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Communism and Capitalism: What is more democratic?
Communism and Capitalism: What is more democratic?
5/11/16
One-party
rule in communist Vietnam is a far better alternative to authoritarianism
disguised as democracy, according to Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of The
Communist Party of Vietnam, who was re-elected party chief and consequently the
country’s leader this early year.
“A
country without discipline would be chaotic and unstable . . . we need to
balance democracy and law and order,” the 71-year-old ideologue said.
The
Communist Party of Vietnam has been in power since the end of the Vietnam War
in 1975, and every five years elects a new leadership. The Party has about 4.5
million members in a country of 93 million people.
Viewing
the ruling of the Vietnam’s Communist Party, there are a lot of criticism on
how authoritarian the Party is, and how communism has no democracy. But, is it
really true that capitalism which is always claimed as “democracy” in words by
the West, is more democratic than communism? Let see.
Firstly,
about the differences, there seem to have a lot between them as include the
placement of leaders, allowance of religion, allowance of private property and
the availability of class distinctions.
In
capitalism, elected officials are placed in leadership positions. In communism,
there are no leaders whatsoever. Decisions are led directly by the people. This
has actually never been practiced in known history, with communist nations
instead opting for leaders with a one-party system.
A
big difference seen between capitalism and communism is in the term of economic
systems. In communism, the government has complete control over the production
and distribution of goods and all the resources and it is shared in the society
equally. But in capitalism, this aspect is not there.
In
communism, it is the community or the society that holds the major resources
and production. This helps in preventing any single person or a group of people
from raising to a higher position than others or becoming rich. But in capitalism,
free enterprising is allowed, which means that people or groups can have their
own businesses. This can lead to rich and poor in society.
Although
on the surface, capitalism and communism are based on different ideological
principles, they seem to share a similar preference for putting the power in
peoples’ hands. In theory, the lack of discrimination is where communism
and capitalism are most similar. In communism, all citizens are considered
equal and to be treated as equal. In capitalism, everyone has an equal say;
however, in practice, this can create an oppressive society where the minority
is never able to express their opinion. In a communist society where no leader
exists, all choice should be free. All eligible citizens have a say in a
particular judgment, and the majority decision provides the rule for all.
In
Vietnam, the National Assembly, elected by people, and the thousands of party
organizations at grass roots are representing the voice of the people.
Vietnam’s
Communist Party is one-party rule but it also has principles of democracy and
accountability of the leaders. Otherwise, good deeds would be credited to
individuals while failure would be blamed on the group and no one would be
disciplined. The Party can never become authoritarian unlike some democracies.
It is not proper to name them, but in a number
of countries, in the name of democracy, all decisions are made by one person.
So which is more democratic?./.
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All comments [ 8 ]
I very much hope the new faces in the Politburo will push with reforms and bring the country forward. They will also have to really tackle the corruption problem.
Vietnam’s Communist Party is one-party rule but we also have principles of democracy and accountability of the leaders.
Communism is a political ideology that is based on a common ownership, mainly concerned with equality and fairness. In communism, the power is vested in a group of people who decide the course of action.
American democracy, as we know it today, is all about obtaining votes. Because of the lack of term limits, most, if not all, of the politicians are on their jobs for one supreme purpose only: getting re-elected ad nauseum.
In theory, the lack of discrimination is where communism and democracy are most similar. In communism, all citizens are considered equal and to be treated as equal.
In capitalism, everyone has an equal say; however, in practice, this can create an oppressive society where the minority is never able to express their opinion.
In a communist society where no leader exists, all choice should be free. All eligible citizens have a say in a particular judgment, and the majority decision provides the rule for all.
In my opinion, even capitalism now has its advantages but communism is future.
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