Has there ever been a communist society that worked?

[Bereta_Eder]

And yes China IS communist.

All it has to do is to dont let those clusters or coccoons of rampant "capitalistic" activity get out of control.

Because if communism goes there (at least suddendly), a LOT of people are going to suffer.

Its GDP growth out the whole world ro shame in 2002. (Mainly thanks to said clusters)

[Provost Harrison]

Well the beginnings of the USSR are interesting, but it certainly underwent a 'baptism of fire'. And Starchild's example of the Paris Commune is a good one too...

[Graag]

The chez republic, slovenia and even hungary are more advanced than "capitalistic" states who have been "free" for years.

If understand this statement you are saying the contries you mentioned are examples of communism working. Have you been to Budapest? All those people sleeping in the streets, the countless disabled beggars and drunken old men shouting obsenities (at least thats what it sounded like to me) didn't seem to me like they were to pleased with the arrangement.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Russia, actually.
I was talking about the USSR

Russia, 3rd World? You are mad, aren't you? They were progressing very well. Look at the steel and coal extraction rates before WW1. Russia was on of the great powers in the European system. Hardly 3rd world.

---

If you think China is communist you have an interesting view of communism.

[Bereta_Eder]

Greeg, countries that have more economic prosperity than "free" countries have now. After them being through communism and others that have not.
Talking about coutnries like Checia and Slovenia mainly.


Imran, definitely a 3rd world country not least for its living conditions. Taken to superpower status in 70 years using communism (with methods not so good in times)

If you think China is not, then you're the funny one.

[Tripledoc]

I know there is the protestant sect the Huttites in Canada. They somewhat resemble the Amish but are less austere. They employ technology and do indeed use it profusely - very often of the most modern type. They live in colonies of 60 people or so sharing all property and work, making a living of agriculture and small crafts. When the colony reaches 120 people or so they split into two equal groups by lottery, one part leaving and forming a new colony.
They originally lived in Germany in the 16th century but were cought up in the religious wars and fled to Austria, from there to yuguslavia and Russia and finally to Canada.
The Canadian government once refused them to form new colonies but now they are allowed to do so again.

[Graag]

China seems to me to be your bog-standard dictatorship. They have pretty much free enterprise - at least as free as any number of non-communist states.

[Flatlander Fox]

Yugoslavia had a decent form of Communism working our for them (As best as it can work out).

Communism is the Utopia of idealists and potheads...

It won't EVER work, due to human nature.

[Mr. Obvious Mode Off]

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Graag
China seems to me to be your bog-standard dictatorship. They have pretty much free enterprise - at least as free as any number of non-communist states.

Their structure is pretty much communist.
Free enterprise is allowed in clusters, in controlled "bubbles" of free economic activity which they try to control. (not let a spil over get out of hand for example)

[monkspider]

Imran-Their progress in primitive industrialization notwithstanding, the levels of the living standards, lack of infastructure, and remnants of the feudal system made them very much a third world nation. Pre-Soviet Russia is almost universally considered a third world level nation by historians. Of course, after communism was overthrown, Russia went right back into the third-world, with collapsing living standards and rampant unemployment and so forth. (1) Which is something you're not supposed to say, incidentally, but it's true if you look at the record.

In regards to the original question, naturally one must ask how do you define "worked". But the 1871 Paris Commune, the Shanghai commune (2), pre-Stalin USSR, various south american governments (such as the sandinistas) all give one glimpses of a functional, democratic Communist system.

(1)http://www.datacom.bg/nbgen/document25.doc
(2)http://www.workers.org/marcy/china/4.html

[Zero]

Has there ever been a working communist society?

Yes. Depending on your view there are 2. Families and Churches. Now if you don't think Church community is what you call a success, then there's only one

[orange]

but the USSR went to superpower status and then fell from it. Yes, it had a bit to do with Gorby's reforms...but it was either that way or a harsher one...it was bound to crumble eventually.

[orange]

Originally posted by Calc II
Has there ever been a working communist society?

Yes. Depending on your view there are 2. Families and Churches. Now if you don't think Church community is what you call a success, then there's only one

These are HARDLY communist. One is headed by a father and mother (in some countries just a father, and arguably in some cases just the mother) and has a built in heirarchy based on age or position of birth. The other is a monarchy, ruled by the supposed largest and most impressive King to ever rule.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Imran-Their progress in primitive industrialization notwithstanding, the levels of the living standards, lack of infastructure, and remnants of the feudal system made them very much a third world nation.

One problem. Colonial powers CANNOT, by definition, be 3rd World Countries.

Pre-Soviet Russia is almost universally considered a third world level nation by historians.

Really? Well looks like the historians I was taught by weren't part of the universal .

Of course, after communism was overthrown, Russia went right back into the third-world, with collapsing living standards and rampant unemployment and so forth.

Another thing you aren't supposed to say (well to leftists), the USSR never really had high living standards and their economy was always a mess, inefficient as anything that has probably ever existed. India had a better economy than the USSR did, if you look at the unsealed records, of course.

[Bereta_Eder]

The living conditions of the Soviets compared to the people under the tsarist Russia cannot be compared.