Socialism vs. Communism: What’s the Difference?

Socialism vs. Communism: What’s the Difference?

Ella Willford, Piper S-A, Gigi Rich, Grete Hamnes, Anna Moskowitz, Kathy Vo

SocialismSocialism: a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

Socialism ● From each according to his ability, to each

according to his deeds● Every member of society needed to contribute in

order to benefit● Functionality of society relies on the general

population

Socialism ● Freedoms of religion, speech, & press● People who work harder get paid more● Contribution= Reward● If people want to be part of society, they need to

help other members of society● If people help, they become higher members of

society

Communism● The idea that everyone in a society receives equal shares of the

benefits derived from labor● Designed to allow the poor to rise up and attain financial and social

status equal to that of middle-class landowners● Requires that all means of production be controlled by the state● Aims to replace private property with public ownership and

communal control of the major means of production and the natural resources of a society

Communism ● From each according to his ability, to each according to his

needs● Every person is allotted resources depending on his or her

needs● It is necessary to first have production so high that there is

enough for everyone's needs

Communism● In an ideal Communist society, people work not because they

have to but because they want to and out of a sense of responsibility

● No centralized government ● Seeks to manage both the economy and the society by

ensuring that property is owned collectively and that control over the distribution of resources is centralized to achieve both classlessness and statelessness

How do they compare?COMMUNISM SOCIALISM

No Religion Freedom of religion, but promotes secularism

No Leader Works with other political systems

Everyone shares EVERYTHING Private property allowed, but factories, parks, stores, etc. are owned by community

Hypothetically, everyone is equal Everyone is equal, with laws to prevent inequality

Divides society into classes Everyone should be allowed to have the same rights and resources

Socialism effect on Egypt● Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein became President of Egypt

1956 until his deatho wanted to establish Egypt as the leader of the Arab world and to

promote a second revolution in Egypt with the purpose of merging Islamic and socialist thinking

● October 1956 embarked on nationalization project for Egypto believed Socialism was the cure for all of Egypt’s problemso initiated several reforms to modernize al-Azhao 1962 introduces new charter and New Constitution

Reforms on al-Azha● leading authority in Sunni Islam, wanted to ensure its

prominence over the Muslim Brotherhood● used al-Azha’s sholars as counterweight to Brotherhood's

Islamic influence--1953● changes allowed establishment of coeducational schools and

the introduction of evolution into school curriculum● reforms also included the merge of religious and civil courts ● forced al-Azhar to admit Shia Muslims, Alawites, and Druze

into mainstream Islam

1962 Charter and ConstitutionCalled for:

● universal health care● affordable housing● vocational schools● greater women’s rights, as

well as family planning● widening of Suez Canal

● Charter attempted to maintain oversight of the country's civil service to prevent inflation

● New laws provided workers with:o a minimum wageo profit shareso free educationo free health careo reduced working hourso encouragement to participate in management.

● Land reforms guaranteed the security of tenant farmers promoted agricultural growth, reduced rural poverty

● Result of the 1962 charter, government ownership of Egyptian business reached 51 percent

● National Union was renamed the Arab Socialist Union (ASU)o more domestic repressiono thousands of Islamists were imprisoned, including of

military officers.

Arab Socialist Union● Instiuted as Egypt’s sole poltical party● promoted Arab Nationalism● basis of ASU: nationalisation, agrarian reform, and

constitutional reform T

o seven billion Egyptian pounds of private assets transferred into the public sector

o Banks, insurance companies, many large shipping companies, major heavy industries, major basic industries were converted to public control

● Land reforms private land ownership successively reduced from 200 to 100 feddans

● 90% top rate of income tax was levied on income over ten thousand Egyptian pounds

● Boards of directors required a minimum number of workers● Workers and peasants were guaranteed at least half of the

seats in the People's Assembly.

Communism’s Effect on Egypt● Jewish leadership of several of the organizations caused

arguing and division ● 3 Jews emerged from circle of minorities/foreigners in Cairo

and established New Dawn Group● Their organization became Workers’ and Peasants’

Communist Party in 1950s● Yusuf Darwish’s (one of the three) work as legal counsel for

many trade unions gave comrades an introduction to textile workers and others in northern Cairo

Communism’s Effect on Egypt● Between 1940-1943 three other Jews established rival

communist organizations: People’s Liberation, Iskra, and Egyptian Movement for National Liberation

● Rebellion against Henri Curiel (EMNL, who had unorthodox political style and views on Zionism) in 1948 expressed desire of young Muslim and Coptic intellectuals to Egyptianize movement and tensions over Zionism that affected every Arab communist party

Communism’s Effect on Egypt ● Communist Party of Egypt established 1949 in opposition to existing

communist organizations and it excluded Jews from membership● Basis of future Communist Party of Sudan formed 1946 by Sudanese in

Cairo under Curiel ● 1950s and 60s party established strong base among intellectuals, railway

workers, and farmers--sectors of society that were already rapidly developing

● Unlike in several others countries, foreigners and minorities were insignificant, so it’s national character was undoubted

● Despite this, party was banned in 1965