Marxists often refer to socialism as the first, necessary phase on the way from capitalism to communism.
Key Differences Between Communism and Socialism
Under communism, there is no such thing as private property. All property is communally owned, and each person receives a portion based on what they need. A strong central government—the state—controls all aspects of economic production, and provides citizens with their basic necessities, including food, housing, medical care and education.
By contrast, under socialism, individuals can still own property. But industrial production, or the chief means of generating wealth, is communally owned and managed by a democratically elected government.
Another key difference in socialism versus communism is the means of achieving them. In communism, a violent revolution in which the workers rise up against the middle and upper classes is seen as an inevitable part of achieving a pure communist state. Socialism is a less rigid, more flexible ideology. Its adherents seek change and reform, but often insist on making these changes through democratic processes within the existing social and political structure, not overthrowing that structure.
In his 1875 writing,
Critique of the Gotha Program, Marx
summarized the communist philosophy in this way: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” By contrast, socialism is based on the idea that people will be compensated based on their level of individual contribution to the economy.
BUYENLARGE/GETTY IMAGES
COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA FROM CHINA ENTITLED 'BE READY TO DEFEND OR FIGHT,' CIRCA 1950S.
Unlike in communism, a socialist economic system rewards individual effort and innovation.
Social democracy, the most common form of modern socialism, focuses on achieving social reforms and redistribution of wealth through democratic processes, and can co-exist alongside a free-market capitalist economy.
From:
Though the terms are often used interchangeably, socialism and communism are different in key ways.
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