Definition:
Communism is a classless, stateless social and economic system in which the means of production are collectively owned and goods are distributed according to need rather than profit.
Usage Context:
Used in political theory, historical analysis, ideological debate, and critiques of capitalism and state power.
Critical Note:
Communism is frequently conflated with authoritarian state regimes that described themselves as communist. This conflation obscures the distinction between the theoretical goal of communism and the historical realities of states that never achieved its defining conditions.
Related Terms:
Capitalism, Post-Capitalism, Alternative Systems, Anti-Capitalism, State Communism