Communism vs Socialism

In a way, communism is an extreme form of socialism. Many countries have dominant

socialist political parties but very few are truly communist. In fact, most countries - including
staunch capitalist bastions like the U.S. and U.K. - have government programs that borrow
from socialist principles. "Socialism" is sometimes used interchangeably with "communism"
but the two philosophies have some stark differences. Most notably, while communism is a
political system, socialism is primarily an economic system that can exist in various forms
under a wide range of political systems.

Comparison chart
Communism Socialism
Philosophy:
From each according to his ability,
to each according to his needs.
Free-access to the articles of
consumption is made possible by
advances in technology that allow
for super-abundance.
From each according to his ability, to
each according to his contribution.
Emphasis on profit being distributed
among the society or workforce in
addition to receiving a wage.
Ideas:
Human societies have always been
divided into warring classes. The
Industrial Revolution has enriched
the wealthy and impoverished the
poor. The workers must overthrow
the bourgeois.
All people should be given an equal
opportunity to succeed. Workers
should have most say in their factory's
management. The free market suffers
from problems like tragedy of the
commons. Government regulation is
necessary.
Economic
System:
Wealth redistributed so that
everyone in society is given equal
shares of the benefits derived from
labor. All means of production are
controlled by the state.
Wealth redistributed so that everyone
in society is given somewhat equal
shares of the benefits derived from
labor, but people can earn more if they
work harder. Means of production are
controlled by the workers themselves.
Economic
Coordination:
Government controls all business,
as well as business decisions.
Planned-Socialism relies principally
on planning to determine investment
and production decisions. Planning
may be centralized or decentralized.
Market-socialism relies on markets for
allocating capital to different socially-
owned enterprises.
Definition:
A theory or system of social
organization based on the holding
of all property in common, with
actual ownership ascribed to the
community or state.
A theory or system of social
organization based on the holding of
most property in common, with actual
ownership ascribed to the workers.
Communism Socialism
Political
Movements:
Leninism, Trotskyism, Marxism-
Leninism, Maoism, Left-
Communism.
Democratic Socialism, Communism,
Libertarian Socialism, Anarchism,
Syndicalism.
Key elements:
An enhanced form of the principle
of "Production for use".
Economic activity and production
especially are adjusted to meet human
needs and economic demands.
"Production for use": useful goods and
services are produced specifically for
their usefulness.
Political
System:
No leader, directed directly by the
people. This has never been
actually practiced, and has just
used a one-party system.
Multiple parties, but the ruling party
usually goes by the name "Socialist".
Social
Structure:
All class distinctions are
eliminated.
Class distinctions are diminished.
Religion: Abolished. Freedom of religion
Key
Proponents:
Karl Marx, Fredrich Engels,
Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky.
Robert Owen, Pierre Leroux, Karl
Marx, Fredrick Engels, John Stuart
Mill, Albert Einstein, George Bernard
Shaw, Leo Tolstoy, Emma Goldman.
Free Choice:
In real communism, where a leader
does not exist, everything is
chosen freely.In those that have
been practiced though, all choices,
including education, religion,
employment and marriage, are
controlled by the state.
All choices, including education,
religion, employment and marriage,
are up to the individual. All health care
and education is provided free to
everybody.
Ownership
structure:
The means of production are
commonly-owned, meaning no
entity or individual owns
productive property. Importance is
ascribed to "usership" over
"ownership".
The means of production are socially-
owned with the surplus value produced
accruing to either all of society (in
Public-ownership models) or to all the
employee-members of the enterprise
(in Cooperative-ownership models).
Way of Change:
Government in a Communist-state
is the agent of change rather than
any market or desire on the part of
consumers. Change by government
can be swift or slow, depending on
change in ideology or even whim.
Workers in a Socialist-state are the
agent of change rather than any market
or desire on the part of consumers.
Change by the workers can be swift or
slow, depending on change in ideology
or even whim.
Private
Property:
Abolished.
Two kinds of property, private
property, such as land, houses,
clothing, etc. owned by the individual.
Public property, factories, and means
of production owned by the state but
with worker control.
Communism Socialism
Discrimination:
In theory, all members of the state
are considered equal.
The people are considered equal, laws
are made when necessary to protect
people from discrimination.
Means of
control:
Proletariat engages in violent
rebellion.
Proletariat engages in taking charge of
the factories and means of production.
Variations:
Include Marxism, Leninism,
Stalinism and Maoism.
Libertarian-socialism, and anarcho-
socialism, anarcho-syndicalism.

Economic differences between socialists and communists
In a Socialist economy, the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively
or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy. On the other
hand, in a communist society, there is no centralized government - there is a collective
ownership of property and the organization of labor for the common advantage of all
members.
For a Capitalist society to transition, the first step is Socialism. From a capitalist system, it is
easier to achieve the Socialist ideal where production is distributed according to people's
deeds (quantity and quality of work done). For Communism (to distribute production
according to needs), it is necessary to first have production so high that there is enough for
everyone's needs. In an ideal Communist society, people work not because they have to but
because they want to and out of a sense of responsibility.

