Communism in Practice

Communism, as an ideology and political movement, seeks to create a classless society where the means of production are owned collectively. Rooted in the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, communism advocates for the abolition of private property and aims to establish a system where wealth is distributed according to need, not individual ownership. This chapter explores the foundational principles of communism, its historical development, and its responses to capitalism and social inequality. At the heart of communism lies the idea of economic equality. Marx and Engels argued that capitalism inherently exploits workers, who sell their labor for wages while capitalists profit from the value produced. The solution, according to communism, is the overthrow of capitalist systems and the establishment of a proletarian (working class) dictatorship. This revolutionary phase would transition into a classless society in which private property is abolished, and wealth is shared among all members of society. The key principles of communism emphasize collective ownership, state control of resources, and the idea of class struggle. In Marxist theory, history is understood through the lens of class conflict, where different social classes—such as the bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (workers)—are in perpetual opposition. The ultimate goal is to establish a society free of these class distinctions, where everyone has access to the same resources and opportunities.