Communism and Democracy are two political ideologies or philosophies that

dictate how political systems should be managed. Both systems are considered
to be 'left-wing' on the political spectrum and more liberal in nature than some
other political ideological alternatives (i.e. fascist or conservative ideologies). This
article will help you follow the key differences when trying to understand
Communism vs. Democracy.
General Concept
 Communism: To each according to their needs. The government will
provide what people need and through advances in technology everyone will
have an abundance to consume. It's important to note that communism is both
a political ideology and a social one, in that it dictates how government and
social organization will be established.

 Democracy: Everything is decided by citizens, who all have an equal say

in decisions that impact people in general. The majority wins and everything
will be decided and ruled by a majority vote. Democracy is a political ideology
and not a social one, in that it dictates a form of government but any form of
social organization can exist around that government.

Ownership of Property
 Communism: Communism does not allow for individuals to own anything,
all property is public and can be used by those who need it (as decided by
government).

 Democracy: Individual can own personal property like homes and

businesses. Some government ownership of producing assets still exists as
deemed acceptable by the majority vote.

Freedom of Choice
 Communism: Either through collective vote or the direction of government
leadership all economic, social, and political decisions are dictated.

 Democracy: Personal choice is allowed for the most part but there are
limitations in place (laws) established by the majority rule government to
maintain order and set certain guidelines.

Access to Services
 Communism: Access to services is universal and the state will provide
what people need in terms of health care or educational services.

 Democracy: Access to services will vary based on what the majority rule

government dictates, in some democratic countries (i.e. Canada) health and
education are free to access. Alternatively, in the U.S. health care is largely
private and access to service is driven by private insurers to a significant
extent.

Religion
 Communism: Religion is abolished in a communist state.

 Democracy: Fundamentally, freedom of religion exists and is permitted,

the extent to which religion impacts government varies as that will be dictated
by majority rule. Some democratic states do not allow freedom of religion due
to the views of the majority.

Key Economic Principles

 Communism: The means of economic production are held in common by
the people and production is organized based on the needs and will of the
collective (administered by the central government). Individual economic
decisions do not exist and are pre-established by the collective.

 Democracy: Economic structures vary depending on what the majority of

voters prefer. Economies in a democracy often have some form of capitalist
free market economy with restrictions in place (via laws) as deemed
appropriate by the majority elected government.

Communism vs. Democracy in Practice

In reality there are no truly communist states in existence, regardless of the
names that certain governments have historically given to their system of
government. Cuba, the Soviet Union, and China have typically referred to
themselves as communist but private property and ownership were never fully
established. At best they were/are all countries with a dictatorship that borrows to
an extent from communist ideology.

Democratic countries span the world and the majority of developed nations have
democratic political systems. North America and Europe are both almost fully
democratic in terms of the government system used by countries on those
continents.

Democratic and communist political systems are based on different

ideological principles. Although superficially they seem to share the "power to
the people" philosophy, in practice the two systems of government structure
the economic and political fabric of society in markedly different ways.
In the economic sphere, communism calls for the government to take
control of all the capital and industry in the country in an effort to get rid of
economic inequality. On the other hand, a democracy respects individuals'
right to own property and means of production.
The political landscape is also very different in a democracy vs. under
communism. In a democratic society people are free to create their own
political parties and contest in elections, which are free of coercion and fair to
all contestants. In a communist society, however, the government is
controlled by one political party and political dissent is not tolerated.

Comparison chart

Communism versus Democracy comparison chart

Communism Democracy

Philosophy From each according to his In a democracy, the community

ability, to each according to his
needs. Free-access to the
articles of consumption is
made possible by advances in
technology that allow for super-
abundance.
of people are considered to hold
power over how they are
governed. Kings and tyrants are
seen as threats to the innate
rights of the people. As such, all
eligible citizens get equal say in
decisions.

