Dictatorship vs. Communism — What's the Difference?

A government or social situation where one person or group wields complete power without democratic consent.

A system where the means of production, such as factories and land, are owned and controlled by the community as a whole.

A system where decisions are made by a single leader or a small group without consideration for public opinion or democratic processes.

An ultimate goal of creating a society where everyone contributes according to their ability and receives according to their needs.

Governance characterized by a lack of political freedoms and centralized control.

A socio-economic system advocating for the elimination of private property and the communal ownership of resources.

Rule by a dictator or dictators who have absolute authority over the political and social order.

A political theory derived from Karl Marx, aiming at creating a classless society where all work is shared, and all benefits are distributed according to need.

A regime maintaining power through force and censorship.

The ideology focusing on the abolition of classes and the establishment of a stateless, communal society.

A dictatorship is a form of government characterized by a single leader or group of leaders and little or no toleration for political pluralism or independent media. According to other definitions, democracies are a form of government in which "those who govern are selected through periodically contested elections (in years)"; therefore, dictatorships are "not democracies,.".With the advent of the 19th and 20th centuries, dictatorships and constitutional democracies emerged as the world's two major forms of government, gradually eliminating monarchies with significant political power, the most widespread form of government in the pre-industrial era.

Communism (from Latin communis, 'common, universal') is a philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and, in some cases, the state. As such, communism is a specific form of socialism.

The office or tenure of a dictator.

A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.

A state or government under dictatorial rule.

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.

Absolute or despotic control or power.

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.

A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.

Any far-left political ideology or philosophy advocating holding the production of resources collectively, especially by seizing it through revolution.

A government which exercises autocratic rule.

Any political social system that implements a communist political philosophy.

Any household, institution, or other organization that is run under such sovereignty or autocracy.

The international socialist society where classes, money, and the state no longer exist.

The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.

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.

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

A form of socialism that abolishes private ownership

A political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society

Yes, communism advocates for the abolition of private property in favor of communal ownership of the means of production.

In theory, decisions in a communist society are made democratically by the community or through communal associations that represent the people's will.

Historically, some states aiming to implement communist ideology have been governed as dictatorships, but this is not a direct attribute of communism itself.

Communism aims to achieve a classless, stateless society where the means of production are owned communally, and wealth is distributed according to needs.

By definition, a dictatorship involves centralized, authoritarian rule, which contradicts the principles of democracy that include political pluralism and free, fair elections.

The main difference is that dictatorship is a form of governance with centralized, authoritarian control, while communism is an ideology advocating for a classless society and communal ownership of production.

A dictatorship maintains power through centralized control, suppression of opposition, and often through the use of force and censorship.

Communism seeks to address inequality by abolishing private ownership and ensuring that resources and wealth are distributed according to individuals' needs.

A dictatorship can adopt various economic systems, including capitalism, socialism, or a mixed economy, depending on the rulers' preferences.

Attempts to implement communism have sometimes resulted in dictatorships due to the centralization of power in a vanguard party or leader, who suppresses opposition to maintain control.

While some argue a "benevolent dictatorship" can lead to rapid decisions and reforms, the lack of democratic accountability and potential for abuse of power are significant concerns.

Criticisms of communism include economic inefficiency and lack of political freedom. Dictatorship is criticized for suppressing opposition, limiting freedoms, and often leading to abuses of power.