Communism is the aim of a classless, stateless society with common ownership of the means of production, as described in the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Key thinkers:Karl Marx, W. E. B. Du Bois, Jawaharlal NehruTake the test and your match with Communism shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
In Marxist theory, history is driven by class struggle, and capitalism will eventually be replaced by a society in which the means of production are owned in common and goods are distributed according to need.
In everyday speech, “communism” often refers to the one-party states that ruled the Soviet Union, China and other countries in the 20th century. Those states called themselves socialist and described communism as a future goal.
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
Its modern form comes from The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Marx’s later work, and was developed by many movements and thinkers afterward.
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
Philosopher & critic of political economy · 1818–1883
His critique of capitalism connected economic ownership with power, and looked toward emancipation from class domination.
“Working-class solidarity is conceived across national borders.”
Sociologist & civil rights leader · 1868–1963
An American sociologist who co-founded the NAACP and argued that Black Americans should claim full citizenship without giving up a spirit of their own, then turned to Pan-Africanism, socialism and the peace movement.
“The Stanford Encyclopedia reads his early politics as expressive modernization, which brings the masses into the norms of modern life while heeding the ethos of the folk.”
Prime Minister of India · 1889–1964
The first prime minister of independent India, who built a secular parliamentary democracy, a mixed economy with five-year plans, and a policy of non-alignment.
“The Discovery of India urges a “scientific temper” in place of superstition and custom.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Collectivize
98% toward Collectivize
Leans very strongly toward Irreligious
97% toward Irreligious
Leans very strongly toward Planned
95% toward Planned
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
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The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.