Machines | Marxist Theory 101 - #1: Socialism & Communism
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First episode in a series. Feel free to suggest improvements. In this episode we'll define some terms. Socialism: -Worker Control of the means of production -Worker Ownership of the means of production -A socialist state is a state where working class has taken state power and the means of production are owned in common Communism: -A higher stage of socialism -Stateless(as society progresses the state "withers" away. This will be discussed in a later episode) -Super abundance of resources --------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are Socialism and Communism? By Marxist-Leninist Theory. Hi there. This is going to be a series of short videos where I explain some basic concepts of marxist theory. I will start with very basic things, but we will later move to more complicated and advanced topics. I will try to keep these videos short. I will also try to be as clear as possible. If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask. I hope these videos will be informative. Let's begin. In this video im going to give you a basic explanation what Communism and socialism actually are. There is a lot of disinformation and confusion around the terms Communism and Socialism, but please have an open mind and listen and you'll learn what communism is really all about, and what communists really believe. First let's explore the difference between Communism and Socialism. Note: I'm going to use some marxist terminology, but I'm going to always define it so you know what I mean. Basically socialism means worker control or worker ownership of the means of production. That's it. Now, what are means of production? Marxism defines means of production as implyments, tools and machines used in production such as farm land, tractors, factories, banks, power plants etc. So basically socialism means that the workers control their work place. Later in this series we will discuss how this has been applied in practice throughout history. What then is communism? Communism or Marxism is a specific kind of socialism. Communism itself is a stage of development in a society where there is no state, no money, no private ownership of the means of production and there exists a super abundance of resources, so that everyone's needs such as, access to food, healthcare, housing, education and work are fullfilled. This can also be called full communism but keep in mind that this historical stage has never been reached and none of the main marxist thinkers ever wrote an extensive blueprint on how a communist society should be organized as there exists very little empirical data about it and it would be mostly speculation without a truly marxist scientific basis. But those are some of the basic ideas: no state, no private property and abundance of resources. Now here is what confuses people. Although countries like The soviet union were led by a communist party, they were not communist. They were socialist. In fact the soviet union was called "the union of soviet socialist republics", not communist republics. This is because communism is stateless. Therefore there can't exist a communist state. Marxists argue that communism can only be reached after a period of historical development which they call socialism. In this stage the means of production are owned by the working class through the worker's state and various cooperative organizations. In this stage the state still exists as well as money and also material scarcity. However in order to meet the needs of the people a market economy is replaced by a planned economy, where instead of production being controlled by blind market forces only caring for profit, the people get together and decide what to produce. However planned economy will have to be a topic for another video. Let's recap. Socialism means worker ownership or control of the means of production: factories, land, machines, banks etc. This can be summed up in the maxim, "from each according to his ability to each according to his work" It also means a period in a country where the working class has taken state power, means of production are owned in common and market economy has been replaced by a planned economy. Communism means a higher stage of development after socialism where the coercive force of the state doesnt exist anymore, there is an abundance of resources and everyone's needs are met. This can be summed in the maxim, "from each according to his ability to each according to his needs" Thank you for watching and see you next time. If you have any questions please post them in the comments or send me a PM. Also subscribe for more videos in the future.
Comments
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Are you sure it is no scarcity? Or it is money?
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The main difference seems to be that one exists, while the other is an economic fantasy.
The latter(communism) has morphed into a political religion. its followers still believe in its validity despite all evidence to the contrary. This would place it in the category of a faith-based political religion. It is a belief system with no empirical evidence(as you pointed out).
The former(socialism) has left in its wake a century of economic basket cases and political hell holes. Its theories and its realities have never quite matched up. -
Communism is unattainable unless you have perfect people. Heaven is the only true communism. As long as we have lying, greedy people in the world, Capitalism has proven to be better for the poorest among us. Compare America's poor to Russia's poor. The experiment has been tried. The real answer to our social problems is to teach and live morality--I believe Christianity. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." There will be no Communism until this happens.
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most excellent video. I have 1 suggestion, clarify the context of communism in regards to western society. for example, Marxist socialist are "considered" communist in the United States because of the inherent pursuit of communism, regardless if said state could ever be reached.
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Thanks for explaining. I'm not a communist, but I'm glad to have an open mind and a discussion about communism and the misconceptions.
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Sociology A level is to hard 🤔😪😩
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Take a flight over Korea, from south to north at night time. You will know when you get to North Korea, the only building lit up is the palace the rich little punk kid that runs the place lives in. Funny how the leaders of communists countries are all filthy rich. that sounds like they push communism on the people, but live like the fattest cat capitalists that the billionairs would all LOVE to live like.
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"Communism or Marxism"? You're using the two as if they were equivalent terms?
I think Karl would beg to differ... -
All you socialists, communists, democrats etc. Get your dirty hands off of my money! Get a job, get skills and make your own money. If you looove socialism so much, move to Venezuela (yet another failed and broke socialist state).
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no country ever practice communism, why? they are all equal in their way of living? or their leaders are most privilege against their peasant. communism is a deception using socialism to brainwash the mind of people to embrace this ungodly governance
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Lenin NEVER said that the USSR was socialist. He acknowledged it as the proletarian dictatorship and nothing more. Stalin and his naivety proclaimed it as socialist.
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I'm coming at this from a very different ideological point of view, but wouldn't any anarchist nation endure unending chaos? It seems to me, that while I do not agree with socialism, it could only be successfully, completely, and smoothly implemented within the structure of a state. It would be more likely (as unlikely as history has shown us) to create a more benevolent socialist state than a functioning and peaceful anarchist nation. Am I wrong? If so, how? What specific areas have anarchy or state socialism worked? I would be interested in comparing and contrasting.
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Then communism is just a theory, that has not been proven; hence it does not exist !
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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. So those who are more driven to produce more will have more taken from them? Those who are more needy will get more? What happens when needs become wants? Do those who want something from someone who has more just take it? A system like that is designed to fail because the producers will stop producing. Who is John Galt?
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These videos are very informative.
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I thought Communism was sharing of resources 'each according to his need', and NO it has never happened except in early Christianity and in the hippy community, both USSR and China were dictatorships. Socialism, I thought was when society decided that commonly-needed resources for health, education, energy, transport were paid for by those able to, ie working taxpayers, so that all could benefit.
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FUCK BERNIE SANDERS
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no scarcity??? you cannot repeal the laws of nature
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At last! I found a youtuber that speaks about marxist theory as it is! I can't stand hearing about communist states (in other videos), because as you said: their is NO state in communism. Communist the last step of socialism. It can be changed when humans themselves change. (Don't tel me people don't change. It's an anti-sceintific and anti-historical thing to say. Humans evolve)
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Socialism is perfect system in theory but disaster in practice