this post was submitted on 09 May 2024
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Maybe I was too generous, and the reason attempts at communism and socialism tend to go authoritarian is because some holding those ideologies have unnecessary decided to align themselves against liberalism.
Yeah there's no reconciliation between communist and liberal ideology. They propose fundamentally different frameworks for how the world operates. Liberals place emphasis on individual actions, intention, sentiment, or how changing people's minds is the engine of history.
Communists with a material outlook propose the primacy of material distribution and class. Liberals don't believe class exists, or that it doesn't operate as a coherent political interest group.
Hey, thanks for your clear and cogent comment. It helped me understand why the antipathy exists and how my own biases were clouding my perspective. You clearly understand liberalism much better than I understand communism, but now at least I understand it a little better. Props.
Oh, thanks for replying in good faith. A lot of people gave you hostility because you did say something that seems a little misinformed. And people get ruffled by seeing that kinda thing so often. But good on you for taking the time to read stuff.
I'd really recommend reading this: The Principles of Communism by Engels.
It's very clearly written, short, and explains what exactly communist ideology is and who it represents.
In very brief: Communists believe there are two classes, workers and business owners. This is always a hostile relationship that can't be mended, since the two want different things. So we propose the working class should abolish the business owning class.
Liberals do not believe this relationship is hostile, or they don't believe it exists. Or they believe it can be mended through the use of state intervention. That's one of the primary differences here.
Great recommendation! Principles of Communism by Engels is the best, most concise, and direct introductory theory.