Has true communism ever existed?

Question

We know that capitalism has never really existed in its purest form, and the same must be true about communism, right? If so, what is the best example of true communism (NOT DICTATORSHIP, which is what communism often becomes) that we've seen?
(This is not a debate between the merrits of capitalism and communism... I wouldn't ask that, because I already know the vast majority of arguements for either side. This discussion is about communism and history alone; I don't care whether you love communism or hate it)

Answer 1

no i do not believe it has ever existed

Answer 2

my personal belief is that communism is a utopia where money is obsolete and everyone gets what they need. The reason a true communist state has not existed before is the fact that none can decide who gets what as it is in human nature to say "i did more work, so I should get more". I believe that sometime in the future, when Menial Tasks are not done by humans but by AI or something of that sort, a communist state is very likely. An examplae of a futuristic communist economy is the Planetary Federation in Star Trek.

Answer 3

Yes, in many situations.

It works in religious communities for example, from Christian monasteries to Hebrew kibbutzes.

It's also the way most traditional families work in modern western society. The parents are the central authority, make all the rules and own all the property. The family (the community) shares the resources each according to their needs. All contribute to the whole.

Communism works on the small scale, as long as it is voluntary or as long as the fealty to the community is stronger than individual greed.

It just doesn't work on the large scale, because of the common human nature to dominate others and to measure status by what you own (possessions).

Answer 4

I read about a community somewhere in South America that created a communistic society in a demilitarized zone during the 1980's. They were apparently pretty successful and egalitarian. I wish I could remember more- but it would take me hours to dig the article up. I think most forms of government work better on a small scale, including democracy.

Answer 5

In the middle of a protracted discussion about communism, socialism, and capitalism... I once heard someone define the difference between socialism and capitalism as, "Socialism is a study in man's inhumanity to man while Capitalism is the opposite." I've pondered that discussion over the years and asked myself, "Is Communism man's inhumanity to man as in the first case ... or the second one?" When I've thought about it enough, I drink some Vodka and lay down.

Answer 6

I can see from other posters that they have no clue what communism is. Communism has never existed because it means the end of any state where everyone works together expecting nothing in return except for everyone to go with the flow. Communist themselves will tell you that they cannot really describe communism because they have no what it will be or how it will come to be. They say it can only be figured out after so many hundreds of years of socialism.

Answer 7

certainly not on a large scale. Communism can be experimented with by small groups though, and has been. Marx said communism would only come after the post-revolutionary socialist State withered away, so no country has even gotten close. They all get stuck on authoritarian socialism, perhaps an inherent flaw in the theory.

Answer 8

I wouldn't say any nation has ever adoped pure socialism sans dictactorship. Maybe some old native american tribes years ago. They say socialism on paper looks good but it can never be achieved. Hong Kong, Iceland, Chile and many of the former Soviet Republics on the Eastern Bloc have adopted a strict form of capitalism.

Answer 9

No, communism is an utopia that requires ( for it to work as is intended ) that every person is the same, but in real life that's not the case. there's always going to be people with more ambitions than others, always tipping the scale towards capitalism.

Answer 10

Nothing is possible in pure form. Only it is in books and speeches. The real working involves many personalities. Hence it changes. Don't you see Different Presidents produced by the same US constitution. Communism is no exception.

Answer 11

no it has no, the closest was actually the former Soviet Union and they were not completely there because Lenin got booted and Stalin went on a power trip. The problem historically with communism is while it is great on paper, the leaders that have stood up to promote it have been egotistical and power hungry men.