This topic
generates a great deal of heated debate. There always was confusion about
Communism and Capitalism as political regimes, with supporters claiming that combining
them will be a good idea, whilst opponents ask to clear the air and the
confusion about both these terms.
This article is devoted to communism vs capitalism debate. The aim
is to find out the major points of difference between communism and capitalism.
Communism vs. capitalism debate is a battle between two extreme
socioeconomic theories. They are theories that represent two inherently
opposite ways of thinking. One is extremely individualistic (Capitalism), while
the other one (Communism) claims that to make a progress toward a higher social
order all goods must be equally shared by the people. The communism vs
capitalism clash polarized the world during the Cold war. This article explores
all dimensions of communism and capitalism and explores the two ideologies
while comparing their points of difference.
The primary point of difference between
capitalism and communism is regarding the ownership of 'means of production' or
resources in general. Communism shuns private ownership of
land or any vital resources. Instead, all the 'means of production' like land
and other resources should be owned by the state. By state here, the whole
community of people is understood. All land and resources which enable the
production of goods and services will be owned by one and all. Everything will
be shared. All decisions about production will be made by the whole community
by democratic means. There will be equal wages for all. All the decisions taken
will be according to what is good for all.
On the other hand, capitalism believes in private ownership of land and means
of production. Every man will have to earn his worth. The major share of the
profits earned from the business will go to the person who owns the means of
production, while the workers who are responsible for running the business will
get a small share. Every man will get his wages according to his merit and
according to the thinking of the man who owns the means of production.
Naturally the people who own the means of production, the capitalists, call the
shots when it comes to making a decision. The second point is, communism and
capitalism having contrasting views about individual freedom. Communism asks
one to put the society before the individual, while capitalism puts individual
freedom, before society.
So, the polarity between two ideologies
is 'Individualism vs Social welfare'. Capitalism gives more importance to
individual aspirations and appeals to the inherent selfish nature, which is
inherent in all human beings. This inherent selfishness is a result of the instinct
of self preservation.
Communism appeals to our more saintly
side, wherein we think about others before ourselves. It is a noble thought,
which goes against the inherent selfish nature of people, though it is appealing
to their generous natures.
The third point is connected with
society.
Communism advocates a classless, egalitarian society, where all men and women
are placed on the same footing. There will be no differences of class, race,
religion or even nationality. This way, there will be nothing to fight for.
Capitalism promotes class distinction. In fact creates the major class
distinction of haves and have-nots, the rich and the poor. The rich get richer
and the poor get poorer under pure capitalism. The rich class controls the means
of production and wields power, thereby imposing their own class distinction
and whims on the society.
The
third point concerns the anatomy of power. Communism appeals to the
higher ideal of altruism, while capitalism promotes selfishness.Capitalism naturally
concentrates wealth and therefore, power in the hands of the people who own the
means of production. So, it creates the rich elite who control wealth,
resources and power. So, naturally they decide the distribution of power.
In communism, ideally, if all of mankind was of saintly nature, altruistic and
selfless, the distribution of power would be equal. All decisions would be made
by democratic means and there would be no unjust rules favoring a few.
However, that is not the case here, people are inherently selfish and the
nature of power is such that it corrupts minds and absolute power corrupts
absolutely.
To conclude, it must be said that during Capitalism era all the
power was concentrated in the hands of business owners and traders, the workers
were treated badly and exploited. It was a period when the rich became richer
and the poor became poorer, not a good perspective for the poor. While
Communism assured that profit and money was not the main aim of that period. There
was sharing and all things were in abundance, and therefore there was no need
of an army or the police. The capitalists who were still there tried to create
a fight but it were of no use. At last the people won and lived their lives to
the fullest. Ultimately what we need is a balanced approach, which is a combination
of good points in both ideologies. A mixed economy where the state has control
over all the vital resources of a nation provides welfare for those who need it,
while also promoting free entrepreneurship.
REFERENCES
1. Ayn Rand.Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. – Centennial edition.
2. Richard H. Hudelson.The Rise and Fall of Communism. –Westview Press,1993.
3. Robert V. Daniels. A Documentary History of Communism. – New York,
1960.
4. Electronic source www.capitalism.org