Socialism Vs Communism | What is the difference between Socialism and Communism?

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12 Oct 202006:19
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TLDRThe video script explores the origins and distinctions between socialism and communism, highlighting their roots in the industrial revolution's socio-economic upheaval. It delves into the theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, as presented in the Communist Manifesto, and contrasts these with the principles of pure socialism. The script outlines the key similarities and differences between the two ideologies, emphasizing the means of achieving societal change and the role of government in economic planning and resource distribution. It also touches on democratic socialism and the practical implementations of socialism and communism in modern nations.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The origins of socialism and communism trace back to the Industrial Revolution, a period marked by significant economic and social changes.
  • 💡 Early socialist thinkers emerged in response to the economic inequality between workers and factory owners, proposing models for a more cooperative society.
  • 🌍 Karl Marx, a German political philosopher, and Friedrich Engels published the 'Communist Manifesto' in 1848, which became a foundational text for socialist and communist thought.
  • 🏛️ Socialism advocates for a system where the government, elected by the people, ensures an equal share of the means of production, with distribution based on individual contribution.
  • 🌐 In pure communism, property and resources are collectively owned by a class-free society, with the central government controlling all production and distribution according to people's needs.
  • 🤝 Both socialism and communism arose from opposition to unfair treatment of workers and assume that goods and services will be produced by government or collective organizations.
  • 📊 The central government plays a key role in economic planning in both systems, handling supply and demand aspects.
  • 🚀 The main difference between socialism and communism is the compensation method: socialism rewards effort and innovation, while communism focuses on meeting individual needs.
  • 🏠 Under socialism, individuals can own property, but the main means of production are communally owned and managed. In contrast, communism eliminates private property entirely.
  • 🔄 Democratic socialism supports a mix of socialist and capitalist systems, with government distribution of essential services and a free market for consumer goods.
  • 🌍 No country today is considered a pure socialist or communist state; however, some countries like China, Cuba, and Vietnam have governments that control most economic and political aspects and are thus classified as communist.
Q & A

  • What were the main causes of the emergence of socialist and communist ideologies?

    -The main causes were the extreme economic and social changes during the Industrial Revolution, particularly the struggles of the working class and the growing economic inequality between workers and factory owners.

  • Who is considered one of the most influential socialist thinkers in history?

    -Karl Marx, the German political philosopher and economist, is considered one of the most influential socialist thinkers in history.

  • What did Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish in 1848 that had a significant impact on socialist and communist thought?

    -Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published 'The Communist Manifesto' in 1848, which argued that history was a history of class struggles and presented a vision for a classless society.

  • How does pure socialism distribute economic output?

    -In pure socialism, economic output is distributed according to each individual's ability and level of contribution.

  • What is the main difference between socialism and communism in terms of property ownership?

    -In socialism, individuals can own property, but the means of production are communally owned and managed by a democratically elected government. In contrast, under communism, there is no private property, and all property is communally owned by a class-free society.

  • How does a democratic socialist economy differ from a purely capitalist one?

    -A democratic socialist economy supports both societal and economic democracy, focusing on meeting the needs of the people as a whole. It advocates for government distribution of universally used services, while consumer goods are distributed by a capitalist free market.

  • What are some countries that are often considered democratic socialist?

    -Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are often considered democratic socialist countries, as they provide free healthcare, education, and lifetime retirement income, alongside successful capitalist sectors.

  • How do countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam fit into the communist ideology?

    -These countries are classified as communist because their governments control nearly all aspects of the economic and political system. However, none of them have fully achieved the elimination of personal property, money, and class systems required by pure communist ideology.

  • What is the primary means of achieving a pure communist state according to Marx?

    -According to Marx, a violent revolution in which workers rise up against the middle and upper classes is seen as an inevitable part of achieving a pure communist state.

  • How does the script differentiate between socialism and communism in terms of individual contribution and compensation?

    -Socialism is based on the premise that people will be compensated based on their level of individual contribution to the economy, rewarding effort and innovation. Communism, on the other hand, compensates people based on the government's assessment of their needs, providing necessities like food, clothing, housing, and other basic requirements.

  • What are the similarities between socialism and communism in their origins and assumptions?

    -Both socialism and communism grew out of opposition to unfair treatment of workers by wealthy businesses during the Industrial Revolution. They also assume that all goods and services will be produced by government-controlled institutions or collective organizations, with the central government being responsible for economic planning.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Origins and Concepts of Socialism and Communism

This paragraph delves into the historical origins of socialism and communism, tracing back to the Industrial Revolution and the economic and social upheavals that led to the emergence of these ideologies. It introduces key figures such as Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who played pivotal roles in shaping socialist thought, and discusses the publication of 'The Communist Manifesto' in 1848. The paragraph outlines the fundamental principles of socialism, emphasizing a cooperative society and centralized planning, and contrasts it with communism, which envisions a classless society with collective ownership of resources and distribution based on need. The main similarities and differences between socialism and communism are highlighted, noting the confusion between the terms and the distinct approaches each ideology advocates for achieving societal change.

