Communist vs. Marxist

Attribute	Communist	Marxist
Economic System	Advocates for a classless society where the means of production are owned collectively	Believes in the eventual establishment of a classless society through the overthrow of capitalism
Political Ideology	Supports a centralized government that controls the economy and social structure	Emphasizes the need for a revolution by the working class to achieve a socialist society
Founder	Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels	Karl Marx
Goal	To create a society where resources are distributed equally among all individuals	To achieve a stateless, classless society where workers have control over their labor

Definition

Communism and Marxism are often used interchangeably, but they are actually distinct ideologies. Communism is a political and economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state, with the goal of creating a classless society. Marxism, on the other hand, is a social, political, and economic theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which serves as the foundation for communism. Marxism seeks to analyze and critique the capitalist system, with the ultimate goal of achieving a socialist society.

Philosophical Roots

Communism can be seen as a practical application of Marxist theory. While Marxism provides the theoretical framework for understanding society and history, communism is the actual implementation of those ideas in a political system. Marx believed that capitalism would inevitably lead to its own downfall, as the working class (proletariat) would rise up against the ruling class (bourgeoisie) in a revolution. This revolution would result in the establishment of a communist society, where all property is held in common.

Role of the State

One key difference between communism and Marxism is the role of the state. In communism, the state plays a central role in controlling the means of production and distributing resources. This centralized control is seen as necessary to achieve the goal of a classless society. In contrast, Marxism envisions a stateless society, where the means of production are owned collectively by the workers themselves. Marx believed that the state would wither away once the proletariat had seized control of the means of production.

Economic System

Both communism and Marxism advocate for a socialist economic system, where the means of production are owned collectively rather than privately. This is in contrast to capitalism, where the means of production are owned by individuals or corporations. In a communist society, resources are distributed according to need, rather than profit. This is in line with Marx's famous slogan, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

Class Struggle

Another key aspect of both communism and Marxism is the concept of class struggle. Marx believed that history was driven by the conflict between different social classes, particularly the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. This class struggle would ultimately lead to the overthrow of the capitalist system and the establishment of communism. Communism seeks to eliminate class distinctions altogether, creating a society where all individuals are equal.

Internationalism

Both communism and Marxism are internationalist ideologies, meaning they seek to spread their ideas and principles beyond national borders. Marx famously declared that "Workers of the world, unite!" in the Communist Manifesto, calling for solidarity among the working class across different countries. Communism aims to create a global classless society, free from the divisions of nationalism and imperialism. This internationalist perspective sets communism and Marxism apart from more nationalist ideologies.

Conclusion

While communism and Marxism share many similarities, such as their focus on class struggle and the goal of creating a classless society, they also have distinct differences in terms of the role of the state and the implementation of their ideas. Communism can be seen as the practical application of Marxist theory, with the state playing a central role in controlling the means of production. Marxism, on the other hand, envisions a stateless society where the workers themselves own and control the means of production. Both ideologies advocate for a socialist economic system and seek to eliminate class distinctions, but they differ in their approach to achieving these goals.