Communism

Introduction

Communism is a political and socio-economic ideology which promotes a classless and stateless society. In a communist society, state and private property rights are abolished, and where the means of production are collectively owned and shared by the people. The goal of communism is to achieve a society where each contributes according to their abilities and receives according to their needs.^[1]

Communism emerged in the 19th century as a response to the perceived social and economic inequalities resulting from the industrial revolution. “The Communist Manifesto”, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, is regarded as the foundational text of communism and outlines its main principles, emphasizing the eventual overthrow of capitalist systems through revolutionary means. 

Notable examples of states where communism was applied include the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, and North Korea. The ideological struggle between communism and capitalism has significantly shaped global geopolitics after WW2, leading to the Cold War, and influencing political movements, revolutions, and socio-economic policies.

Conservative Perspective

There are three main reasons on why conservatives oppose communism. First, conservatives value individual rights and emphasize the importance of property rights. Second, communism’s central planning hinders economic efficiency and leads to misallocation of resources. Third, conservatives cite the historical failure of communism.

Individual Rights

Conservatives emphasize the importance of individual liberties, viewing communism as a system that inherently limits personal freedom by its forceful, constant, reallocation of resources. The collectivization of resources is seen as infringement on individual rights by conservatives, arguing that such an approach limits the people’s ability in making independent choices about their private and economic pursuits.^[2] 

Conservatives also value private property rights, viewing them as essential for economic efficiency, individual responsibility, and the protection of personal assets. Communism, with its emphasis on collective ownership of means of production, is seen by conservatives as a threat to these property rights.

Economic Concerns

Conservatives argue that communism’s central planning hinders economic efficiency and innovation. Conservatives emphasize that market-based systems, as seen in capitalism, encourage competition and entrepreneurship, leading to a more efficient and innovative economy. 

Moreover, conservatives advocate for limited government intervention in the economy and individual lives. The argument is that communism, with its emphasis on state control, creates an unnecessary bureaucracy, which limits the ability to be responsive to emergency issues. Conservatives prefer a decentralized system that allows the profitable to rise and the unprofitable to fall.

Historical Examples

Conservatives point to historical examples of communist regimes, where the implementation of communist principles resulted in economic hardships, human rights abuses, and large-scale social disruptions. An example of this is how the forced collectivization of land and resources in the Soviet Union (1932-1933) resulted in scarcity, famines, and the deaths of millions of innocent people.^[3]

Conservatives also point to the historical tendency of communist regimes to become authoritarian, often under a single ruling party. Mao’s communist China is a perfect example of this.