Communism

Communism is a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole, or to the state.

Communism was discribed as a scientific theory by sociologist Karl Marx using a line of thought known as Marxism. Karl Marx theorized that the competing interests of those who owned the means of production (Bourgeoisie), and those who had to work to survive (Proletariat) would lead to political power being held by the Proletariat. Once this was achieved public ownership, and managment of the means of production would come into effect (a stage refered to as Socialism). As proverty, and the scarcity of goods deminished, and all goods became freely accessable; the distinction between bourgeoisie, and proletariate would sece to exist; and money, would no longer be used. As social organizations take over areas once handled by government agencies, the government would also, sece to exist. The result, Marx called Communism: a stateless, moneyless, classess society.

His theory would inspire those after him to attempt to bring about such a state, Vladimir Lenin would lead the October Revolution in Czarist Russia, where in political power was gained by the Marxist Party. This strategy of Vanguard party tactics is refered to as Leninism, where in a communist party uses revolution to secure political power in the interest of the working class.

Joseph Stalin, following the death of Vladimir Lenin would take the idea of a Vanguard party, and fuse it with the socialist stage of communist development to create the Marxism-Leninism ideology in which a communist party takes power via revolution in a single state, which it then organizes as a single party state to further the development of a Communist society by hindering the voice of opposition. The party would then take full control of the economy (something called a Planned Economy) in order to have the socialist stage fully realized. Once all nations of the world had this revolution, Communism as discribed by Karl Marx would come into existence. Critics of the approach claim the system merely creates State Capitalism, or control of capital by the state, essentially turning the state into one big company.

Never the the less, Marism-Leninism has been adopted as the officially ideology of the Comintern.