Socialism, a term that has become increasingly associated by the older generations to the horrors of communism, the Cold War, the Soviet Union and inevitably the mass killings and crimes against humanity associated with such ideals. From a historical standpoint, the actions of the Soviet Union, North Korea, and even China with Mao Zedong has left nothing but a bitter taste in many people concerning the beliefs of socialism and communism. Consequently, the emphasis of these countries on both socialism and communism has undoubtedly left the average person confused about the actual distinction between socialism and communism. In fact, it was even noted during the political debates that Donald Trump, the current president, confused the two terms by calling Senator Bernie Sanders a “socialist slash communist” in a tribute to the negative connotations these words possess despite the fact that Senator Bernie Sanders labels himself as strictly a democratic socialist.
With all this uncertainty, many may wonder what exactly is socialism? How does that differ from communism and Is it truly as bad as people make it out to be?
Socialism is defined, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, as any of the various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. Likewise, communism is analogously defined by Merriam Webster as a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. Based on initial observations from definitions alone, it is uncanny how similar these concepts are to each other. Both socialism and communism were built on the premise of a centralized system controlled by either the government or a collective group. Their differences, however, lie in the role of individuals in their respective systems. While socialism has individuals compensated proportionally to their contributions to society, communism has individuals universally compensated for their needs. Consequently, many communistic models, despite arguing equality, have resulted in low productions and mass poverty due to lack of motivation for workers. Additionally, while communism is defined as a political theory, socialism is at its core an economic theory. This difference lies in the fact that one mainly concerns the systematic transfer of wealth whereas the other focuses on the organization of individuals (and thus more prone to corruption and bias).
Historically, the origins of socialism and communism also differ greatly. According to Dr. Lawrence Quill, professor and chairman of political sciences at San Jose University, socialism came as a primary response to capitalism and the fear of unequal wealth distributions that may have resulted from pure individual competition. Communism meanwhile was seen as a more extreme end product of socialism; a model where distinctions between classes become completely abolished. Consequently, many realistic attempts at communism (as with the Soviet Union) often resulted in the complete elimination of private property and freedom of speech; ideas that have become foundational for many governments.
As with all theories, the values behind socialism, communism, and even capitalism have their merits and flaws. With the complexity of modern day society, it’s not uncommon for many countries to incorporate multiple economic systems now under the pretense of a “mixed economy”. According to Investopedia, even countries such as the United States exhibit aspects of a mixed economy with characteristics of both capitalism and socialism. The cooperation of both socialism and capitalism allows for the protection of private property and freedom in using economic capital while at the same time providing a means for governmental interference and regulations when the situation calls for it. Essentially, by combining socialism and capitalism, mixed economies are able to give individuals the incentive and motivation to succeed while simultaneously ensuring a sense of equality for those in abject poverty.
So, is socialism really that bad? The answer, as with so many issues in life, is ultimately subjective. The perceptions of socialism, communism, capitalism and even the mixed economy systems are in the end just broad umbrella terms where countless possibilities exist. To what extent should a government interfere without violating our natural rights? In what way should equality (or lack thereof) play a role in this issue? Even if there are definite answers to these questions, who has the power to decide whether or not any system of government is the “correct one”?
Sources:
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/100214/what-difference-between-communism-and-socialism.asp
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/031815/united-states-considered-market-economy-or-mixed-economy.asp
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-calls-bernie-sanders-maniac-socialist-slash-communist/story?id=34484030
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/do-you-know-the-difference-between-a-communist-and-a-socialist-a6708086.html
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/henryk-a-kowalczyk/capitalism-socialism-and-_b_8523486.html
https://www.thebalance.com/socialism-types-pros-cons-examples-3305592
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialism
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communism