owners, but it is similar to fascism in that both use central plans. Fascism allows individuals to retain factors of production, and many countries turned to fascism to ward off communism.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Communism

Advantages Explained

• Centrally planned economy: A communist country with a centralized economy can quickly mobilize economic resources on a large scale, execute massive projects, and create industrial power. Communist command economies can wholly transform societies to conform to the planner's vision. Examples include Stalinist Russia, Maoist China, and Castro's Cuba. Russia's command economy built up the military strength to defeat the Nazis and then quickly rebuilt the economy after World War II.
• Philosophical equality: Some say communism's advantages mean it is the next obvious step for any capitalistic society. They see income inequality as a sign of late-stage capitalism and believe that capitalism's flaws mean it has evolved past its usefulness to society. They don't realize that capitalism's flaws are endemic to the system, regardless of the phase it is in.

Disadvantages Explained

• Devaluation of individual welfare and liberty: One of the reasons a communist system can move so effectively is because it overrides individual self-interest and subjugates the welfare of the general population to achieve critical social goals.
• No free market: The most significant disadvantage of communism stems from its elimination of the free market. The laws of supply and demand don't set prices—the government does. Planners lose the valuable feedback these prices provide about what the people want. They can't get up-to-date information about consumers' needs, and as a result, there is often a surplus of one thing and shortages of others.

Communist Countries

The last five remaining Communist countries are China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. They aren't pure communism but are transitioning from socialism, where the state owns the components of supply. According to Marx, that is a necessary midway point between capitalism and the ideal communist economy. Modern communist societies rely on a mixed economy.

China

In October 1949, Mao Tse Tung established the Chinese Communist Party. In the late 1970s, China began moving toward a mixed economy. It phased out collective farms and allowed private businesses, but it still strictly follows a five-year economic plan. The government's policies favor state-owned enterprises in sectors vital to its goals. In 2009, China became the world's largest exporter. In 2014, it became the world's largest economy.

Cuba

In October 1965, the Partido Communista de Cuba became the country's official ruling party. The Soviet Union gave economic support to the impoverished country, and in return, Cuba supported its patron in the Cold War against its neighbor, the United States.

After the fall of the USSR, Cuba suffered, and in April 2011, it began allowing economic reforms. People in Cuba can now buy appliances, cellphones, real estate, and cars, and in 2013 the Cuban government reported that more than 500,000 people are registered as self-employed. However, many experts estimate it to be much higher.

Laos

In 1949, the nation won independence from France. In 1986, it began decentralizing control and encouraging private businesses. Laos has created tax incentives to encourage foreign direct investment because it wants to expand its economy beyond exporting its natural resources. Laos currently is under a single-party system and is ruled by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

North Korea

In 1953, North Korea's allies China and Russia helped create North Korea to end the Korean War. The country followed strict central planning with communal farming. It suffered famine and poor living conditions in the 1990s and 2000s, and in 2002, it allowed semi-private markets to sell some goods. In 2016 it used government power to spur two mass mobilizations in producing goods for market.

Vietnam

In 1945, communist leader Ho Chi Minh declared his country's independence from France. The French, backed by the United States, seized southern Vietnam. Ho, backed by China, took the northern part. France continued to rule until 1954. In 1975, the communists were successful, and in 1986, Vietnam began transitioning toward a more market-based economy.

Other Examples in History

In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established with six communist countries: Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasian Federation. In 1936, the Federation became Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.

By 1991, when it dissolved, the USSR contained 15 total countries. The additional nine were Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

In 1955, the USSR created the Warsaw Pact with other communist military allies. They included Albania, Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

The USSR had many other communist allies. Many became communists in the 1970s but shifted to another form of government after the USSR collapsed. They included Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, and Mongolia. Cambodia was a communist country from 1975 to 1979.

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