How did the political and economic system of communism develop?
2007-12-02 16:07:46 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
good question!
2007-12-02 17:04:11 · answer #1 · answered by Tammy W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea of communal living, sharing resources and contributing labour, has been around for millennia. Monasteries, for example, are a form of communal living. Many hunter/gatherer tribes are organised on a communal basis.
Communism as we understand it really depends on the existence of a modern, capitalist society. Karl Marx, the founding philosopher of modern communism theorised that capitalist society would evolve gradually from a society where wealth was concentrated in a few people exploiting workers for profit would evolve into a communal society where everyone contributed what they could, and everyone's needs would be met. There is a strong argument that social democratic societies with a strong welfare system have gone a long way towards what Marx proposed, certainly compared to the mid 19th century when Marx wrote.
In Russia, a thing called Marxist Leninism developed. The idea of gradual evolution was changed to obtaining the dictatorship of the proletariat through violent revolution and enforced collectivisation developed. Private property was eliminated. Unfortunately the only way this could be achieved was a brutal, repressive tyranny.
It didn't work Unfortunately it took 80 years and much suffering to discover that.
2007-12-03 00:27:24 · answer #2 · answered by iansand 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look up Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto. Also make sure to look up the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Lenin.
2007-12-03 00:18:11 · answer #3 · answered by Tyler P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