05:01
🌍 Modern Interpretations and Implementations of Socialism and Communism

This paragraph explores the practical implementations of socialism and communism in the modern world, distinguishing between democratic socialism and pure communism. It examines the policies of countries often labeled as socialist, such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and their combination of capitalist sectors with extensive social welfare programs. The paragraph also looks at countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam, which are often classified as communist but have not fully realized the principles of a purely communist state. The discussion touches on the provision of basic necessities by the government in these countries and the ongoing presence of personal property, money, and class systems.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Socialism
Socialism is an economic and political system where the means of production, such as labor, entrepreneurship, capital goods, and natural resources, are owned and controlled by the state or the community. The video explains that in socialism, the government uses centralized planning to allocate resources and distribute economic output based on an individual's contribution to society. It contrasts with capitalism, where resources are allocated based on market forces. The video also discusses democratic socialism, which combines elements of socialism with a democratic political system and a capitalist free market.
💡Communism
Communism is a political and economic ideology that seeks to establish a classless society where all property and resources are communally owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. The video explains that in pure communism, there is no private ownership of economic resources, and the government controls all aspects of production and distribution of goods and services. However, the video also notes that a purely communist state has never existed, and countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam have varying degrees of communism but still maintain aspects of a capitalist economy.
💡Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution, which took place from 1760 to 1840, was a period of significant economic and social changes characterized by the shift from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing. This period led to extreme economic disparities between the working class and factory owners, which in turn spurred the development of early socialist thinkers who sought to address these inequalities through reorganization of society along cooperative lines.
💡Karl Marx
Karl Marx was a German political philosopher and economist who is widely recognized as one of the most influential socialist thinkers in history. Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, authored 'The Communist Manifesto' in 1848, where he argued that history is a history of class struggles and predicted the eventual triumph of the proletariat over the bourgeoisie. His theories laid the foundation for communism as an extreme form of socialism, advocating for the abolition of private property and the establishment of a classless society.
💡Class Struggle
Class struggle refers to the conflict between different socio-economic classes, particularly between the working class and the capitalist class, over the distribution of wealth and power. In the context of the video, Marx's view of history is presented as a series of class struggles, with the ultimate goal being the triumph of the proletariat, the working class, over the bourgeoisie, the capitalist class, leading to the establishment of a communist society.
💡Proletariat
The proletariat refers to the working class in a society, particularly in the context of Marxist theory, which views this group as the primary force for social change and the eventual rulers of a communist society. In the video, the proletariat is described as the group that will overthrow the capitalist class and take control of the means of production, leading to the eradication of class distinctions and the establishment of a classless society.
💡Bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie refers to the capitalist class, typically those who own the means of production and control the economic life of society. In Marxist theory, this class is seen as exploiting the working class (proletariat) for their own benefit, leading to economic inequality and social conflict. The video explains that the struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is central to the concepts of socialism and communism, with the ultimate aim being the overthrow of the bourgeoisie and the establishment of a classless society.
💡Means of Production
The means of production include the resources used to produce goods and services, such as labor, land, capital goods, and entrepreneurship. In the context of the video, the control and ownership of the means of production are central to the differences between socialism and communism. Under socialism, these are often owned and managed by the state or the community, while in communism, they are collectively owned with the government controlling all aspects of production and distribution.
💡Democratic Processes
Democratic processes refer to the system of governance based on the principles of democracy, where decisions are made through voting and representation, allowing for the participation of citizens in the decision-making process. The video highlights that socialism seeks change and reform through democratic processes within the existing social and political structure, as opposed to communism, which may involve a violent revolution to achieve its goals.
💡Economic Planning
Economic planning is the process by which a government or authority decides how resources will be allocated and used to meet the needs of society. In the context of the video, both socialism and communism involve centralized economic planning, with the government taking responsibility for the production and distribution of goods and services. However, the key difference lies in the motivation and the extent of government control, with socialism allowing for some private enterprise and communism advocating for complete government control.
💡Democratic Socialism
Democratic socialism is an ideology that combines elements of socialism and democracy, advocating for both the economy and society to be run democratically with a focus on meeting the needs of the people as a whole. It supports government distribution of universally used services, such as utilities and healthcare, while allowing consumer goods to be distributed by a capitalist free market. The video explains that democratic socialism seeks a balance between the collective good and individual prosperity, often incorporating extensive social welfare programs.
Highlights

The video discusses the origins of socialism and communism during the Industrial Revolution.

Economic inequality between workers and factory owners led to the development of socialist thought.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published the Communist Manifesto in 1848, influencing socialist theory significantly.

Marx's theory posits that history is a series of class struggles, with the proletariat eventually triumphing over the bourgeoisie.

Communism is sometimes referred to as revolutionary socialism, based on Marx's theories.

Pure socialism involves a democratically elected government ensuring equal distribution of economic production factors.

In socialism, the government uses centralized planning to allocate resources based on individual and societal needs.

Pure communism advocates for collective ownership of property and resources in a class-free society.

Under communism, the central government controls all production and distribution according to people's needs.

Both socialism and communism emerged as responses to unfair treatment of workers during the Industrial Revolution.

Both ideologies assume that goods and services will be produced by government-controlled institutions or collective organizations.

The central government is responsible for economic planning in both socialism and communism.

Socialism compensates individuals based on their contribution to the economy, rewarding effort and innovation.

Communism provides for citizens based on their needs, with no emphasis on individual contribution.

In socialism, individuals can own property, but the means of production are communally owned and managed.

Communism eliminates private property, with all property and resources being communally owned and managed by the government.

Socialism seeks change through democratic processes, while communism envisions a violent revolution.

Democratic socialism supports a mix of socialist and capitalist systems with extensive social welfare programs.

No country today is a pure example of socialism or communism; most align with democratic socialism.

Countries like China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Vietnam are considered communist but have not fully achieved a class-free society.

Transcripts

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SocialismCommunismIndustrial RevolutionKarl MarxEconomic SystemsClass StruggleDemocratic ProcessesGovernment ControlEconomic PlanningDemocratic Socialism