Communism

:This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. For issues regarding Communist organizations, see the Communist party article. For issues regarding Communist Party-run states, see Communist state.

Related Topics:
Communist party - Communist state

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Communism refers to a theoretical system of social organization and a political movement based on common ownership of the means of production. As a political movement, communism seeks to overthrow capitalism through a workers' revolution and establish a classless society. A major force in world politics since the early 20th century, modern communism is generally associated with The Communist Manifesto of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, according to which the capitalist profit-based system of private ownership is replaced by a communist society in which the means of production are communally owned. This process, initiated by the revolutionary overthrow of the bourgeoisie (see Marxism), passes through a transitional period marked by the preparatory stage of socialism (see Leninism). Communism is now mainly understood to refer to the political, economic, and social theory of Marxist thinkers, or life in conditions of Communist party rule.

Related Topics:
Means of production - Capitalism - Revolution - Classless - 20th century - The Communist Manifesto - Karl Marx - Friedrich Engels - Bourgeoisie - Marxism - Socialism - Leninism - Communist party

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In the late 19th century, Marxist theories motivated socialist parties across Europe, although their policies later developed along the lines of reforming capitalism rather than overthrowing it. The exception was the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party. One branch of this party, commonly known as the Bolsheviks and headed by Vladimir Lenin, succeeded in taking control of the country after the toppling of the Tsar's regime in the Russian Revolution of 1917. In 1918 this party changed its named to the Communist Party, thus establishing the contemporary distinction between communism and socialism.

Related Topics:
19th century - Socialist - Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party - Bolshevik - Vladimir Lenin - Tsar - Russian Revolution of 1917 - 1918

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After the success of the October Revolution in Russia, many socialist parties in other countries became communist parties, owing allegiance of varying degrees to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (see Communist International). After World War II, regimes calling themselves communist took power in Eastern Europe. In 1949 the Communists in China, led by Mao Zedong, came to power and established the People's Republic of China. Among the other countries in the Third World that adopted a Communist form of government at some point were Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Angola, and Mozambique. By the early 1980s, almost one-third of the world's population lived under Communist states.

Related Topics:
October Revolution - Communist Party of the Soviet Union - Communist International - World War II - 1949 - China - Mao Zedong - People's Republic of China - Third World - Cuba - North Korea - Vietnam - Laos - Angola - Mozambique - 1980s - Communist states

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Communism never became a popular ideology in the United States, whether before or after the establishment of the Communist Party USA in 1919. Since the early 1970s, the term "Eurocommunism" was used to refer to the policies of Communist Parties in Western Europe, which sought to break with the tradition of uncritical and unconditional support of the Soviet Union. Such parties were politically active and electorally significant in France and Italy. With the collapse of the Communist governments in Eastern Europe from the late 1980s and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Communism's influence has decreased dramatically in Europe, but around a quarter of the world's population still lives under Communist rule.

Related Topics:
United States - Communist Party USA - 1919 - 1970s - Eurocommunism - France - Italy - 1991

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