were Lenin and Stalin fascists or communists? What makes each of them a communist or a fascist?

Answer 1

Here are the differences and similarities between Fascism and Communism:

1. ECONOMY - Fascism is based on the market economy (although with a strong regulating role of the government), Communism is based on a system in which the state owns all the means of production.

2. POLITICS - Both Fascism and Communism are totalitarian dictatorships.

3. IDEOLOGY - Fascism is based on the nationalist ideology that idealizes the dominant ethnic group and considers all other ethnic groups "inferior". Communist ideology is based on Marxism.

4. RELIGION - Under Fascism there is usually an alliance between the government and the church. Under Communism the church is usually suppressed.

5. CULTURE - Both Fascism and Communism emphasize conformity, patriotism and militarism in culture.

Answer 2

have you looked up the definitions of communism and fascism? They are quite different animals.
one is an economic ideal, the other is a political atrocity.

Fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism

Communism: a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state

www.m-w.com
www.dictionary.com

Answer 3

At that level of totalitarianism the precise nature of the underlying philosophy ceases to matter.