Difference Between Communism and Leninism

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: April 30, 2023

       

Difference Between Communism and Leninism

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Introduction

In the Soviet Union in the early 1900s, there is a lot of activity taking place. There is a plethora of contrasting thoughts and ideologies in circulation nowadays. The Leninist interpretation of communism is one of the variants that are now in circulation, and it is one of the most significant. Both communism and Leninism have a lot of similarities and have very few significant distinctions between them. They are all quite similar to one another and are connected in some way. It is also possible to refer to communism as a kind of socialism that seeks to do away with the concept of private ownership of property and works toward the establishment of a classless society in which everyone belongs to the same social group. The socialist economic and political doctrines that Vladimir Lenin developed are sometimes referred to as Leninism. The ideology known as Leninism is an offshoot of communism.

When it comes to maintaining and controlling the functioning of their country in terms of economics, military, peace, harmony, and international relations, many nations adhere to a variety of diverse political philosophies. Communism and Leninism are two distinct political ideologies that are practiced in various parts of the world. Countries in Asia such as China, Cuba, and Laos have all transitioned to a communist form of government. On the other side, Russia has embraced the Leninist political ideology.

Communism vs. Leninism

The primary distinction between communism and Leninism is that communism entails centralized state control over all aspects of a nation's economy and society to ensure that its resources are distributed equitably among its population, while Leninism was more laissez-faire in its approach. On the other hand, Leninism refers to the social, economic, and political doctrines that were developed by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who was a well-known Russian attorney.

Communism is a political system to establish a society free from prejudice to convey the idea that all people, regardless of skin color, caste, or social standing, are on an equal footing. It implies creating a super community in which everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit. This political system has been adopted by several nations to better serve the people of those nations.

Leninism is not only a political ideology but also a political system that was developed by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who was a Russian revolutionary and lawyer in the past. In 1922, it first gained widespread use. It is a kind of socialism that replaces capitalism as the dominant economic system (economic matters are handled by the citizens rather than the government). Marxism-Leninism is another name for this ideology.

The differences between communism and Leninism are not all that significant. Because they are all interconnected with one another, it might be difficult to differentiate between the two.

Communism is a kind of socialism that adheres to the maxim "from everyone according to his ability, to each according to his need." This maxim is at the core of communism. The word "communism" may also refer to socialism, which advocates for the elimination of private property and works for the establishment of a society without social classes. Leninism is a phrase that refers to the socialist economic and political views that were developed by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. The ideology known as Leninism is an offshoot of communism.

After the Bolshevik revolution in 1917, communism as a political ideology began to take shape. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are credited with popularising communism via the publication of their book The Communist Manifesto. The ideology of Leninism emerged in Russia not long after the October Revolution of 1917. 1922 was the year that saw the beginning of Leninism's rise to prominence. The fifth congress of the Communist International, which took place in 1924, is seen as a watershed moment in the progression of Leninism. This meeting is credited for popularizing the word "Leninism" to describe a Marxist philosophy for the first time.

Communism placed a strong emphasis on economic revolution since the ideology believed that such a movement might eventually lead to a shift in the political structure. Leninism placed a strong emphasis on political revolution since the ideology believed that this was the only way to bring about a change in the economic system.

It is a fundamental tenet of communist thought that the capitalist system will eventually self-destruct. It was said there will be a revolution led by the proletariat against the capitalists. On the other hand, one of the central tenets of Leninist thought is that capitalism itself must be abolished.

Difference Between Communism and Leninism in Tabular Form

Parameters of Comparison Communism Leninism
Brought by Karl Marx is credited with the conception of communism. Vladimir Lenin is credited with developing the concept of Leninism.
Came in In the year 1848, the concept of communism was first proposed. 1917 was the year that saw the conception of Leninism.
Belief The ideology of communism is predicated on the idea that in a society based on equality, capitalism would naturally die away. The idea that capitalism ought to be eradicated by direct action gave rise to the ideology of Leninism.
Motto A communist society's members may prosper economically, according to the ideology's guiding principle. Leninism is an ideology that places a greater emphasis on the political evolution of the nation.
Advantage The equality of all members of society is one of the benefits of communism. One of the benefits of Leninism is that it may facilitate the establishment of authoritative governments.

What is Communism?

The term "communism" originates from a Latin phrase that translates to "common for all." As a result, communism denotes complete parity in all spheres, including the political, social, and economic spheres, for all people residing in the same nation.

Karl Max, a German philosopher, is credited with introducing the idea of an equal society via his work in collaboration with Friedrich Engels, a well-known writer. Both of these well-known individuals used their literature to further the communist ideology. In the 1840s, this concept was put into practice for the first time.

Following the successful completion of the Russian revolution in 1992, communism was established in Russia. Only a few groups of people are permitted to possess the maximum amount of stock in a company under communism since the government owns the vast majority of firms (including those involved in manufacturing, services, and commerce).

This concept is somewhat similar to socialism; however, under communism, freedom of religion is encouraged and upheld. The goal of communism is to eliminate social stratification in society by focusing on economic growth rather than social stratification.

