What is communism

THE FACE OF COMMUNISM In a world where social and economic ills exist, it is natural for certain theories to attract those men and women who are the victims of injustice. Often these people give their loyalty to that system of ideas which seems to offer, at a given moment, the most hope. w1thin a comparatively short period ot years, the promise of communism nas succeeded in capturing the imaginations of many people, of different national and racial origin. How they are drawn to it, and whether communism fulfills its promise will be the subject of this book. Although there have been collectivist societies since the beginning of civilization, that form of communism with which we are concerned is a newcomer. Only half a century ago it was little more than an idea in the minds of a few men. Today it is one of the most powerful förces in the world. Thus, it seems hard to believe that not many people have any real understanding of what lies behind the philosophy, the political system, and the economic system which are communism. Before we examine these aspects, however, let us look first at the face of commu- nism. For in its face we may perceive something of its appeal, its promise, and the hopes and fears ot those who support it. The face of communism is evident in nearly every country of the world. In some places, the type of government we call communist is an established fact-a working system which is reality to every citizen of those countries. Elsewhere, it is an internal force not in power- yet so powerful that the existing government must weigh every decision, large or small, in the light of its effect upon the communist opposition. In still other places, it is a noisy minority-scorned or feared by those who are against it, but accepted by its followers as a sacred cause.