Marxism 101: What is Communism?

In my previous Marxism 101 article I discussed the nature of socialism as a revolutionary stage characterized by the dictatorship of the proletariat. However, more needs to be said about the stage of communism itself. I introduced this topic briefly in my "Misconceptions about Communism" article. What I'd like to elaborate on here is focus on the stage that succeeds socialism according to Marxist theory. The distinctions between communism and socialism are important for a number of reasons, and I hope (by the end of this article) more light has been shed on this complicated issue.

Economically speaking communism represents a model unlike any seen by any large-scale society throughout all of history. It's based on an economic principle of ability and need. Marx says, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" in reference to the social method of production that has wholly overtaken economic arrangements (Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program). Unlike socialism, the state itself dissolves as the need for class-domination is no longer necessary. Thus, production is no longer the interest of capital (capitalism) or the state (socialism) but rather in the hands of the vast community whereupon the nature of social relations have lost their commodified forms and taken on production of a new system. This new system is characterized by producing not for profit, but for need. Need can be understood in a number of ways, but what we have here is the theoretical transformation of human labor into a new social role. No longer does the worker go to work to produce commodities for profit of his employer; rather, workers collectively produce for the expanding needs of a continuously developing people in the most efficient means.

Politically speaking much has been said about the dissolution the state. However, this has been misconstrued to mean many different things. Political power, according to Marx, is nothing more than organized class oppression - evident in both capitalism and socialism. Thus, the state, as the tool of class oppression, is dissolved through the dissolution of classes. If we understand classes not as simply indicators determined by income or social status, but rather in relation to the means of production, since then that every human being present in any given society shares and equal responsibility of collective ownership to the means of production classes cease to exist as well. Thus, organized governance continues but the state (as we know it) does not.

Often times this has been confused to imply anarchy or utopian dreaming. This of course is false. The point is not the dissolution of leadership or government, but rather the onset of a new, revolutionary style of government determined not on any basis of class. This is an extremely important element in constructing a sound depiction of what communism would look like.

Full communism draws some similarities to primitive communism noted by Marx; however, this type of communism may only take place once class-antagonisms have run their course. The nature of this theory is heavily dependent upon Marx's historical conception of human-social history. The course of human history has seen the development from tribal society all the way to the most advanced form of capitalism (imperialism). This course is essential in the construction of socialism, which is the necessary step in eliminating all barriers to the establishment of communism.

In order for communism to take place, socialism must precede it on a world-wide scale. This doesn't necessarily mean world-wide simultaneous revolution, as socialism in one country has historically proven to be effective in the establishment of socialism. Nevertheless, the material forces that make communism a real-world possibility are at constant odds with capital. The process of spreading socialism is another necessary stage in the development of a communist society. Thus, when socialism has taken route across the developed world only then will communism become possible.

Thus, communism is marked by the eradication of classes and states. The elimination of the state apparatus as a tool of class oppression marks the first transition of socialism into communism; which in itself marks the beginning of the end of class antagonisms.

Now, much more can be said as to what specifically communism will look like but this is another topic of interest which involves many complex models. I will write at a later date more upon what such a society will resemble but for now the purpose here has been to distinguish what is commonly associated with the term 'communism' and the differences between it and socialism.