Socialism vs. Communism

Socialismnoun

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Socialismnoun

A system of social and economic equality in which there is no private property.

Socialismnoun

A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

Socialismnoun

(Marxism) The intermediate phase of social development between capitalism and full communism in Marxist theory in which the state has control of the means of production.

Socialismnoun

Any of a group of later political philosophies such democratic socialism and social democracy which do not envisage the need for full state ownership of the means of production nor transition to full communism, and which are typically based on principles of community decision making, social equality and the avoidance of economic and social exclusion, with economic policy giving first preference to community goals over individual ones.

Socialismnoun

Any left-wing ideology, government regulations, or policies promoting a welfare state, nationalisation, etc.

Socialismnoun

A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint-Simonianism, forms of socialism.

Socialismnoun

a political theory advocating state ownership of industry

Socialismnoun

an economic system based on state ownership of capital

Socialism

Socialism is a political, social, and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production. It includes the political theories and movements associated with such systems.

Communismnoun

Any political ideology or philosophy advocating holding the production of resources collectively.

Communismnoun

Any political social system that implements a communist political philosophy.

Communismnoun

The international socialist society where classes, money, and the state no longer exist.

Communismnoun

A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life; specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the equal use and advantage of all.

Communismnoun

a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership

Communismnoun

a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society

Communism

Communism (from Latin communis, 'common, universal') is a philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and, in some cases, the state. As such, communism is a specific form of socialism.