Communism vs. Fascism: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Communism is a classless, stateless society where property is communal, while Fascism combines authoritarian leadership with extreme nationalism.
Key Differences
Communism is based on the collective ownership of production means, aiming for a classless society. Fascism, on the other hand, promotes authoritarian nationalism, emphasizing strong, centralized control.
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Nov 21, 2023
In Communism, the economy is planned and controlled by the community as a whole. Fascism allows for private property but under stringent state control and regulation.
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Communism seeks to eliminate class distinctions, often advocating for a stateless society eventually. Fascism upholds a strong, dictatorial state, centralizing power in a single leader or party.
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Nov 21, 2023
Under Communism, the state is often seen as a temporary necessity that will wither away. In Fascism, the state is supreme, and individual interests are subordinate to the state's goals.
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Communism promotes egalitarianism and often seeks to abolish cultural distinctions. Fascism, however, exalts nation and often race above individual, sometimes leading to oppressive policies against minorities.
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Comparison Chart
Economic Control
Collective ownership, state-planned economy
Private property under state control
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Political System
Aims for a classless, stateless society
Strong, centralized authoritarian state
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State's Role
Temporary until a classless society achieved
Permanent and supreme
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Social Policies
Egalitarian, seeks to erase class divisions
Nationalist, often suppresses diversity
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Cultural Ideology
Seeks cultural uniformity for equality
Promotes cultural uniformity for nationalism
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Communism and Fascism Definitions
Communism
Egalitarian Ideology
Communism promotes the idea of equal rights for all citizens.
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Fascism
State Supremacy
In fascism, the state's interests supersede individual rights.
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Communism
State Ownership of Resources
Under communism, the state controls all natural resources.
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Fascism
Suppression of Opposition
Under fascism, political opposition is often brutally suppressed.
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Communism
Collective Decision-Making
In a communist system, decisions are made collectively.
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Fascism
Centralized Control
Fascist regimes centralize control in a single party or leader.
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Communism
Classless Society
Communism envisions a world without social classes.
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Fascism
A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, a capitalist economy subject to stringent governmental controls, violent suppression of the opposition, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
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Communism
Abolition of Private Property
Communism seeks to abolish private property to achieve equality.
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Fascism
A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
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Communism
A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
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Communism
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
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Fascism
Any right-wing, authoritarian, nationalist ideology characterized by centralized, totalitarian governance, strong regimentation of the economy and society, and repression of criticism or opposition.
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Communism
The Marxist-Leninist doctrine advocating revolution to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a dictatorship of the proletariat that will eventually evolve into a perfectly egalitarian and communal society.
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Fascism
Any system of strong autocracy or oligarchy usually to the extent of bending and breaking the law, race-baiting, and/or violence against largely unarmed populations.
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Communism
Any far-left political ideology or philosophy advocating holding the production of resources collectively, especially by seizing it through revolution.
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Communism
Any political social system that implements a communist political philosophy.
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Fascism
A political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government; - opposed to democracy and liberalism.
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Communism
The international socialist society where classes, money, and the state no longer exist.
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Fascism
An authoritarian system of government under absolute control of a single dictator, allowing no political opposition, forcibly suppressing dissent, and rigidly controlling most industrial and economic activities. Such regimes usually try to achieve popularity by a strongly nationalistic appeal, often mixed with racism.
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Communism
A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life; specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the equal use and advantage of all.
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Fascism
Specifically, the Fascist movement led by Benito Mussolini in Italy from 1922 to 1943.
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Fascism
Broadly, a tendency toward or support of a strongly authoritarian or dictatorial control of government or other organizations; - often used pejoratively in this sense.
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Fascism
A political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government (as opposed to democracy or liberalism)
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Fascism
Authoritarian Nationalism
Fascism emphasizes the importance of a strong national leader.
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Fascism
Militaristic Approach
Fascism often adopts a militaristic and aggressive foreign policy.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is communism?
Communism is a socio-economic system advocating for a classless, stateless society and communal ownership of resources.
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Nov 21, 2023
What is fascism?
Fascism is a political ideology that emphasizes authoritarian nationalism, state power, and often racial superiority.
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How do communism and fascism view individual rights?
Communism prioritizes collective rights over individual rights, while fascism subordinates individual rights to the state.
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Is fascism inherently militaristic?
Fascism often includes militaristic elements and aggressive nationalism.
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What role does equality play in communism?
Communism strongly emphasizes equality and seeks to eliminate class distinctions.
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Can a communist state have a free market?
Traditional communism advocates for a state-controlled economy, not a free market.
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Does fascism support free market principles?
Fascism may support limited free market principles but under strong state control.
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Can communism coexist with democracy?
In theory, communism can coexist with democracy, though historically, it has often led to authoritarian regimes.
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Do communists believe in private property?
Communism generally seeks to abolish private property in favor of communal ownership.
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How does fascism view private property?
Fascism allows private property but under strict state regulation and control.
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What are the main characteristics of fascism?
Fascism is characterized by authoritarian leadership, nationalism, state control, and suppression of opposition.
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What is the role of a leader in fascism?
In fascism, the leader is often seen as embodying the state and its supreme authority.
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What are the goals of communism?
The ultimate goal of communism is to create a classless, stateless society with communal ownership of production.
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How does fascism view equality?
Fascism does not prioritize equality, often promoting hierarchical and sometimes supremacist ideas.
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How does fascism handle political opposition?
Fascism typically suppresses political opposition through authoritarian measures.
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Are fascist governments identical?
Fascist governments can vary, but they generally share core principles like authoritarianism and nationalism.
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What is the role of a leader in communism?
In communism, ideally, the leader should represent the collective interests of the society.
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Are all communist states the same?
Not all communist states are identical; they vary in policies and implementation.
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Can communism be implemented in a multi-party system?
While challenging, some argue that communism could adapt to a multi-party system, though it is rare historically.
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How do communist societies handle dissent?
Communist societies have historically suppressed dissent to maintain the party line and control.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.