Communism vs. Leninism

Attribute	Communism	Leninism
Founder	Karl Marx	Vladimir Lenin
Goal	Classless society	Dictatorship of the proletariat
Role of the state	Withers away in the end	Temporary instrument of revolution
Revolutionary strategy	Global revolution	Vanguard party leading the revolution
Economic system	Common ownership of the means of production	State-controlled economy

Definition

Communism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for a classless society where the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole. It aims to create a society where resources are distributed equally among all members, eliminating social classes and promoting cooperation over competition. Leninism, on the other hand, is a political theory developed by Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Party in Russia. It builds upon the ideas of communism but emphasizes the need for a vanguard party to lead the revolution and establish a socialist state.

Role of the State

In communism, the ultimate goal is to create a stateless society where the government is no longer needed as all decisions are made collectively by the community. This is in contrast to Leninism, which sees the state as a necessary tool to achieve the transition from capitalism to socialism. Lenin believed that a strong centralized state led by the vanguard party was essential to protect the revolution from counter-revolutionary forces and to guide the country towards socialism.

Economic System

Both communism and Leninism advocate for a planned economy where the state controls the means of production and distribution of goods and services. However, Leninism places a greater emphasis on the role of the state in directing the economy through centralized planning and state ownership of key industries. Lenin believed that the state should play a leading role in economic development to ensure the success of the socialist revolution.

Revolutionary Strategy

Communism and Leninism differ in their approach to achieving a socialist society. Communism generally advocates for a peaceful transition through education and grassroots organizing, while Leninism emphasizes the need for a violent revolution led by the vanguard party. Lenin believed that the working class needed a disciplined and centralized party to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a dictatorship of the proletariat.

Internationalism

Both communism and Leninism are internationalist ideologies that seek to spread the socialist revolution worldwide. However, Leninism places a greater emphasis on the concept of "socialism in one country," which argues that socialism can be achieved in a single country before spreading to others. This idea was developed in response to the challenges faced by the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.

Legacy

Communism and Leninism have had a significant impact on the course of history, shaping the development of socialist movements around the world. While communism continues to be a powerful ideology that inspires social change and resistance to capitalism, Leninism has been criticized for its authoritarian tendencies and centralization of power. Despite these criticisms, both ideologies have left a lasting legacy on the struggle for social justice and equality.