What is the difference between communism and fascism?
Fascism and communism are political movements that started in Europe and later gained popularity in the mid-20th century. These movements have some mutual relationship.
The main difference between fascism and communism is that the former is a type of government-managed by one ruler while the latter is a government based around the theory of economic equality and it advocates for a classless society.
Read More: Difference between Communism and Democracy
Comparison Table (Fascism vs Communism)
| Basic Terms | Fascism | Communism |
| Meaning | It is an authoritarian state led by one ruler (Dictatorship). | It is a system that upholds economic equality and advocates a classless society |
| Economic Coordination | Planning is based on projected labor output rather than money | Planning is done based on physical units instead of money |
| Social Structures | Has a strict class structure to prevent chaos | It is a classless society where everyone is the owner of the means of production |
| Religion | Citizens worship the state through nationalisms | Reject all religions and metaphysic |
| Private Property | Nominally permitted | Abolishes the private ownership of property |
| Pioneers of the Movement | Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, José Antonio Primo de Rivera, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, Ante Pavelić, Ikki Kita, Wang Jingwei, Plínio Salgado, Konstantin Rodzaevsky, Oswald Mosley, William Dudley Pelley, Aleksandr Dugin. | Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Peter Kropotkin, Rosa Luxemburg, Vladimir Lenin, Emma Goldman, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, Josip Broz Tito, Enver Hoxha, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro. |
| Political System | One charismatic leader has absolute power and authority | It is stateless, classless, and governed directly by people |
| Ideologies | There is a union between the state and business organizations. But the state tells the business what to do. | All people are equal and there is no sense in having classes |
| Key Elements | Actual idealism, centralized government, social Darwinism, planned economy, anti-democratic, meritocratic, extreme nationalism, militarism, racism (Nazism). | Centralized government, planned economy, Classless society, common ownership, and no private ownership of property |
| Philosophy | The state gain authority through regular conquest and war | Free access to articles of consumption due to advancement in technology |
| Literature | My Autobiography, The Myth of the Twentieth Century, The Last Will of a Russian Fascist. | The State and Revolution, The Jungle, Reform or Revolution, Capital (Vol I: A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production), Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, the Grapes of Wrath. |
| History and Year | NSDAP in Germany (1933-45), the National Union in Portugal (1934-68), and Francoist Spain (1936-1975). | 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). |
| Earliest Remnants | The earliest fascist theories were based on examples left behind by the Roman Empire. | Theorized by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in the mid-19th century |
| Means of Control | Fascism employs direct force, propaganda, rallies, etc. | Theoretically, there is no state control. |
| Political Movements | National Socialism, Falangism, Nazism, Strasserism, neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism, National-Bolshevism. | Marxist Communism, Leninism, and Marxism–Leninism, Stalinism, Trotskyism, Maoism, Dengism, Prachanda Path, Hoxhaism, Titoism, Eurocommunism, Luxemburgism, Council communism, Left-Communism. |
What Is Fascism?
Fascism is a form of government where the country is ruled by one leader. Keep in mind that the fascist government is usually totalitarian and authoritarian of a one-party state.
The economy and other parts of society are heavily controlled by the government. The fascist government uses war, propaganda, and arrest to stop someone who doesn’t like the government.
Fascists’ countries were Italy under Benito Mussolini, Germany under Adolf Hitler, and Spain under Francisco Franco.
What Is Communism?
Communism is a socio-economic and political movement. The form of government is where there is common ownership of properties and the society advocate classlessness.
The good news is that communism is not against individualists. But the decision made should benefit the entire population.
Some of the popular communists’ countries are Vietnam, China, Cuba, and Laos. The people behind the idea of communisms are Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky.
Main Difference between Communism and Fascism
- Communism encourages communal ownership of the property while fascism encourages private ownership of properties.
- Fascism has resulted in the development of social class whereas communism advocate for a classless society
- Communism is a form of government-owned by people whereas fascism is a dictatorial form of government
- Fascism uses direct force and propaganda to control masses whereas communism has no state control theoretically
- Communism abolishes all religion while fascism encourages civic religion only
- Fascism believes in on superior race whereas communism consider everyone as equal
- Communism planning is done in terms of physical units while fascism is done in terms of projected labor output
Read More: Difference between Left Wing and Right Wing
FAQs about Communism vs Fascism
How Are Communism and Fascism Similar Quizlet
Both communism and fascism originated in Europe and become popular in mid-20th C. Besides that, they are political movements that differ in ideologies.
Is Fascism a Capitalist?
Yes. Most ideologies of fascist government support pro-capitalist and anti-capitalist elements. Fascism encourages private ownership of properties and the existence of a market economy.
What Is the Ideology of Communism?
It is a philosophical, social, political, economic ideology, and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society. This is a society that is classless and there is common ownership of properties.
Does Socialism Allow Private Property?
Not really. Socialists tend to substitute private property with means of production for public ownership or social ownership.
Comparison Video
Summary
Communism, Capitalism, and Fascism may appear different but these systems tend to share some elements. However, the economic and political ideology is what separates these forms of government.
The main difference between fascism and communism is that fascism is a type of dictatorship whereas communisms are a government for people.
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