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. **Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a @democracyatwrk production. We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Please consider supporting our work. Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork or become a monthly donor at https://www.democracyatwork.info/donate and help us spread Prof. Wolff's message to a larger audience. Every donation counts! A special thank you to our devoted Patreon community whose contributions make this show possible each week. ****************************************************************************************** SUBSCRIBE: EU Podcast | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRADIO SUPPORT: Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/democracyatwork or donate on our website at democracyatwork.info/donate Follow us ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EconomicUpdate http://www.facebook.com/RichardDWolff http://www.facebook.com/DemocracyatWrk Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/profwolff http://www.twitter.com/democracyatwrk Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/democracyatwrk DailyMotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/democracyatwrk Shop our CO-OP made MERCH: https://democracy-at-work-shop.myshopify.com Want to help us translate and transcribe our videos? Learn about joining our translation team: https://www.democracyatwork.info/getinvolved ****************************************************************************************** NEW 2021 Hardcover edition of “Understanding Marxism,” with a new, lengthy introduction by Richard Wolff is now available at: https://www.lulu.com/ “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.” Check out all of d@w’s books: "The Sickness is the System," "Understanding Socialism," by Richard D. Wolff, and “Stuck Nation” by Bob Hennelly http://www.democracyatwork.info/books ***************************************************************************************** SOURCES FOR SHOW SEGMENTS: 1. The Communist Manifesto: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Communist_Manifesto/3hoZEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PT2&printsec=frontcover 2. World War I casualties: http://www.centre-robert-schuman.org/userfiles/files/REPERES%20%E2%80%93%20module%201-1-1%20-%20explanatory%20notes%20%E2%80%93%20World%20War%20I%20casualties%20%E2%80%93%20EN.pdf 3. Communism: https://www.routledge.com/Class-Theory-and-History-Capitalism-and-Communism-in-the-USSR/Resnick-Wolff/p/book/9780415933186