Communism: still relevant?

[Dejanic]

How? It preserves property rights. In Scandinavia, it is increasingly pro business. I am not a social democrat, but your statement has no factual backing.



How are people supporting this system more in the West?

Social democracy is socialism. More people are supporting a path to communism by supporting social democracy.

Except no. I'm a Social Democrat. I'm pro mixed market Capitalism. I'm sceptical on eventual Socialism. And I'm against Communism.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Social democracy is socialism. More people are supporting a path to communism by supporting social democracy.

Except no. I'm a Social Democrat. I'm pro mixed market Capitalism. I'm sceptical on eventual Socialism. And I'm against Communism.

Dont expect any meaningful debate with him, just dont and save yourself the time and effort.

My question to you, NationStates, is this: in today's modern world, is communism still a viable ideology that makes sense?

Of course

When was the last time you heard someone complain about poor working conditions (outside China, of course - oh, the irony...)?

Yesterday

You see, capitalism has evolved to become a fairer, more moral system. Communists still stick to the same old beliefs.

Wrong on both accounts. Capitalism has evolved to ensure its survival by offering concessions to the workers, transferring the proletariat to middle class positions and establishing post-industrial economies where labor is extracted through neoliberal domination of developing nations. It has gotten better in states where it first developed, though much of the world has been trapped in the horrors we saw in the industrial revolution, except they are not being offered a way out.

Should the manifesto be changed?

The manifesto was a political pamphlet. It wasn't meant to be anything else. It literally is the least important work Marx ever published. Of course the manifesto doesn't apply to the modern world; it was written to reflect the concerns of the time.

Should communism, as described by Marx, its 'father', be changed?

Marx is hardly the "father" of communism. The concerns of communists will be slightly different in every society, as every society is different. It's a constantly changing ideology, as it should be. Ideological rigidity only leads to stagnation and a failure to adapt.

Perhaps a new form of equality needs to be promoted: one that just opposes consumerism, is committed to reducing pressing issues such as climate change, stands up for equal rights for everybody. I would happily be part of a new enviro-communist society which is anti-consumerist.

That isn't anything new. People have been pointing out the parallels between ecological destruction and economic oppression for centuries now. The two certainly are connected, and failing to recognize this ensures that any potential movement won't be able to truly accomplish anything worth noting.

tl;dr: The class system isn't as defined as it was. What does this mean for the existing communist ideals?

Nothing, there are still oppressors and the oppressed, and the oppressors still need to be overthrown so that all may be free.

Pretty much this anyway in regards to the OP.

[Brickistan]

Actually, I'd say that it's more relevant than ever. As capitalism is becoming increasingly unfair, we need to look elsewhere for answers to the problems that are threatening our society.

However, as with any ideology, it's poison in its pure form. So rather than replacing capitalism with communism, we should mix the two, taking the best from each.