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The Benefits of Communism

Communism ideology supports widespread universal social welfare, including improvements in public health and education.

Learning Objective

  • Explain how the theoretical benefits of communism may lead to a more equitable society


Key Points

    • The theoretical advantages of communism are built around equality and strong social communities.
    • Communist ideology advocates universal education with a focus on developing the proletariat with knowledge, class consciousness, and historical understanding.
    • Communism supports the emancipation of women and the ending of their exploitation.
    • Communist ideology emphasizes the development of a "New Man"—a class-conscious, knowledgeable, heroic, proletarian person devoted to work and social cohesion, as opposed to the antithetic "bourgeois individualist" associated with cultural backwardness and social atomisation.

Terms

  • Communism

    a political philosophy or ideology advocating holding the production of resources collectively

  • bourgeois

    Of or relating to capitalist exploitation of the proletariat.

  • antithetic

    Diametrically opposed.

  • proletariat

    The working class or lower class.


Examples

    • In theory, Communism seems to have some very desirable characteristics. In practice, however, it has many drawbacks, and historically it seems that only the most corrupt members of Communist governments have gained advancement within systems. When a system depends on an entire community but is controlled by a few corrupt bureaucrats, it cannot be successful.
    • However, this is not to say that state run enterprises in certain areas are a bad idea. Publically owned utilities such as water, electricity, and postal services have proven to be beneficial in countries, even when no communist system exists.

Full Text

The Benefits of Communism

Theoretically, there are many benefits that can be achieved through a communist society. Communist ideology supports widespread universal social welfare. Improvements in public health and education, provision of child care, provision of state-directed social services, and provision of social benefits will, theoretically, help to raise labor productivity and advance a society in its development. Communist ideology advocates universal education with a focus on developing the proletariat with knowledge, class consciousness, and historical understanding. Communism supports the emancipation of women and the ending of their exploitation. Both cultural and educational policy in communist states have emphasized the development of a "New Man"—a class-conscious, knowledgeable, heroic, proletarian person devoted to work and social cohesion, as opposed to the antithetic "bourgeois individualist" associated with cultural backwardness and social atomization.

Other theoretically beneficial ideas characteristic of communist societies include:

  1. People are equal. In a communist regime, people are treated equally in the eyes of the government regardless of education, financial standing, et cetera. Economic boundaries don't separate or categorize people, which can help mitigate crime and violence.
  2. Every citizen can keep a job. In a communist system, people are entitled to jobs. Because the government owns all means of production, the government can provide jobs for at least a majority of the people. Everyone in a communist country is given enough work opportunities to live and survive. Every citizen, however, must do his or her part for the economy to receive pay and other work benefits.
  3. There is an internally stable economic system. In communism, the government dictates economic structure; therefore, economic instability is out of the question. Every citizen is required to work in order to receive benefits, and those who don't have corresponding sanctions. This creates an incentive to participate and to encourage economic growth.
  4. Strong social communities are established. In communism, there are certain laws and goals which determine resource and responsibility allocation. If the citizens abide by these laws, this leads to a harmonious spirit of sharing one goal. Consequently, this builds stronger social communities and an even stronger economy.
  5. Competition doesn't exist. In communist societies, everyone can work harmoniously without stepping on each other's toes. Work, responsibility, and rewards are shared equally among the citizens. If people have no sense of envy, jealousy or ambitions that counter the goals of the state, then a harmonious economic development can be maintained .
  6. Efficient distribution of resources. In a communist society, the sense of cooperation allows for efficiency in resource distribution. This is very important, especially in times of need and in emergency situations.
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