What is the difference between socialism and communism?

Question

Socialism was only ever used in the Soviet Union in the twentieth century and was not adopted anywhere else in the world.
In socialism, people share power collectively; in communism, a group or person leads the people to their goals of eliminating classes.
Both are completely identical ways of eliminating class difference and have not been successful in achieving their goals.
Socialism focuses on ending social differences, while communism focuses on creating communal similarities.

Answer 1

The concepts of socialism and communism are often discussed together, but they have distinct characteristics and historical contexts. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:

1. Definitions:

   • Socialism is an economic and political system where the means of production (factories, resources, etc.) are owned or regulated by the community or the state. It seeks to distribute wealth more equally among the population and often involves varying degrees of government intervention in the economy.
   • Communism, as articulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, is seen as a more extreme form of socialism where class distinctions are completely eliminated, and all property is publicly owned. The ultimate goal is a classless, stateless society.

2. Goals:

   • Socialism aims to address social inequalities and provide a safety net for citizens. It often exists in a political context that allows for various forms of governance, including democratic systems.
   • Communism seeks to establish a classless societal structure, insisting that the state will eventually "wither away" after achieving complete equality and freedom for all.

3. Implementation:

   • Throughout the 20th century, socialism has been implemented in various forms worldwide, including in social democracies in Nordic countries, which incorporate elements of socialism within a democratic framework.
   • Communism, in practice, has primarily been associated with the Soviet Union and other nations that adopted Marxist-Leninist ideologies, often resulting in authoritarian regimes that made significant deviations from Marx’s original theory.

4. Collective Power vs. Central Leadership:

   • Socialism can involve shared decision-making and collective power, often advocating for democratic processes.
   • Communism typically involves a centralized leadership that guides the population towards the collective goals, often through a single-party state.

5. Class Elimination versus Social Improvements:

   • Both ideologies seek to reduce class differences, but socialism often focuses on reforms and improving the conditions of the working class, while communism aims for an absolute elimination of social classes.

6. Historical Context:

   • While socialism has been adopted in various forms across numerous countries, it has sometimes been associated with authoritarian regimes. However, it also exists in democratic societies where it manifests as social welfare, labor rights, and public ownership initiatives.
   • Communism, particularly in the 20th century, has been primarily associated with revolutionary movements and the establishment of states that sought to rapidly transform society, often leading to significant political and social upheaval.

While there are shared goals of reducing inequality, the methods, implementations, and historical outcomes of socialism and communism can be substantially different.