For all of the residents to be able to enjoy a higher quality of life, it is necessary to ensure that they have access to both basic (such as food and education) and deluxe (such as medical facilities) amenities. The government in the center is in charge of all of the economic matters.

In states that practice communism, members of a single political party rise through the ranks to run for office, resulting in the formation of a hierarchical political party. China is the most populous communist nation in the world. Aside from China and North Korea, other nations that follow the communist ideology include Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam.

Even though the Communist Party USA, which was established in 1919, has fielded candidates for public office throughout its history, communism has never established a significant footing in the United States. In the years after World War II, the United States had a period known as the "Red Scare," which contributed to the passing of legislation in 1954 that made it illegal to be a member of the Communist Party. However, a significant portion of that statute has subsequently been overturned, and the party continues to function.

Modern communism is an outgrowth of socialism, and it is frequently referred to as revolutionary socialism since it advocates for the working class to seize control of governmental authorities by a violent uprising rather than through gradual political change.

What is Leninism?

The political ideology that is known as Leninism is named after the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, who was responsible for establishing its foundational doctrines. According to Leninism, the proletariat society ought to have the right to determine national policies (a higher class of profit-makers).

For things both political and economic to be effectively controlled. To improve the functioning of the political system in the nation, one of the goals of this political system is to increase political literacy among the working class. In addition to that, this strategy inspired revolutionary emotions among the general populace.

After the October revolution, headed by Vladimir Lenin in 1917, this system was initially implemented in Russia under the motto "Workers and Peasants Together" (Peace, Land, and Bread). Lenin personally served as the nation's leader throughout that period. These policies are founded on what is known as orthodox Marxism (a simplified version of Marx's policies).

By 1922, the political framework of Leninism had been embraced by several new nations. Earlier, when Leninism was in power, the council of ministers would choose who would serve in the executive branch of government. Another school of thought held that the only way to do away with capitalism was for the government to institute stringent regulations directed at individual citizens' private property holdings.

Leninism is a political ideology that advocates for the establishment of a single dominant political party in a nation, similar to communism. This political attitude is not supported by the majority of nations. In Russia, the most fundamental version of the practice is carried out.

There was a fundamental mistrust of spontaneity at the heart of Leninist authoritarianism. This mistrust sprang from the assumption that historical processes if left to their own devices, would not bring about the intended result, which was the establishment of a socialist society.

Lenin was not at all convinced, for example, that the workers would inevitably acquire the appropriate revolutionary and class consciousness of the communist elite. Instead, he was afraid that they would be content with the gains in living and working conditions obtained through trade-union activity. Leninism was a departure from conventional Marxism, which anticipated that workers would become aware of the need for revolution only as a result of the material circumstances in which they found themselves. Therefore, in Lenin's view, the communist elite, also known as the "workers' vanguard," was more than a catalytic force that pushed events down their inevitable path; rather, it was an essential component.

Main Differences Between Communism and Leninism in Points

  • Max Karl, a German philosopher, is credited with being a proponent of communism as a political system. On the other hand, a Russian revolutionary named Vladimir Lenin came up with the idea for the political system known as Leninism.
  • The year 1848 marks the beginning of communism as a concept. Nevertheless, the year 1917 marks the beginning of the Leninist movement.
  • The idea of communism may be compared to socialism in several ways. On the other hand, the ideology of Leninism is founded on the principles of orthodox Marxism.
  • Foster economic growth across the nation is fundamental to the communist ideology. On the other hand, the Leninist style of administration prioritizes the development of robust political programs as its primary objective.
  • Workers in every nation should band together under the banner of communism. Leninism, on the other hand, has as its rallying cry "peace, land, and food."
  • The English term "common" is where the French word "communism" comes from. On the other hand, the ideology known as Leninism is named after Vladimir Lenin.
  •  The ideology of communism asserts that capitalism will collapse on its own, but the ideology of Leninism asserts that capitalism must be eradicated.
  • Leninism, on the other hand, placed more of a focus on political revolution as a method of bringing about economic reform. This contrasts with the communist ideology, which placed more of an emphasis on economic revolution as a means of bringing about political change.

Conclusion

Two unique countries each adhere to relatively dissimilar political ideologies known as communism and Leninism respectively. Russia is the country that gave birth to both the Soviet Union and the democratic movement that followed it. The goal of both political philosophies is to have people participate as little as possible in the electoral process (citizens do not vote for their ruler) and in the corporate sectors.

Karl Marx is credited with developing the communist political philosophy that wealth should be distributed equitably among all the people. He wanted the phrases to be left out (rich and poor). So, no inequality and prejudice are formed among citizens. Leninism is a political theory that was named after Vladimir Lenin, who was the leader of the October Revolution. This revolution resulted in the establishment of Leninism. According to his point of view, the government ought to be given complete authority over how a nation is operated and managed.

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"Difference Between Communism and Leninism." Diffzy.com, 2024. Thu. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-communism-and-leninism-583>.



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