What is communism?
Communism (also known as a command system) is an economic system developed by Karl Marx in the 1800s. Marx, frustrated with capitalist economies, originally created communism to make the gap between the rich and poor smaller, to take away private property, and to distribute economic jobs across social classes. While government intervention was only supposed to occur in the transition from capitalism to communism, the governments of communist economies play a strict role in economic activity today. Principles of communism include:
Countries that currently have a communist economy:
- all production is owned by the government
- mainly focused on military production and industrialization
- property is shared; no such thing as private property
- international trade is discouraged
Countries that currently have a communist economy:
- North Korea (perhaps the best example- the government requires people to work for their cause, the state is independent and self-sufficient in the economy and military)
- People's Republic of China
- Vietnam
- Laos
- Cuba
- USSR (former Russia)
IN THE NEWS
An article about the communist party of Ukraine and the recent tensions in Crimea.
An interesting video that showcases the history of Warsaw, Poland's architecture and the buildings that remind citizens of their communist past.
An interesting video that showcases the history of Warsaw, Poland's architecture and the buildings that remind citizens of their communist past.