Economic Update: What Is Communism?

[S12 E34] What is Communism?

This program covers the origins, evolution, and current significance of "communism." After a brief history of communism as a utopian ideal of community, we treat Marx's presentation in the Communist Manifesto, and then communism's subordination to "socialism" to World War 1. That War changed everything. It split socialists everywhere into a Socialist Party and a Communist Party with key differences but also commonalities. When most European communist parties collapsed, socialism once again became the only major systemic left position. Yet the utopian longings expressed by communism left many on the left dissatisfied with modern socialisms. They searched for a possible solution, a new kind of communism located in workplaces organized as democratic, worker co-op.

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“Marxism always was the critical shadow of capitalism. Their interactions changed them both. Now Marxism is once again stepping into the light as capitalism shakes from its own excesses and confronts decline.”

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SOURCES FOR SHOW SEGMENTS:

[tracyday]

Don't start a business start a co operative. ✌️

[chongleebnw]

We Chinese, at least the recent generations from 1980s, when we were in school, we were literally taught that China wasn't and still isn't a communist country. And specifically, It was very clear to us that, China was far from a matured socialist country. It was called the "primary state" of the socialism and the main focus has been lifting people out of poor by economic growth. This primary state was and still is on-going and the final objective for this state is to turn the country into an advanced country where people enjoy (more or less) economic equality (this is the most important equality). Only then, the primary state will be over and the country can move on to the next phase of the socialism where the path towards a better future will hopefully be clearer. It seems, we didn't put the transform of the workplace (and it is NOT fair to say the school, among many other things, has not been transformed by CPC. In fact, it's been going through improvements) in the first place as we were all very poor until the recent decade, but if you pay attention to the changes happening in the recent years, the government has been addressing some of the workplace issues. It is never easy, in fact, doing that is much harder than talking. The thing is, also since several years ago, USA has been super hostile to us and waged economic war. The timing couldn't be worse for wanted improvments so naturally the objective is more about secure the economy to avoid any collapse when dealing with USA and its allies, not that we don't want social transform and improvements.
A better workplace is more like the result of the whole progress, not the reason. You will never be able to secure better workplace if the country fails to function economically and politically.

[scottdavis]

We are a village. We used to do Communism without thinking about it. Today, it must be internationalized to work. That's the rub. It must be for people's needs. This is a good video.

[The.Ghost.of.Tom.Joad.]

Thanks, Professor Wolff. Much food for thought. Over a century simmered down to an easy-to-digest half hour. Simplified, but not simplistic—a tough row to hoe. Keep up your excellent work, because you've been a huge part of my middle-aged rethinking of politics and economics.

[normadenemurphy]

Thank you! This was the best explanation of Communism and Socislism I’ve ever heard!

[Belrondis]

Syndicalists listening to this like: "that's literally what we said from the start".

[elliottspence]

The focus on 'communes' reminds me of 'Down and Rising' and how precious a commune is after the collapse of civilization. It takes a key human understanding and basic rule-set for a commune to succeed. Great Economic Update as always!

[DimitryCheniche]

By the way, those who call themselves “socialists” had different names given them by real revolutionary social-democrats (later called communists). Communists (russian bolsheviks and their comrades around the globe) called those so called “socialists” 1) opportunists, because they betrayed fight for liberation of the working class for comfortable positions in bourgeois establishment, for their own personal safety and prosperity; 2) social-chauvinists, because they betrayed proletarian internationalism and supported their governments in the terrific imperialistic war in 1914, as well as many more military conflicts, interventions and coups provoked and initiated by imperialism, right up to these days.
That success that those reformists so called socialists governments of Western Europe gained during the XX century was possible only because of existing of USSR, there working class had rights and power, there most of problems of capitalist system was solved. The ruling class of capitalist countries just had to compete with Soviet Union and other socialist states, and treat their workers better for their (capitalists) own safety, to keep their power. Yes, say thanks to USSR for “golden age” of capitalism.
Since USSR collapsed we see we can see how ruling class is playing back, and don’t see any significant results of social democrats in making workers’ lives better.

[prettyproletarian]

As we become more globalized and finance led, the whisper of a democratic workplace becomes more revolutionary

[Jay...]

I'm going to listen to this again!
That was the most brilliant explanation I have ever heard.

[WileyCylas]

Thank u professor for explaining it clearly to us! Very helpful. Still confusing but helpful! Eloquent & profound!

[givenjust]

Amazing insights on socialism & communism by Professor Wolfe

[pukahuroad]

It is always an enlightening and thought provoking experience to hear the extent of Professor Wolff's vast knowledge.

[hypergraphic]

This is such a good examination of the history of these ideas. To me, I would love to live in a world like Star Trek, where all the basic needs are taken care of and the profit motive barely exists.

[tuito]

In France: Commune is always used as synonyms for city or town, and commune is usually the word used in official documents.

[ljubanrajic]

There was an attempt of worker's council in socialist Yugoslavia. It had some benefits but in the end nacionalism associated with capitalism brake all that apart.
My humble opinion is that the biggest problem with the worker's co ops, cauncil, any type of organization lies in will to activli participate and possession of necessary knowledge to make important decisions.

[thebourgeoispunk]

This is the most informative and clear overview of communism I’ve ever watched. thanks as always dr. Wolff!

[but-what-do-i-know]

Bravo! Excellent presentation. I've been a subscriber for many years and was wondering when you were going to do a deep dive into the third rail of economic theory... "What is Communism?" Viewers learn more about communism in your 30 minute lecture that they can ever learn in any university econ course. Your have the gift of distilling complicated facts & theory into layman's terms and creating presentations that are remarkable. Namaste

[maxiakouchev]

This is exactly what we were told when I was growing up in the USSR, that we are not communists and it was the ultimate goal. Completely spot on about the problem of ownership being the main destructive force. I think that the USSR was well ahead of its time attempting to plan for everything even though computers were not even invented. I also remember one of the slogans "Economy must be economical" meaning that the purpose was not extracting as much profit from results of your labour but use as little resources as possible to deliver the same result. The system will need to change as capitalism will eventually extract the last drop of water and log the last tree to sell it for the highest bidder. Unfortunately the transition like many before will only happen due to some enormous shock to the existing system. There is no such thing as a bloodless transition, not at least what history tells us.

[masthan]

Prof. Wolff, going absolutely strong at 80. Keep up Prof! 🤗