whats the difference between socialism and communism?

Answer 1

communism is socialism.

maybe this will help you distinguish between the differences...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_socialism

Answer 2

Socialism was around before Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. It is the utilitarian reasoning that some or perhaps all of the efforts of the individual should support the whole. Social security, minimum wage, and universal medicare (not in US) are all examples of social measures taken in economies deemed "capitalist". An example of pure socialism can be seen with the Israeli co-op farms known as kibbutzim.

Communism was the philosophy born from Marx and Engel's Communist Manifesto in the middle of the nineteenth century. This is intellectually deeper than socialism. The theory centers upon the description of human history as neverending class warfare. That is, the rich and powerful subjugate and exploit the poor through social, economic, and technological mechanisms in an act of social darwinism.

Marx catalogues the history of class struggle noting that the gap between rich and poor continually increases. He saw inherent flaws in the capitalist system and thought it invetable that the increasingly impoverished would proletariat rise up against their masters and enforce a system of universal socialism and equality. Lenin later observed that revolution would take longer as developed countries would prey upon cheap labor and easy markets in the third world, much as the original factory workers preyed upon the unskilled labor pool in urban centers.

The ultimate prediction is that at some future point, the entire planet will be Communist. This, of course, takes place through violent overthrow as the proles rise up against their masters to create a utopia where everyone enjoys the fruits of humanity and is completely equal. This violent overthrow aspect distinguishes the theory from others.

Some key assumptions of Communism:
1. There is no supernatural diety.
2. People will embrace the ideal, working diligently for the sake of the whole and seeking nothing but equality with fellow man. (You can see where there are practical problems with this.)
3. Capitalism is inherently flawed and doomed to failure. Factory workers experience diminishing returns as overflooded markets lower selling prices. They are continually forced to lower wages in response to this, until the system collapses.

Communism has undergone many changes in both theory and practice over the decades. Marxist Capitalism is not very representative at all of today's Communism. Communism, the supposed antithesis of capitalism, was meant to defeat the large-scale domination by corporations and banks experienced in the capitalist system. It is, however, unworkable (see assumption 2) and, when implemented, ironically serves to take power away from the masses and consolidate it in the hands of the few (just as capitalism).

Answer 3

Communism is upposed to be the end of a true socialistic movement. But you need people who are in power in a socialist government to not want to have power. So when socialism works they giv eup their power and live with the people. All governments called Communist are actually Socialist.

Answer 4

Socialism refers to a type of economic structure provided for the welfare of a people, communism more to the political structure to accomplish a goal, sometimes socialist, sometimes not.

Answer 5

Not a whole lot. Socialism is the first step to communism.

Answer 6

Socialism is a better way of saying communism. Nobody likes saying communism it makes them sound bad.

Answer 7

Communism is more hardcore than socialism.

Answer 8

Without socialistic reforms through the years, American workers would have zero rights and benefits and the infrastructure that holds our society together (public works), that we all take advantage of, would be non-existence.

Answer 9

communism : socialism :: democracy : capitalism

And as a socialist economy can exist without communist politics (see Canada and most of Europe), so can capitalism exist without democracy (see China and Latin America).

Answer 10

one is a form of government the other is a system of economy.


ine the USA we have a Republic Democracy as a form of Government with a Capitalistic economy.