Democracy is a widely-adopted system of governance around the world, while communism is a political and social ideology adopted in some countries. The rise and fall of communism and the cold war era saw the world divided along these two blocks, and there has always been debate over which system is better for people.
Democracy
Democracy is often described as a rule of law or the rule of the people by the people. In contrast to the old system of aristocracy, a democracy involves a system where people elect their own representatives who go to legislative assemblies. The party with the majority forms the government, which has an executive branch for the governance of the country and its people according to the laws made by the representatives. Democracy is a system that gives people a voice in the form of their representatives, who strive to fulfill their aspirations and hopes by making laws in the interest of the people. Principles of liberty and freedom are inherent in a democratic setup, and everyone has equal rights under the law. A written constitution is in place, with the government having limited powers provided by the provisions of the constitution. Checks and balances exist to keep the government under control, with the judicial branch playing an important role in a democracy.
Communism
Communism is more of a social and economic theory than a political ideology, as it believes in equitable distribution of assets among the population. It aims to create a classless society where all individuals are equal, and no one is superior to another. This is achieved by keeping the means of production under the control of the government, with distribution also remaining in the hands of the government so that no one gets more than others. Personal rights of the people are curtailed to emphasize the common good, and more power is vested in the government to interfere in citizens’ lives.
Communism came into practice to implement the theories of philosophers Karl Marx and Lenin, who believed that unfettered freedom allowed some people to amass resources and wealth, depriving many of their basic needs. As a result, communism discourages private ownership of assets and believes that state ownership of production and need-based distribution will create a classless society.
Key Takeaways
- Democracy is a political ideology and system of governance, while communism is more of a social and economic order.
- Democracy is the rule of law, and communism aims to create a classless society where everyone is equal.
- Private ownership is discouraged in communism, while entrepreneurship and private ownership are encouraged in democracy.
