Author: Dr. Fazl Ahmad Ahmadi
Let’s get to know Communism (The 2nd and Final Part)
2. The Origin and Growth of Communism
As mentioned, the concept of communism has a very long history that dates back to before the time of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. In ancient Greece, the concept of communism was associated with a myth about a “golden age” of human life in which individuals lived in complete harmony and peace, and the concept of private property did not exist. Some argue that Plato’s Republic and certain beliefs of ancient Greek theorist’s support communism. Additionally, the early branches of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic Church, experienced communist ideas in the form of communal living and common property, as described in the Acts of the Apostles and among the indigenous tribes of pre-Columbian America.
In practice, Karl Marx was the first philosopher to formulate the theory of international communism and co-published the famous Communist Manifesto with Engels. For this reason, the followers of this school are called Marxists (Parvin, Beta: 26). This version of communism found its main support in poor and underdeveloped societies and sought to spread to other parts of the world. Historically, communism also gained traction in non-democratic and non-industrial societies (Salahi, 2011: 98). This sometimes leads to the characterization of communism as an “Asian thought,” although the idea that communism is limited to Asia is now far from reality.
The pivotal moment for the power and presence of communists in the political arena was the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia, led by Vladimir Lenin. In the years following the communists’ rise to power, the Soviet Union experienced many changes and fluctuations. The reigns of Lenin and Stalin in the Soviet Union heralded the emergence of a new dictatorship. By the time of Stalin’s death, the Soviet Union had transformed into an industrialized country and the center of a new empire.
Before the 1940s, communism was not very popular, with only two communist countries in the world: the Soviet Union and Mongolia. However, over time, particularly after World War II, communist ideology gained widespread acceptance and extended across many territories. By the end of the 1940s, most of East Asia and Eastern Europe were under communist rule. Many of these states, including Albania, China, East Germany, North Korea, Poland, Romania, and Vietnam, were closely aligned with the Soviet Union and adhered to general Soviet policies such as nationalization of industries, free education and healthcare, collectivization of agriculture, and severe repression of dissent alongside a one-party regime.
In the 1980s, when Gorbachev ascended to leadership in the Soviet Union, the most pressing issue was the decline in economic growth. Gorbachev attempted to open up the political landscape in the country to address these economic problems. However, criticism of the ruling system began to gain momentum, spiraling out of control. Eventually, when Hungary and Poland, two communist countries in Eastern Europe, opted to abandon the one-party state and allow the operation of other parties, they collapsed one after another.
The period marking the fall of the Eastern superpower, the Soviet Union, culminated in December 1991 when this system collapsed with all its dignity and glory. Following that, power was stripped from the hands of the communists in Afghanistan, who had also committed numerous atrocities, as well as in Cambodia and Mongolia. Other communist regimes, such as China, which remained in power, faced crises and widespread protests. Currently, communist parties are present in Russia; however, the chances of establishing a communist government are almost nonexistent. In China, while some major industries remain state-owned, the government’s economic approach has shifted clearly toward a decentralized economy based on private ownership. Despite operating economically in a manner similar to capitalist systems, the Chinese Communist Party does not tolerate any dissent and continues to suppress protests and critics. The only country still governed in a Soviet-style manner is North Korea—a nation ostracized by the international community, with labor camps for the suppression and torture of opponents and no recognition of democratic freedoms.
All these ups and downs originate from the belief among communists that communism fulfills the historical mission of liberating all people from social inequality, oppression, exploitation, and the nightmare of war while bringing peace, work, freedom, equality, brotherhood, and happiness to all nations on earth. In this society, the slogan of everything for the sake of mankind and for the good and happiness of humanity would be fully embodied. However, it seems that in practice, this slogan is nothing more than a platitude that has failed to realize the true ideals of human society.
3. Stages of Communism
According to Marx, in the first stage of communism, it is envisioned that equality and justice will be established. At this stage, unjust differences in wealth will still be visible, but there will be no “exploitation of man by man.” Minority groups will not be able to monopolize the means of production, as was previously observed in capitalism. Exploitation would not be possible because, at this stage, the means of production would not be considered private property.
