Communism

Communism is a political, economic and social ideology that aims to create a society without class divisions (stratified social groups), where the means of production—such as factories, land and equipment—are owned collectively by society as a whole rather than by individuals. The term derives from the Latin word 'communis', meaning 'shared'.

The modern form of this ideology was substantially shaped by German writers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century, particularly in their work 'The Communist Manifesto' (1848). In the 20th century, political parties identifying as communist gained power in many countries, including Russia (the Soviet Union), China, Cuba, Vietnam and North Korea.

Theoretical foundations

Marx's analysis is based on the idea that the history of society consists of conflict between different economic classes. Marx argued that capitalism creates two major classes: those who own the means of production and workers who sell their labor. He predicted that conflict between these two classes would bring about a change in the system. Marx distinguished a particular stage called socialism (collective ownership) followed by communism, characterized by the principle 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs'.

Development in the twentieth century

The October Revolution in Russia in 1917 brought about the first government led by a communist party, with Vladimir Lenin leading it. Lenin added to Marx's theory the role of a unified party to lead the working class. Subsequently, the Soviet Union adopted centralized economic plans (where the state determines production) and an economy without a free market. In China, Mao Zedong implemented a similar system in 1949 with emphasis on peasants. These systems were characterized by political power concentrated in a single party, which led to extensive debate over individual freedoms.

Variations in thought

Communism is not a single unified idea. Various currents have emerged from it: Marxism–Leninism, Maoism (emphasizing peasants), Trotskyism (advocating for global revolution), and other forms that opposed the Soviet system such as 'council communism'. There also exist communist ideas predating Marx, such as religious communities based on shared property.

Present situation

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and changes in Eastern Europe reduced the number of countries adopting this system. Countries such as China and Vietnam maintain communist parties in power, but their economies operate in a mixed form incorporating market elements. Ideas derived from Marx continue to be used in social and economic research, and small political parties based on these ideas exist in many countries.