Communism

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Communism is a political and economic ideology that positions itself in opposition to Classical Liberalism, Fascism, Republicanism and, most prominently, Capitalism. Instead, it advocates a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally, and private property is nonexistent or severely curtailed. Like all societies, it claims that the state represents "The people", but in communist Theory and practice, it places the state above the individual. It takes away human rights, controls people's lives, takes away people's food and money and gives it to the state. Anyone that dare criticize the idea of a Communist state were eiTher thrown in prison or executed.

Early Developments

Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.
—Adam Smith

The stage of society in which the population is composed solely of Hunter-GaTherers is commonly referred to as "Primitive Communism". It's worth noting that class society likely developed solely following the specialization of labor and thus Agriculture.

Many consider Christianity a precursor of Socialism or even Communism.

People such as John of Leiden are alleged to be proto-Socialist, though of course differing significantly.

Development

The main Theoretical figures within Communism are Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Lenin, though Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong and many others also took part in its development.

Modern Developments

Communist Theory saw many new developments in recent times, particularly following the fall of the USSR; notably, it shifted significantly from an Economics-centered view of society to a Culture-centered view of society.

Critiques

Communism has received criticism from a variety of points of view:

• From Fascism,
• From Liberalism,
• From Anarchism,

This is not a comprehensive list, though it covers most arguments made.

Popular Figures

Joseph Stalin

Vladimir Lenin

Mao Zedong

Karl Marx

Pol Pot

Ho Chi Minh

Che Guevara

Enver Hoxha

Mikhail Gorbachev

Leon Trotsky

Applications in practice

Because the horror of Communism, Stalinism, is not that bad people do bad things — they always do. It's that good people do horrible things thinking they are doing something great.
—Slavoj Žižek, Six Questions for Slavoj Žižek on Harper's Magazine

Timeline

Communism died of Communism. the Moloch has devoured itself.
—Enzo Bettiza