Has There Ever Been a True Communist State in History?
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Surprisingly, despite various countries throughout modern world history (e.g., China, North Korea) calling themselves "communist states," no truly communist state has ever existed. So what exactly is communism, and what is its relationship with socialism?
Both ideologies began with a common aspiration to reduce worker exploitation and minimize or eliminate the influence of economic classes within society.
Marxism and Its Various Forms
Communism and socialism have numerous variations depending on their implementation. Stalinism, Leninism, Trotskyism, and Maoism are all based on Marxism, combining it with different revolutionary strategies.
Karl Marx, a German economist and philosopher, laid the foundation for communist theory by co-authoring The Communist Manifesto. His core argument was that as European society transitioned from feudal monarchies to capitalist economies, the bourgeoisie who owned the means of production exploited the proletariat workers. Factory or farm owners took more profit than the value the workers put in, deepening social inequality and giving owners power over workers.
※ Marx's 5 Stages of Historical Development
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Primitive Communal Society |
| Stage 2 | Ancient Slave System |
| Stage 3 | Medieval Feudalism |
| Stage 4 | Capitalist Society |
| Stage 5 | Communist Society |
Marx argued that to resolve this inequality, society should move toward collective control of the means of production by the proletariat. This is where the concepts of socialism and communism emerge.
Communism: The Ideal Community Society
Once the state fully controls all means of production, the next step is complete collective ownership of all aspects of society and economy, including not just production but also private property.
The ultimate goal of communism is to build a society without classes, money, or state. In such a society, all individuals pursue common goals—healthy, happy, and free lives—and contribute according to their abilities while receiving according to their needs.
Socialism and Communism: Key Differences
| Characteristic | Socialism | Communism |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Social ownership and democratic control of the means of production | Abolition of private property and collective ownership, classless society |
| Ownership of Means of Production | State or social collective ownership | Complete collective ownership |
| Role of Government | Exists and is involved in economic activities and social welfare | Withering away of the state (theoretical ideal) |
| Money | Exists | Disappears (theoretical ideal) |
| Class | Possibility of class existence (with complete abolition as goal) | Classless society |
| Role of the Individual | Work according to ability, distribution according to contribution (principle) | Work according to ability, distribution according to need (principle) |
| Real-world Examples | Nordic countries, some welfare states, etc. | None in pure form in history (mostly socialist states) |
| Ideological Position | Intermediate stage for transition to communism | Final stage of social development (from Marxist perspective) |
Why Has No True Communist State Ever Existed?
No true communist state has ever existed in history. Most countries that call themselves communist are actually socialist states where the government controls much of the economy and employment. Even the so-called "Communist Russia" was officially named the "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)."
Rather than being completely different concepts, socialism can be understood as a stage progressing toward communism. However, complete state control of society and economy creates serious problems.
Corruption among those with power was rampant in countries like the former Soviet Union, Venezuela, Vietnam, and North Korea. Instead of using power for the benefit of society as a whole, they abused their power and were unwilling to transfer it to the people.
Of course, there are countries like Sweden and Canada that have successfully combined capitalism with socialist ideals. But due to fundamental limitations of human nature—the desire for power and greed—we have yet to witness a truly communist state.
Ultimately, it's important to understand the reality hidden behind the name "communist state" and how they actually operate.
[Note: This article is intended to provide information and does not advocate for any particular political position.]
Socialism: An Intermediate Stage to Communism
According to Marx's stages of historical development, socialism is the logical next stage after capitalism and a preparatory stage for the transition to communism. In a socialist society, a democratic state controls the means of production instead of private businesses. Unlike the competitive structure of capitalist society, under socialism, workers contribute as much as possible for the common good, and the results are shared equally among all.
Even in capitalist societies, social services such as universal healthcare, fire departments, and schools funded by taxes can be seen as partial implementations of socialist ideals. While the use of these services may be uneven, the financial burden is fairly shared among all citizens according to their income levels.