TOPIC: BASIC CONCEPTS OF GOVERNMENT II CONTINUED

1. 
   Explain Communism
   
2. 
   Give the principles of communism
   
3. 
   State the features of fascism
   
4. 
   Define totalitarianism
   

It is an economic and political concept in which all the means of production, distribution and exchange are owned, managed and controlled by the state. Communism advocates a classless society where the state and government gradually wither away. It is characterized by equality, co-operation and freedom from exploitation. Communism as propounded by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels put the principle of distribution of resources as “from each according to his ability and to each according to his needs”. This is an advanced stage of socialism, and it is believed to be the most perfect stage of human development

However, in practice, no state has achieved complete or an ideal communism, thus the concept remains an illusion or utopian. Although the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), Cuba, China, Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) are known as communist states, but they are still aspiring for pure or an ideal communism.