What is the difference between fascism and communism? (Putin, regime, nationalist)

[MongooseHugger]

I've heard both words mentioned a lot (usually one group calling the other side one of the terms). I know that both are Big Government anti-liberty systems, but what exactly is the difference?


I mean, we have heard of classical examples of fascists (Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), Francisco Franco (Spain)) and, possibly, Vladmir Putin (Russia), and communism (Joseph Stalin (Russia/USSR), Mao (China), Fidel Castro (Cuba) and Kim Jun Un (North Korea)).

However, one might argue that those cases above are all extremes. So how could one argue, for instance, that Trump is a fascist or that Bernie Sanders is a Communist or that they will lead us that way?

[evilnewbie]

Communism is just the PC way of saying fascism... the people who argue for Communism actually want a Fascist hierarchy.... they just don’t want to admit that they are fascists... I never met a true communist, they have all been fascists hiding in communist ideals...

[T0103E]

There are details that distinguish them, but the main issue with both is central planning and authoritarian control.

Actually, the fundamental issue with both is the sacrifice of individual rights to the collective. Your value as a human being is determined by how you serve the goals of the state, which is why a lot of people die.

[notnamed]

Social darwinism and strict class structure in fascism, mandated equality in communism. State religion in fascism, no religion in communism. Corporatism in fascism, state owned production in communism.

Most of the differences are theoretical in communism as it has never really been implemented.

[T-310]

Not much difference.

One totalitarian regime is much like the other.

[BentBow]

Originally Posted by MongooseHugger

What is the difference between fascism and communism?

The racist element.
Communism isn't racist.


We have been a Fascist Nation, since 1913. About the same time other advanced nations were experimenting in Socialism, from the teachings of Marx. Because people would freakout if they came right out and called it Communism, they named it Progressivism. Progress. When in all reality, it is very regressive, back to being controlled. Freedom & Liberty have no place in a Communist/Progressive society.

[lifeexplorer]

Spelling is different.

You forgot add Socialism too.

Socialism, communism and fascism are all the same wolf just dressed slightly differently.

[Phil75230]

*Communism (actual) - Having all the "means of production" under common ownership. Ideally, the state itself withers away. "Means of production" means financial institutions, factories, retail outlets, even land and sea and the things of economic value you can get from them. ALL private ownership of land, seabeds, businesses, banks, etc is absolutely forbidden. Communist countries (in practice) did allow private ownership of consumer goods practically assured to always depreciate over time (appliances, furniture, other consumer goods, and if one could afford them, automobiles). Anything item that's likely to eventually appreciate in value in the future, forbidden to be owned by individuals.

In short, economics and history is about an ever increasing amount of wealth being in fewer and fewer hands. The supposed only way to stop this is to abolish ALL private ownership of property and anything that in capitalist societies people are likely to invest in.

*Fascism - I see many forms of this. The basic idea is that the nation is like an living organism, having to fight to survive. The nation must become strong in order to grow and attain great glory. EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY is supposed to be subordinated to the "general will" (in practice, the will of the government, the will to live and survive and thrive). Naturally this way of thinking is based largely on Social Darwinist thought (*not* Darwinian Evolution, big difference. Social Darwinism is based mostly on ideas of Herbert Spencer, a philosopher who lived at the same time as Darwin, and misinterpreted his theory of evolution). Fascism doesn't have to include racism, although it usually does (against foreign nations who are presumed to be dangerous to their own nation, if no other group - and that's at the very least).

Both forms of government are opposed to representative democracy as classically understood. That much they do have in common.

[notnamed]

And in terms of international relations fascists are hyper-nationalists with no respect for international law, other countries are little more than something to be conquered and their people subjugated. Communism sought to have workers of the world unite and rise up together.

[Phil75230]

Originally Posted by lifeexplorer

Spelling is different.

You forgot add Socialism too.

Socialism, communism and fascism are all the same wolf just dressed slightly differently.

Socialism is not communism. In practice, as in western Europe between WW2 and 1980, socialism allowed considerable private ownership of land, businesses, etc., but kept key industries either in government hands or heavily regulated (especially coal, heavy industry, mass transportation, utilities). Retail outlets, farms, forest land, and fisheries and fishing boats definitely remained in private hands.

Europe has moved away from socialism in that sense and moved toward Social Democracy (all wealth-making properties remain in private hands, but people - esp consumer goods and wealthy individuals - are taxed at fairly high rates in order to fund key services widely regarded as a human right in addition to infrastructure, defense, and law enforcement). This is the position that Bernie Sanders seems to hold and (to a lesser degree) the Clintons.