Marx posited that communism represents the stage of perfection. There is no injustice or inequality in this stage, which he called the highest communist society. At this stage, products will be allocated to each individual not according to the amount of work or ability, as is the case in socialism, but according to their needs. Although a state is necessary in socialism, there will be no state in communism because the presence of a state implies the absence of freedom. However, in socialism, the state is necessary for transitional purposes and repression, to overthrow the bourgeoisie and transfer the means of production to society as a whole.
In other words, communism is the socio-economic formation that human society reaches after the establishment of capitalism, which consists of two stages. According to communists, in the first stage, known as socialism, the exploitation of man by man is abolished. Ownership of the means of production is established, leading to a radical transformation and rapid progress in the entire economic, social, and cultural life of society. The national question is addressed, human personality is given the chance for all-round development, broad and ever-increasing democracy becomes the foundation of social life, and the principle of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his work” is realized.
Socialism aims to elevate nations to heights of freedom and happiness while transforming a backward country into an industrial and prosperous state within a single generation. It brings work and dignity to workers, land and technology to peasants, broad horizons of creative work and the flourishing of personality and talent to intellectuals, and material and spiritual well-being, modern science and culture, and public health to all working people. However, this socialism is merely an initial stage on the way to communism. The gradual transformation of socialism into communism is an objective law that unfolds in the prior evolution of socialist society, within it, and upon its foundation.
Conclusion
From what has been discussed in this article, we can conclude the following: Communism is a philosophical, political, and economic ideology that emerged as a political thought in the 19th century in opposition to capitalism and liberal democracy, which are typically based on Western principles. In its simplest sense, communism represents the general organization of social life based on collective ownership. It is linked to the myth of a “golden age” of human existence, a time when individuals lived in complete harmony without the concept of private property. Some contend that the roots of communism are extensive, arguing that Plato’s Republic and certain beliefs of ancient Greek theorists align with and support communism. Additionally, early branches of Christianity, particularly the early Roman Catholic Church, experienced communist ideas through communal living and common ownership, as evidenced by the Acts of the Apostles and among Native American tribes in pre-Columbian America.
However, Karl Marx was the first philosopher to formulate a practical theory of international communism and gained worldwide prominence with the publication of the Communist Manifesto in collaboration with Engels. The communism that Marx established is considered a stage of perfection, characterized by the complete absence of injustice and inequality. Marx referred to this as the highest communist society. Nevertheless, the idealism associated with Marx and his followers did not remain stable, and today, serious discussions of communism are increasingly rare.
References
1. Parvin, Mohammad, (undated). “Materialism, Dialectics, and Communism,” Journal of Iranian Issues, Year 4, Issue 8, pages 15-29.
2. Jafari, Mohammad, (undated). “Is Communism an Asian Cult,” Journal of Iranian Issues, Year 4, Issue 4, pages 44-49.
3. Sayed Ali, Mahmoudi, (2013). Political Wisdom, First Edition, Tehran, Iran: Negah Moaser Publishing.
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5. Salahi, Malek Yahya, (2011). Western Political Thoughts in the Twentieth Century, Fifth Edition, Tehran, Iran: Qoms Publishing.
6. Kayaoglu, Mustafa, and Tanrechem, (undated). “The Distinction Between Socialism and Communism According to Marx,” translated by Sohrab Nikzad, Naqd Magazine, pages 1-9.
7. Mirgolui Bayat, Nafiseh, (undated). Communism: From Its Rise to Its Fall, Tehran, Iran: Azad Publishing.
8. Nik Ayin, (2008). Political and Social Dictionary, Second Edition, Tudeh Party of Iran Publishing.
9. Heywood, Andrew, (2012). Politics, translated by Abdolrahman Alam, Second Edition, Nai Publishing, Tehran, Iran.
