Is communism a social, government, or economic system? Or, is it as I contend, all of these. My “friend” says that Communism is completely an Economic system. I strongly disagree. Any comments?
Thanks
Dave
IMHO, communism as outlined by Karl Marx was an attempt to draw an “ideal” social and political system out of certain economic conditions. The Communist Manifesto claims that the communist world is inevitable given the inherent crises in capitalism, as the last of the great economic epochs before communism.
Source: Merriam-Webster
I believe that Communism as well as Capitalism denote an economic system. Communism is perhaps more notable for having a social goal in mind that (ideally) would result from the base economic system. As the definition points out the theory has the state disappearing altogether presumably replaced by a sort of utopian society where none is needed.
I think your “friend” is wrong but close. Marx envisioned a social system that could only be brought about by a different type of economic system. Economy is the root of it all but the society is what was important to Marx.
Even using Jeff’s dictionary definition, it would be impossible to develop an economic system that completely eliminates private property without a huge overhaul of the social system, as well. Even in the U.S. of Marx’s time, voting was often restricted to landowners.
I think the first order of business here would be to answer a more fundamental question: Is it possible to separate these three aspects?
Just to begin with, any comparison of two economic systems as different as Capitalism and Communism needs to begin with a consideration of fundamental rights. Before you even get the question out of your mouth, you’ve landed flat in the sociocultural and governmental areas.
Great question. I would say no. All of these systems are dependant on each other. If you change an economic system, you will no doubt change the social system, and you will need to change the government system. That is why it is incorrect to say that communism is only an Economic system. It is a total system that changes the economy and government to bring about social change.
Euthyphro’s Dictionary:
Communism: A societal system that changes the economy and government to bring about social change
Communism? Well, as marx and many other materialists have stated the social system flows from the economic conditions. Therefore capitalism as an economic system must contain certain social aspects that flow from capitalism. The same with communism.
Remember during the great capitalist revolutions not only was the economic system overthrown so was the political system (france and USA being good examples). So neither is simply an economic system to provide a basic answer to your question.
I’ll try to stay on the soapbox as briefly as possible here 
oldscratch and Euthyphro have it basically right - communism is a socioeconomic and political system. The political and economic side are based on the form of society - so you can have a class-based society with different types of rulers (despot, monarch, bourgeois) with private ownership of the means of production, or a classless society with communal ownership of the means of production.
mattk misinterprets the Manifesto slightly; this was also elaborated in the thinking of later Marxists. The crises in capitalism are inevitable, as is the class conflict arising from it. What’s not inevitable is the outcome. If the working class is sufficiently organized with a party at its head, then the chance for a successful socialist revolution is great. If not, then there’s a huge chance that we suffer the same fate as the Romans - severe collapse of civilisation at one level or another.
Doh. I knew the vanguard was in there somewhere.