Political A communist society is Democratic. [Note: this is not

 Communism versus Democracy comparison chart
Communism
System stateless, classless and
governed directly by the
people. This, however, has
never been achieved. In
practice, they have been
totalitarian in nature, with a
central party governing society.
Key Elements Centralized government,
planned economy, dictatorship
of the "proletariat", common
ownership of the tools of
production, no private property.
equality between genders and
all people, international focus.
Usually anti-democratic with a
1-party system.
Social All class distinctions are
Structure eliminated. A society in which
everyone is both the owners of
the means of production and
their own employees.
Definition International theory or system
of social organization based on
the holding of all property in
common, with actual ownership
ascribed to the community or
state. Rejection of free markets
and extreme distrust of
Capitalism in any form.
Private Abolished. The concept of
Property property is negated and
replaced with the concept of
commons and ownership with
"usership".
Religion Abolished - all religious and
metaphysics is rejected.
Engels and Lenin agreed that
religion was a drug or “spiritual
booze” and must be combated.
To them, atheism put into
practice meant a “forcible
overthrow of all existing social
conditions.
Free Choice Either the collective "vote" or
Democracy
meant as a reference to a
Democratic Party.]
Free elections. Suffrage.
Majority Rule.
Democracies are meant to resist
separation by class, politically or
economically. Class distinctions
can become pronounced,
however, due to capitalist
society. Varies from state to
state.
Rule by majority. In a
democracy, an individual, and
any group of individuals
composing any minority, have
no protection against the power
of the majority. In variations,
people may also elect
representatives.
Generally, private property is
permitted, although a majority
faction may place limits on
property rights.
Generally, freedom of religion is
permitted, although a majority
faction may limit religious
freedom for a minority faction.
Individuals may make decisions
 Communism versus Democracy comparison chart

Communism Democracy

the state's rulers make for themselves except insofar as

economic and political a majority faction has limited
decisions for everyone else. In individuals.
practice, rallies, force,
propaganda etc. are used by
the rulers to control the
populace.

Economic The means of production are Democracies tend to be free-

System held in common, negating the
concept of ownership in capital
goods. Production is organized
to provide for human needs
directly without any use for
money. Communism is
predicated upon a condition of
material abundance.
market economies. Policies that
govern economics are chosen
by the voters (or their elected
representatives in a
representative democracy).
Usually capitalist or Keynesian.

Discrimination In theory, all members of the In theory, all citizens have an

state are considered equal to equal say and so are treated
one another. equally. However, often allows
for the tyranny of the majority
over the minority.

Key Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,

Proponents Peter Kropotkin, Rosa Noah Webster, Solon,
Luxemburg, Vladimir Lenin, Cleisthenes, Karl Marx
Emma Goldman, Leon Trotsky,
Joseph Stalin, Ho Chi Minh,
Mao Zedong, Josip Broz Tito,
Enver Hoxha, Che Guevara,
Fidel Castro.

Way of Government in a Communist- Voting.

Change state is the agent of change
rather than any market or
desire on the part of
consumers. Change by
government can be swift or
slow, depending on change in
ideology or even whim.

Variations Left Anarchism, Council Direct democracy, parliamentary

Communism, European democracy, representative
Communism, Juche democracy, presidential
Communism, Marxism, democracy.
National Communism, Pre-
Marxist Communism, Primitive
Communism, Religious
Communism, International
Communism.
 Communism versus Democracy comparison chart

Communism Democracy

Modern Recent far-left dictatorships More than half of the world,

Examples include the USSR (1922-1991)
and its sphere throughout
eastern Europe. Only five
nations presently have
Communist governments:
China, North Korea, Cuba,
Laos and Russia.
including the US, Canada,
Western Europe, Australia, New
Zealand, Japan, etc. The United
Kingdom is an example of a
democratic country that is not a
republic, since it has a monarch.

History Major Communist parties Originated and evolved in

include the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union (1912-91), the
Communist Party of China
(1921-ON), the Workers' Party
of Korea (1949-ON), and the
Communist Party of Cuba
(1965-ON).
ancient Athens during the 5th
century. Numerous important
reforms were made by the
leader Solon and then
Cleisthenes. Greek democracy
was ended in 322BC by
Macedon.

View of war Communists believe that war is Depends on the majority

good for the economy by opinion.
spurring production, but should
be avoided.

Disadvantage Historically, communism has Majorities can abuse minorities.

s always fallen into single part
control over society. This can
be due to its basic structure of
consolidating all the power and
resources, but then they are
never relinquished to the
people.

Democracy

Ideology
Communism is a socialist movement that aims to create a society without
class or money. As an ideology, it imagines a free society without any
division, free from oppression and scarcity. The proletariat (working class)
overthrow the capitalist system in a social revolution, usually via an armed
rebellion.
Democracy is a form of government that gives all eligible citizens an equal
say in decisions that affect their lives. All people can participate equally,
either directly or through elected representatives, in the creation of laws.