Which Countries Are Still Truly Communist?

The Infographics Show
24 May 201811:10
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThis episode of the Infographics Show explores the status of communism in the modern world, questioning whether the political philosophy proposed by Marx and Engels is still practiced as intended. It examines countries like Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, China, and Cuba, noting the varying degrees to which they adhere to communist principles. Despite some economic reforms and the blending of political ideologies, these nations maintain elements of communism, though the extent and authenticity of their commitment are debated. The episode invites viewers to ponder the future trajectory of these countries in terms of their political and economic systems.

Takeaways
  • ๐ŸŒ Communism is an economic and social system where property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society, not by individuals.
  • ๐Ÿ“œ The foundation of communism was laid by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who published The Communist Manifesto in 1848.
  • ๐ŸŒ Communism once dominated political philosophy in many countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America, including the Soviet Union.
  • ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ The Soviet Union transitioned from communism to a semi-presidential republic in 1991, marking a significant shift in its political system.
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ True communist states today are limited in number and include Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, China, and Cuba, each with varying degrees of adherence to communist principles.
  • ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam, despite its communist one-party rule, has adopted market economy principles and is rapidly growing economically, with some capitalist values integrated.
  • ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Laos, officially a communist country, has seen changes due to democratic influences through tourism and trade, and has a growing private sector.
  • ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ต North Korea's political system is based on 'juche' or self-reliance, and differs from traditional communism; its human rights record and strict controls are widely criticized.
  • ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China, while still governed by the Chinese Communist Party, has a mixed economic system that recognizes private property and has led to its emergence as a global economic power.
  • ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡บ Cuba, a one-party communist state, has experienced some relaxation of relations with the United States in recent years but continues to face criticism over human rights and press freedom.
  • ๐Ÿค” The future of communism in these countries is uncertain, with some showing signs of deviation from the original principles proposed by Marx and Engels, and potential shifts towards other systems of governance.
Q & A
  • What is the fundamental concept of communism?

    -Communism is an economic and social system where most property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society, rather than by individual citizens. It aims for common ownership of all land and capital, and the dissolving of the coercive power of the state, with social relations regulated on the principle of 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs'.

  • Who are the founders of communism?

    -Communism was founded by two German political philosophers, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who published The Communist Manifesto in 1848, which became the foundation for communism.

  • How did communism spread globally?

    -Communism became the dominant political philosophy for many countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America, particularly after its development in the old Soviet Union in the late 19th century.

  • What happened to communism after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991?

    -After the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991, Russia constituted itself as a semi-presidential republic. Communism still exists in a number of countries, but in many cases, it has become a legacy of the past and has lost much of its original doctrinal elements.

  • Which countries are still considered communist according to experts?

    -The countries that most experts consider to be communist today are Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, China, and Cuba.

  • How has Vietnam's economy evolved since its establishment as a communist state?

    -Although Vietnam is technically still a communist country with one-party rule, it has moved toward a market economy in recent decades, becoming one of the world's fastest-growing economies and is on track to become a modern industrialized nation.

  • What changes have occurred in Laos since its adoption of communism?

    -Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, hasๅ…่ฎธ some forms of private ownership since 1988 and joined the World Trade Organization in 2013. Its economy is also influenced by the private sector and tourism, indicating a deviation from strict communist principles.

  • How does North Korea's political system differ from traditional communism?

    -North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, does not identify as a communist state. It follows the 'juche' ideology of self-reliance, introduced in the mid 1950s, and has removed all mentions of Marxism and Leninism from its constitution.

  • What are some key economic reforms that China has implemented since adopting communism?

    -China, officially the People's Republic of China, has made significant economic reforms, including recognizing private property in its 2004 constitution, and allowing a capitalist economy to grow, which has made it the world's second-largest economy.

  • How has the economic system of Cuba evolved since it became a communist state?

    -Cuba, a one-party communist state, has seen increased engagement with the United States, leading to some relaxation of travel restrictions and a crackdown on the emerging private sector. However, the government still maintains a monopoly on the majority of economic activity within centralized state enterprises.

  • What is the current status of communism in the world?

    -While communism still exists in countries like Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, China, and Cuba, there is a deviation from the original communist economic and social systems proposed by Marx and Engels. Many of these countries have adopted market economy aspects and have varying levels of commitment to communist principles.

  • What is the role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in China's current political and economic system?

    -The CCP is the ruling party in China and plays a significant role in controlling major aspects of society and the economy. It controls state-owned banks, media companies, and land, although the country has adopted many capitalist market drivers and recognizes private property.

Outlines
00:00
๐ŸŒ Introduction to Communism and its Global Presence

This paragraph introduces the concept of communism, an economic and social system where property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society. It highlights the origins of communism, traced back to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who published the Communist Manifesto in 1848. The paragraph discusses the spread of communism to various regions, including Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America, and notes the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It raises questions about the current practice of communism and whether it aligns with the original principles proposed by Marx and Engels. The paragraph also lists countries where communism has been practiced and those that are still considered communist, such as Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, China, and Cuba.