Political differences
Socialism rejects a class-based society. But socialists believe that it is possible to make the
transition from capitalism to socialism without a basic change in the character of the state.
They hold this view because they do not think of the capitalist state as essentially an
institution for the dictatorship of the capitalist class, but rather as a perfectly good piece of
machinery which can be used in the interest of whichever class gets command of it. No need,
then, for the working class in power to smash the old capitalist state apparatus and set up its
ownthe march to socialism can be made step by step within the framework of the
democratic forms of the capitalist state. Socialism is primarily an economic system so it exists
in varying degrees and forms in a wide variety of political systems.
On the other hand, communists believe that as soon as the working class and its allies are in
a position to do so they must make a basic change in the character of the state; they must
replace capitalist dictatorship over the working class with workers dictatorship over the
capitalist class as the first step in the process by which the existence of capitalists as a class
(but not as individuals) is ended and a classless society is eventually ushered in.

What is the difference between socialism and
communism?
Socialism and communism are alike in that both are systems of production for use based on
public ownership of the means of production and centralized planning. Socialism grows
directly out of capitalism; it is the first form of the new society. Communism is a further
development or "higher stage" of socialism.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his deeds (socialism). From each
according to his ability, to each according to his needs (communism).
The socialist principle of distribution according to deeds that is, for quality and quantity of
work performed, is immediately possible and practical. On the other hand, the communist
principle of distribution according to needs is not immediately possible and practicalit is an
ultimate goal.
Obviously, before it can be achieved, production must reach undreamed of heightsto satisfy
everyones needs there must be the greatest of plenty of everything. In addition, there must
have developed a change in the attitude of people toward workinstead of working because
they have to, people will work because they want to, both out of a sense of responsibility to
society and because work satisfies a felt need in their own lives.
Socialism is the first step in the process of developing the productive forces to achieve
abundance and changing the mental and spiritual outlook of the people. It is the necessary
transition stage from capitalism to communism.
It must not be assumed, from the distinction between socialism and communism, that the
political parties all over the world which call themselves Socialist advocate socialism, while
those which call themselves Communist advocate communism. That is not the case. Since the
immediate successor to capitalism can only be socialism, the Communist parties,-like the
Socialist parties, have as their goal the establishment of socialism.
Are there, then, no differences between the Socialist and Communist parties? Yes, there are.
The Communists believe that as soon as the working class and its allies are in a position to do
so they must make a basic change in the character of the state; they must replace capitalist
dictatorship over the working class with workers dictatorship over the capitalist class as the
first step in the process by which the existence of capitalists as a class (but not as individuals)
is ended and a classless society is eventually ushered in. Socialism cannot be built merely by
taking over and using the old capitalist machinery of government; the workers must destroy
the old and set up their own new state apparatus. The workers state must give the old ruling
class no opportunity to organize a counter-revolution; it must use its armed strength to crush
capitalist resistance when it arises.
The Socialists, on the other hand, believe that it is possible to make the transition from
capitalism to socialism without a basic change in the character of the state. They hold this
view because they do not think of the capitalist state as essentially an institution for the
dictatorship of the capitalist class, but rather as a perfectly good piece of machinery which
can be used in the interest of whichever class gets command of it. No need, then, for the
working class in power to smash the old capitalist state apparatus and set up its ownthe
march to socialism can be made step by step within the framework of the democratic forms
of the capitalist state.
The attitude of both parties toward the Soviet Union grows directly out of their approach to
this problem. Generally speaking, Communist parties praise the Soviet Union; Socialist parties
denounce it in varying degrees. For the Communists, the Soviet Union merits the applause of
all true believers in socialism because it has transformed the socialist dream into a reality; for
the Socialists, the Soviet Union deserves only condemnation because it has not built socialism
at allat least not the socialism they dreamed of.
Instead of wanting to take away peoples private property, socialists want more people to
have more private property than ever before.
There are two kinds of private property. There is property which is personal in nature,
consumers goods, used for private enjoyment. Then there is the kind of private property
which is not personal in nature, property in the means of production. This kind of property is
not used for private enjoyment, but to produce the consumers goods which are.
Socialism does not mean taking away the first kind of private property, e.g. your suit of
clothes; it does mean taking away the second kind of private property, e.g. your factory for
making suits of clothes. It means taking away private property in the means of production
from the few so that there will be much more private property in the means of consumption
for the many. That part of the wealth which is produced by workers and taken from them in
the form of profits would be theirs, under socialism, to buy more private property, more suits
of clothes, more furniture, more food, more tickets to the movies.
More private property for use and enjoyment. No private property for oppression and
exploitation. Thats socialism.
Huberman and Sweezy, "Introduction to Socialism," Monthly Review