Communism
Definition
Communism is a political and economic ideology where all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
Analogy
Imagine if your entire class worked on a group project together. Everyone contributes what they can, and everyone shares equally in the grade, regardless of individual effort. That's communism - it aims for total equality in outcome.
Related terms
Proletariat: In Marxist theory, this term refers to the working-class people regarded collectively.
Bolsheviks: A faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which eventually became the Communist Party of the Soviet Union after seizing power in Russia during October Revolution (1917).
Cold War: A period of geopolitical tension between powers in Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and its satellite states) and powers in Western Bloc (United States, NATO allies) post World War II; Communism vs Capitalism was one of major ideological conflicts during this period.
"Communism" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (5)
- What was a constant characteristic in the way media represented communism during both instances of the Red Scare?
- Which doctrine pledged U.S. support for countries threatened by communism after the Vietnam war?
- Which event heightened America's concern about Communism spreading into South-East Asia?
- How did Eisenhower's policy towards communism differ from Kennedy's during their respective presidencies?
- Which comparison best illustrates how communism declined in Europe towards the end of the Cold War?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.