How to Be a Communist

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

While it is unlikely that you live in one of the few remaining countries with a communist government, you can still embrace the ideology of communism in your everyday life and participate in political and activist organizations that support communist principles and beliefs. [1] This article will give you practical tips on how to live as a communist in the twenty-first century.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Learning What Communism is All About

PDF download Download Article
  1. The proletariat is a member of the working class; people who provide work to an employer in exchange for wages, but do not have any ownership of the company they work for or the "means of production," meaning the land, tools, factories, office buildings, raw materials, etc. that make their work possible. Most members of the proletariat have little control or say over their own labor, and do not share in the profits of their employer. [2]
    • Because the proletariat has no control over their labor and are dependent on wages to survive, they are easily exploited by their employers.
    • The oppressors of the proletariat are called the "bourgeoisie" in Marxist terms, the wealthy capitalists who own the corporations, factories, and land, and consequently, most of the world's wealth. [3]
    • The modern concept of the 99% is very similar to Karl Marx's concept of the proletariat, and the 1% is analogous to the bourgeoisie.
    • A key tenet of communism is that the proletariat should strive to gain control over the means of production, and own and manage it collectively.
  2. Private ownership over the means of production is what gives the bourgeoisie the power to exploit the proletariat (working class). Marx argued that if the ownership of the means of production were seized and handed over to the proletariat to own communally and equally, workers would fare better, exploitation would cease and the social classes that arise from the unfair distribution of property would disappear leading to a one proletariat class society.
    • Some modern companies are partially or completely employee-owned, in that they give their employees stock, but these are relatively few. [4]
    Advertisement
  3. Marx believed that it was capitalism, itself, along with the market economy, and the unbridled quest for profit that brought about the current state of injustice and inequality. Marx felt that the remedy for this was the total abolition of capitalism through a proletarian revolution.
    • Numerous communist revolutions have taken place in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, although few truly communist states remain to this day. [5]
    • Most modern communist parties now focus on the reform of capitalist societies, rather than on revolution. [6]
  4. If you identify yourself as a communist, people will presume you are familiar with these texts and expect you to be able to discuss them knowledgeably.
    • Begin with Frederick Engels' The Principles of Communism , a pamphlet he wrote in 1847 outlining the key tenets of Marxist communism. [7]
    • Move on to the Communist Manifesto , published by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in 1848. [8]
    • Read Marx' 3-volume Das Kapital when you are up for a real challenge. [9]
    • Some good introductory texts include: Communism: A Very Short Introduction by Leslie Holmes, and The Theory and Practice of Communism: An Introduction by R. N. Carew Hunt
  6. Ideal choices include Vladimir Lenin's The State and Revolution and Leon Trotsky's In Defense of Marxism . [10] [11]
  7. One of the most communist things you can do is to rely on the public library and second-hand bookshops to accomplish your research goals
    8. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Getting Involved in Communist Politics

PDF download Download Article
  1. Some good examples include People's Word, libcom, and The People's Daily Morning Star. [12] [13]
  2. Do some research and look for an active communist party or activist group in your area.
    • In the United States, you can join the Communist Party USA. [14]
    • If no communist groups exist locally, consider forming your own.
    • Support labor unions, and remember that a good communist would never cross a picket line!
    • Participate in the Occupy movement.
  4. Learn the laws in your area and be prepared to be chastised and possibly even arrested for participation in political demonstrations.
    5. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Applying Communist Principles to Your Daily Life

