Can Communism Work?

I know that this site is very left-leaning, and I am just curious how many people here think that Communism can work?

Define Communism and define work.

Maeglin said:

Define Communism and define work.

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Let's say Communism as defined by Marxism or Marxism-Leninism. Work would mean that it could achieve the vast majority of what it promises (such as rule by the workers, economic equality, ect) with making too many theoretical compromises (for example no large private markets, no need for massive repression to keep the system work)

I don't think it can with our current tech level, but I suspect it will be do able with improving meta data collection and whatnot.

Marxism-Leninism? You mean Stalinist FYP economies? No, they can't work, they're dysfunctional messes. But that's not communism, Stalinism was the result of a) the consolidation of new class rule after the shriveling of the power of soviets and the working class, b) a failed transition to mixed-market "state capitalism" a la the early revolutionary Bolshevik program and NEP from petty peasant production. B is kind of due to A, actually.

I've often described the post-NEP Soviet economy as a weird permanent/crystallized form of the transition from ancien regime economics to modern industrial capitalism.

Napoleon IV said:

Let's say Communism as defined by Marxism or Marxism-Leninism. Work would mean that it could achieve the vast majority of what it promises (such as rule by the workers, economic equality, ect) with making too many theoretical compromises (for example no large private markets, no need for massive repression to keep the system work)

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Marxism and Marxism-Leninism are vastly different political and economic philosophies. If any of those promises are to be made, it can't be done through Leninism.

What is "Leninism" really anyway?

IMO Russia-based Communism was doomed to fail. It only took such a long time because it was so isolated.
If Debbs or some American Socialist leader made a US-based Communist ideology, I believe it would have been more palatable for moderates and would help form better economic and political policies.

No. Capitalism is and will always be the only way.

This is a clearly political Chat thread. Since it has a poll it can not be moved.

Locked.