05:01
๐ŸŒ Evolution and Current Status of Communism in Selected Countries

This paragraph delves into the specifics of communism in various countries, starting with Vietnam, which became a communist state after the Vietnam War and has since shifted towards a market economy while retaining one-party rule. It then discusses Laos, which became communist in 1975 and has a closed political system but is influenced by democratic ideologies through tourism and trade. The paragraph also explores North Korea, which, despite being governed by a dictatorship promoting 'juche', is often misinterpreted as a communist state. It then examines China, which has embraced economic reforms and capitalist elements while maintaining control over key aspects of society and the economy. Lastly, it talks about Cuba, a one-party communist state with restrictions on freedoms and a history of tense relations with the United States.

10:04
๐ŸŽจ Behind the Scenes: Video Creation with Adobe Software

This final paragraph shifts focus from the main topic of communism to the production aspect of the video. It explains that Adobe After Effects and Adobe Illustrator are used for video creation, and promotes Skillshare, an online learning platform offering classes in animation and other fields. The paragraph provides a call to action for viewers to sign up for Skillshare using a promo code or link in the video description to receive a free trial. It ends with a prompt for viewers to share their thoughts on the topic and encourages them to engage with other content from the Infographics Show.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กCommunism
Communism is an economic and social system where most property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society rather than by individual citizens. It was founded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and is characterized by common ownership of all land and capital, as well as the dissolution of the coercive power of the state. In the video, communism is discussed in the context of countries that still practice it and how it has evolved over time.
๐Ÿ’กThe Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto is a political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848. It lays the foundation for communism as an ideology and calls for the workers of the world to unite against the ruling bourgeoisie. In the video, it is mentioned as the foundational text for communism, highlighting its significance in the history of political philosophy.
๐Ÿ’กSoviet Union
The Soviet Union, or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It played a major role in the spread of communism globally and was the largest country by area in the world. The video discusses the Soviet Union in the context of the rise and fall of communism, noting its dissolution in 1991 and the subsequent shift towards a semi-presidential republic in Russia.
๐Ÿ’กMarket Economy
A market economy is an economic system in which economic decisions and the allocation of resources are guided by supply and demand, and production and prices are determined by competition in a free market. In the video, it is mentioned that several countries that were once communist have moved towards market economies, which has led to a blending of capitalist and communist principles.
๐Ÿ’กVietnam
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country that was divided into a communist North and a democratic South during the Cold War. After the Vietnam War, the country was unified under communist rule. The video discusses Vietnam's current status as a communist country, noting its shift towards a market economy and the potential for further changes in the future.
๐Ÿ’กLaos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Southeast Asian country that became communist in 1975. The video describes Laos as having a closed political system but also notes its increasing exposure to democratic ideologies through tourism and trade, which has led to changes in its economy and culture.
๐Ÿ’กNorth Korea
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, is a country in East Asia that has been under communist rule since 1948. However, the video points out that North Korea does not strictly adhere to communist principles, instead following the doctrine of 'juche' or self-reliance, which emphasizes Korean nationalism and is distinct from traditional communism.
๐Ÿ’กChina
The People's Republic of China is a country in East Asia that has been governed by the Chinese Communist Party since 1949. The video discusses China's unique blend of communist ideology with capitalist economic practices, noting its significant economic growth and global influence while still maintaining state control over key aspects of society and the economy.
๐Ÿ’กCuba
Cuba is a Caribbean island nation that became a communist state in 1961 following a revolution led by Fidel Castro. The video describes Cuba as a one-party communist state with centralized control over the economy and restrictions on freedoms such as press, assembly, and speech. It also mentions recent changes in Cuba's relations with the United States.
๐Ÿ’กEconomic Reforms
Economic reforms refer to changes in the economic policies and structures of a country, often involving a shift from a centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented one. In the video, economic reforms are discussed in relation to countries like Vietnam and China, which have implemented such reforms to varying degrees, leading to a blend of socialist and capitalist elements in their economies.
๐Ÿ’กHuman Rights
Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. The video touches on the issue of human rights in the context of communist countries, noting that some nations, such as North Korea, have a questionable human rights record with strict controls over citizens' freedoms.
Highlights

Communism is an economic and social system where property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are the founders of communism, having published The Communist Manifesto in 1848.

Communism became the dominant political philosophy for many countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America.

The Soviet Union transitioned from communism to a semi-presidential republic in 1991.

Communist principles include common ownership of land and capital, and the dissolving of the state's coercive power.

The rise of capitalism in the 20th century disrupted communist principles, leading many countries to adopt alternative political frameworks.

Only a few countries are still officially communist, with Nepal, Guyana, and Moldova having had ruling communist parties in recent years.

The five countries considered communist by most experts are Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, China, and Cuba.

Vietnam has moved towards a market economy, despite being technically a communist country with one-party rule.

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is changing due to democratic influences through tourism and trade.

North Korea does not consider itself a communist state, but follows the doctrine of 'juche', or self-reliance.

China, since its establishment as a communist country in 1949, has seen significant economic reforms and growth.

Cuba, a one-party communist state, has experienced increased engagement with the United States in recent times.

The original communist economic and social systems proposed by Marx and Engels have been significantly deviated from in many countries.

The Chinese Communist Party is not a conventional communist party as it is now driven by market dynamics.

The future of communism in these countries is uncertain as new ways of living and governance systems are adopted.

The video is produced using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Illustrator, with classes available on Skillshare.

The first 1,000 people to sign up for Skillshare using the promo code infographics16 will get their first two months free.

Transcripts
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