COMMUNISMCOMMUNISM

Historical Context, Theory, and Practice

Economic Systems in Historical Context

1780 1815 1848

IR begins in Britain

utopian socialismcapitalis

mcommunis

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Communist Manifesto

Capitalism

• Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations (1776)• free market / laissez faire• “invisible hand”• 3 duties of gov’t:

1. military2. Justice3. public works

What was the problem with capitalism?

Utopian Socialism

• French guys: Blanc, Fourier, Proudhon, Saint-Simon

• Goal: no social classes• How to achieve: mixed economy – gov’t owns

some industry & participates in econ. planning

Communism / Marxian Socialism

• Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, Communist Manifesto (1848)

• Marx, Das Kapital• Goal: no social classes• How to achieve: revolution command

economy

Marxist Theory

• history = class struggle• IR created 2 dominant classes:

– bourgeoisie– proletariat

• greedy capitalists profit from surplus value of labor

• critique of utopians: bourgeoisie will never voluntarily help the proletariat

Marxist Theory

Therefore ….

WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!

• Results of revolution:– proletariat take power– abolition of private property– eventually gov’t. withers away

Communism in Practice

Russian Revolution (1917)Lenin adapts Marxism to Russian conditions:

revolutionary party leads revolution

problem: never gave up control

Communism in Practice

• 1 political party• central econ. planning +

state owns means of production

• stresses classless society

• anti-religion

• propaganda• censorship• basic freedoms denied• secret police• severe punishment for

lawbreakers

***state has supreme power***

Communism in China

1. Why did Communism appeal to people in China?

2. How did Mao adapt Marxist theory to conditions in China?