PDF download Download Article
  1. Marketing is ubiquitous in modern society and most of us think little of it, but it is also a powerfully manipulative tool of the Capitalist machine. [15]
    • Avoid advertisement-heavy websites and use pop-ups and ad-blockers to reduce your exposure to unwanted advertisements online.
  2. Giving money to exploitative companies only increases their power over the working classes.
    • Research the various corporations that produce the food, medicine, clothing, and other items that you use. Avoid doing business with corporations that are known to exploit labor.
    • Buy goods directly from the person who manufactures them and avoid the corporate middleman whenever possible.
    • Look for labor-friendly companies to do business with. Shop at the union, or better yet, employee-owned stores. Avoid using multinational companies such as Starbucks and amazon.com; which have a reputation for tax avoidance.
  3. For a small annual fee, you can take part-ownership of your food distribution source. Most co-ops also offer opportunities for members to share their labor, as well.
    • Avoid purchasing disposable products of any kind. (cutlery, plates, cups, napkins, barbecues, sanitary products, razors, gloves, nappies, and chopsticks are all perfect examples)
    • Avoid the unnecessary acquisition of personal property. Before making a purchase, analyze whether or not you really need it, and consider how long you will be able to use the item. If possible, go in on large purchases (for instance, a lawnmower) with one or more other people, and share the item that you buy amongst the co-owners.
    • Learn to sew and repair things. Mend and reuse old items before purchasing new ones.
    • Buy as much as possible from second-hand stores.
    • Eschew the latest technological trends and gadgets. Only buy what you really need. iPhone 10? Forget it!
    • Learn to garden and begin to grow your own produce, if space permits, or if a neighborhood allotment is available.
  5. Cars are a particularly wasteful and expensive form of personal property that with a few adjustments, can be made unnecessary for most people.
    • Use mass transit whenever possible.
    • Take advantage of car-sharing programs in your area.
    • Consider buying an older, used car that is in good working condition, rather than a new vehicle if you have to buy a car. Unlike brand new cars, used cars are much cheaper and don't contribute to feeding capitalism as much as buying a new one from a dealership does, because a new one is not being produced.
  7. Participate in labor unions and employee organizations, and advocate for your fellow workers. If labor is not organized in your place of business, do your part to make this happen.
    • Keep in mind that many people, particularly members of older generations, may become immediately hostile to the term "communism" or "communist," as they equate it with Cold War politics and propaganda. Do not take it personally, and do not antagonize people needlessly. Teaching by example will win more converts than aggressive confrontations and debates.
    9. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can I be a communist freely?
    NY Blossom
    Top Answerer
    So long as communist ideologies can be legally voiced in your country.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 65 Helpful 305
  • Question
    How do I tell my close friends and family I'm a communist without incurring judgement?
    Keri Rautenkranz
    Community Answer
    Be a great example of a good communist, as described above. When they notice and ask why, that is a good time to share. It takes patience.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 66 Helpful 305
  • Question
    I heard that Americans think Canada is communist because we have free health care. Why?
    Community Answer
    The vast majority of Americans do not think Canada is communist. However, there are some ignorant Americans who have an over-the-top fear of/opposition to any kind of government-provided services, either because they see it as government 'interference' in citizens' lives or because they think the taxes required to pay for such services are a form of stealing from citizens, and will try to demonize such services as 'socialist' or 'communist' (which are scary words to many Americans due to memories of the Cold War and their association with certain totalitarian governments).
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 63 Helpful 189
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • The Marxists Internet Archive is a great resource on communism and has an excellent student section. [16]
        Thanks
        Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Personal property is different from private property. Communists believe that people should be able to own personal things (clothing, toothbrushes, phones, etc.), but not private property (means of production, land, houses, etc.).
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      What's the Difference between a Governor and a Senator?
      How to
      Analyze Political Cartoons
      How to
      Join The Republican Party
      How to
      Tell if a Person Is Republican or Democrat
      How to
      Explain Democrat vs Republican to a Child
      How to
      Write a Letter to Your United States Senator
      How to
      Be an Anarchist
      How to
      Get Involved in Local Politics
      How to
      Write a Campaign Speech
      How to
      Tell Whether You're Right Wing or Left Wing
      How to
      Understand Politics
      How to
      Avoid Politics With Stubborn Relatives
      How to
      Win a Local Election
      How to
      Deal With Friends With Different Political Views
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0933874.html
      2. ↑ https://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proletariat
      3. ↑ https://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bourgeoisie
      4. ↑ https://www.nceo.org/articles/employee-ownership-100
      5. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/331694/history-of-Latin-America/60906/Expanding-role-of-the-state
      6. ↑ https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Communism#Collapse_of_the_Soviet_Union_and_Communism_Today
      7. ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm
      8. ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/Communist-manifesto/index.htm
      9. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/311741/Das-Kapital
      1. ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/
      2. ↑ https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/idom/dm/index.htm
      3. ↑ https://www.peoplesworld.org/
      4. ↑ https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/
      5. ↑ https://www.cpusa.org/
      6. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/media-network-blog/2012/mar/23/mind-control-advent-of-neuroscience
      7. ↑ https://www.marxists.org/subject/students

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To live like a communist, apply the core principles, like living a minimalist lifestyle, to your daily life. Choose where to spend your money by researching corporations and only doing business with those that are labor-friendly. Additionally, join a co-op to take part-ownership in your grocery store and share some of the labor. Another way to live a communist lifestyle is to avoid buying disposable products, like plates, cups, and razors, and to learn to sew and repair things instead of replace them. Since cars are especially wasteful and expensive, consider using mass transit instead, or buying a used car so nothing new had to be produced. To learn how to get involved in communist politics, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 464,781 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Apr 16, 2018

        "This article has immediately improved my quality of life. My country used to suffer from having a middle class ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement