Communism vs. Democracy — What's the Difference?

A political belief in a classless and stateless society.

A system where citizens elect representatives.

Advocates for the eradication of capitalist tendencies.

A political system where power is derived from the people.

An ideology emphasizing collective ownership and classlessness.

Prioritizes individual rights and freedoms.

A system where the state controls means of production.

Governance based on majority rule.

Seeks to redistribute wealth and resources evenly.

Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') refers to a form of government in which the people either have the authority to choose their governing legislators, or the authority to decide on legislation. Who is considered part of the people and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different speeds in different countries, but more and more of the inhabitants of countries have generally been included.

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.

Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.

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 political or social unit that has such a government.

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.

The common people, considered as the primary source of political 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.

Majority rule.

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

The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

Any political social system that implements a communist political philosophy.

(uncountable) Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).

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

A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.

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.

(countable) A state with a democratic system of government.

A form of socialism that abolishes private ownership

(uncountable) Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".

A political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society

Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.

Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.

The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.

The political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group

Ensures checks and balances through different branches.

While Communism prioritizes the collective, individual freedoms can be restricted.

In Democracy, leaders are typically elected by citizens.

No, Democracy is about governance, not necessarily economic structure.

In direct Democracy, citizens vote on laws and policies directly.

Communism emphasizes collective ownership and a classless society.

Yes, they can co-exist, but they often represent different values and priorities.

In Communism, wealth and resources are distributed based on need.

Democracy uses legal frameworks and constitutions to ensure rights and freedoms.

Under Communism, the state often oversees various aspects, from economy to education.

Communism often centralizes power to achieve its goals of collective ownership.

Various nations have implemented Communism, with varying degrees of success.

In Democracy, free speech ensures diverse opinions and checks on power.

While rare, a Democracy can exist with other representative systems, not just parties.

Communism often opposes capitalism, viewing it as a source of inequality.

Voting isn't always mandatory in Democracy, but it's encouraged for citizen participation.