We all see the terms ‘socialism’ and ‘communism’ used generously within political discussions, and in everyday conversation it can be tricky to distinguish the two. So what’s the difference? Politics and current affairs editor, Maeve Schaffer explains.

There are similarities: both ideologies stem from working class rebellions against inequalities within the Industrial Revolution. The rich got richer as the poor risked their lives in unsafe factories for pitiful wages, so economic alternatives were penned with the aims of mitigating these differences. 

The difference, however, is an important one and can make every difference in a debate. Many arguments against left-wing policies can fall short when these terms are confused, just as arguments that support left-leaning world views would be undermined by errors like these. Plus, you wouldn’t want to be confused when expanding your knowledge and learning about politics and current affairs. If you have ever been unsure about the difference between the two terms, look no further. In this article you will find clear definitions, similarities, and differences so you can make informed decisions and arguments.

Communism:

Communism is a political philosophy that describes a system where wealth is equally distributed across the citizens of a state, and property is commonly owned. It is generally associated with Karl Marx, who argued that the means of production (such as coal, cotton, and anything that comes from labour) ought to be controlled by a collective “proletariat”, or in other words, the working-class people who do the producing. They would be controlled by the working class with the intention of being redistributed. This is so that no one goes without basic human requirements. This body would then oversee the fair distribution of resources, such as food and housing, according to the needs of the citizens. However, Marx argued communism could only be achieved by revolution. This revolution would be a government takeover by the working class with the goal of a communist, classless society and shared ownership of its property. 

You can see the basic principles of communism in action on a small scale in an Israeli kibbutz.  Residents of a kibbutz work as members of a commune, each with different jobs in sectors like agriculture and so on. They all contribute to the maintenance of the community and, as a result, receive basic human necessities for free. Countries that define themselves as communist are China, Cuba, and North Korea (although some scholars would argue China has evolved into a pseudo communist-capitalist hybrid). The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (or North Korea) has been run by its communist party since the country’s birth, with all agriculture, homes and food owned by the government and allocated at their discretion. 

Socialism:

Socialism shares the principle of fair distribution of economic output and publicly owned institutions, but it is done so through the centralised planning of elected governments. Socialism is less of an immediate revolutionary change from the inequalities of capitalism, but rather a way to gradually introduce publicly owned production through policy and institutional change. Socialism and capitalism are not mutually exclusive as is the case with communism; socialist policies can exist within capitalist societies. An example is the publicly owned National Health Service here in the United Kingdom, which exists alongside many private healthcare enterprises. 

From socialism stems the ideology of social democracy, the belief that a democratically elected government ought to be devoted to overseeing the fair distribution of resources to all citizens through the reallocation of resources, instead of promoting competition and individual wealth. Services and institutions that are used universally would be centrally organised by the government, as seen in most Scandinavian countries, where their governments offer their citizens free education (including university), healthcare, and extensive welfare systems in exchange for high taxes. 

In Conclusion:

The fundamental similarities between communism and socialism are grounded in their origins, and their economic ideologies ensuring the distribution of goods, services, and economic production to the masses. Some form of centralised body is responsible for this, alongside all matters of economy, be it a government (elected or not) or a collective. The differences between the two lie within the way they are both achieved, with communism attained through revolution, and socialism through policy and institutional change. They also differ in compatibility with capitalism. Communism in its purest form cannot exist alongside capitalism, whereas socialism can be incorporated into capitalist societies through publicly owned institutions and redistributive policies. 

Keep an eye out for more articles offering answers to the questions about politics you may be too afraid to ask.