While it is unlikely that you live in one of the few countries left with a communist government, you can still embrace the ideology of communism in everyday life and participate in political and activist organizations that uphold its principles. This article will give you practical advice on how to live like a true communist in the 21st century.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Learn Everything There Is To Know About Communism
Step 1. Get to know the difficult situation of the proletariat
The proletariat is made up of the working class, that is, people who offer labor to an employer in exchange for a wage, but have no ownership rights over the company in which they work or over the "means of production", i.e. the land, the tools, the factory, the offices, the raw materials and so on, that is, everything that makes their work possible. Most proletarians have few possibilities to manage and decide on their work and do not share the profits that the owner of the company collects.
- Since the proletarian class has no control over its own work and wages, it actually depends on others to survive and is therefore easily exploited by employers.
- The class that oppresses the proletariat is called the "bourgeoisie" in Marxist terms, and is made up of the wealthy capitalists who own the companies, factories, land and, consequently, most of the world's wealth.
- The modern concept of 99% of wealth in the hands of the 1% of the population is very similar to Karl Marx's idea of the proletariat, where 1% corresponds to the bourgeoisie.
- One of the basic principles of communism is that the proletariat should seek to gain control and ownership of the means of production to be managed collectively.
Step 2. Analyze how private property creates social injustice
Private ownership of the means of production allows the bourgeoisie to exploit the proletariat. Marx argued that if ownership of the means of production were requisitioned and handed over to the proletariat, which could collectively and equally possess it, workers could perform better, exploitation would cease and social classes resulting from an unequal distribution of property would disappear.
Some modern companies are partially or totally owned by employees, given that a distribution of company shares to the workers is foreseen, but these realities are very few
Step 3. Consider the Communist criticisms of capitalism
Marx believed that it is capitalism itself, together with the market economy and the unbridled pursuit of profit, that has led to the current situation of injustice and inequality. Marx also claimed that the solution to this iniquity was the total abolition of capitalism through a proletarian revolution.
Numerous communist revolutions have taken place in Europe, Asia and Latin America, although there are very few truly truly communist governments
Step 4. Familiarize yourself with the basic texts of Marxist communism
If you want to identify yourself as a communist, you need to know the basic texts of this ideology, as people expect you to be able to discuss and speak about it with awareness.
- Begin by reading Frederick Engels' Principles of Communism, a pamphlet written in 1847 that outlines the basic principles of Marxist Communism.
- Then continue your education with the Communist Party Manifesto, published by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848.
- Read also the 3 volumes of Marx's Capital when you are ready for a real challenge. Be careful though, they are extremely complex and very long volumes.
Step 5. Continue to deepen your knowledge in the field by reading some secondary literature on communism that explains the context and evolution of the movement
Step 6. Then add some classic communist works to your reading list
The most suitable include Vladimir Lenin's State and Revolution or "what to do?",
Step 7. Remember that communism is strongly opposed to the acquisition of private property and useless consumerism
One of the most "communist" things you can do is to go to the public library and use its archive to carry out your research.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Involved in Communist Politics
Step 1. Read the Communist publications and the most current sympathizers
Some good examples include The Internationale, the Manifesto, Su La Testa, SenzaTregua and La Riscossa.
Step 2. Join and participate in local communist organizations
Do some research and get in touch with a Communist Party or activist group that is present in your territory.
In Italy the Italian Communist Party dissolved in 1991 and to date we have started as the Communist Refoundation, Potere Al Popolo, Communist Workers' Party. These are just some of the names on the current political landscape, some of which also have youth organizations: find out about them and decide which of them you most identify with
Step 3. Participate in groups and causes that are based on or compatible with Communist ideals
- Support the workers' unions and remember that a good Communist should always adhere to strikes and never cross the picket line!
- Join the Occupy Movement.
Step 4. Be aware that peaceful demonstrations can also have legal consequences
Study the laws of your country and be prepared to be identified or perhaps even arrested if you participate in certain political demonstrations.
Part 3 of 3: Applying Communist Principles in Everyday Life
Step 1. Try to reduce exposure to capitalist propaganda by avoiding watching commercial television and listening to the radio
Marketing is ubiquitous in modern society and most people think little about it, but you must be aware that it is a powerful manipulation tool of the capitalist machine.
Avoid websites where advertising is massively present and use programs that block pop-ups and ads to reduce online exposure to unwanted advertisements
Step 2. Choose wisely where to spend your money, as money is the lifeblood of capitalism
Giving money to an exploiting society only increases the power of the bourgeoisie over the working classes.
- Do a research on the various realities and companies that produce food, medicine, clothes and other objects of common use. Avoid targeting those companies that are known to exploit workers.
- Buy the goods directly from the person who produces them and avoid commercial intermediaries whenever possible.
- Look for companies that treat their employees respectfully and only buy from them as much as possible. Shop at co-ops, or better yet, employee-owned stores.
Step 3. Join a consumer cooperative
For a small annual fee, you can take ownership of your grocery supplier. Most cooperatives of this type also offer the opportunity for members to share their work.
Step 4. Minimize the purchase and use of consumer goods
- Do not buy disposable products of any kind.
- Avoid the unnecessary acquisition of personal assets. Before making a purchase, evaluate if you really need it and consider how long you will be able to use the item. If you can, when you have to buy rather important products that require a certain investment (such as a lawn mower) try to find a way to share the expense with other people and become co-owners among you.
- Learn to sew and repair things. Repair and reuse old items before you think about buying new ones.
- Buy as much as possible at second-hand stores.
- Avoid the latest tech trends and gadgets. Buy only what you really need.
- Learn to cultivate the vegetable garden and start consuming the products of your land, if you have enough space to make it or if you live in a neighborhood where public gardens are established.
Step 5. Consider giving up your car
Vehicles are a particularly wasteful and expensive form of private ownership that you can easily give up by organizing differently and making some lifestyle changes.
- Use public transportation whenever you can.
- Take advantage of ride-sharing and car-sharing programs in your area.
- Don't rule out the possibility of getting an old used car that is in good condition, rather than a new vehicle, if you can't avoid buying a car.
Step 6. Treat your employees well if you are an employer
Guarantee all of them a fair and decent salary, try to make sure that they can participate in the decisions and share with them the profits and ideally the ownership of the company.
Step 7. Support the cause of work if you are an employee
Join trade unions and workers' organizations and support your colleagues. If, in your company, the workforce is not union organized, work to make this happen.
Step 8. Explain your beliefs to other people, share practical methods that others can adopt, and put Communist ideals into practice
Keep in mind that many people, especially the older generation, can quickly become hostile when it comes to "communism" or "communist", as they associate these terms with the cold war and propaganda politics of communist countries, especially Soviet ones. You don't have to take it personally and you don't have to antagonize people unnecessarily. Teaching based on example always surpasses and convinces more than discussions and aggressive confrontations
Step 9. Avoid hurting other people both physically and verbally during your revolutionary activities
Becoming an oppressor yourself certainly does not favor the Communist cause and you would simply risk ending up in prison!
