Contradictions in communist systems

Nature

Inconsistencies in communist systems conflict with its ideals and slow down development. They include the denial of human rights under various forms, including: censorship; political and religious repression; closed society; imperialism; elitism; dictatorship and bureaucracy; and more theoretical inconsistencies such as nationalism, the creation of an international system of states, the boycotting and negative participation in existing international bodies, and the non-inevitability of communist revolution which gives rise to the use of force and repression. The net result is instability and conflict, particularly international conflict, and alienation.

Claim

If we cannot get straight the rights and wrongs of the struggle between communism and anticommunism, itself perhaps the greatest moral struggle of the twentieth century, then it is hard to see what other issues we will ever be able to address intelligently.

Counter-claim

The so-called "contradictions in communist systems" are overstated and often misrepresented. These systems aim for equality and collective welfare, which can lead to challenges in implementation, but this is true of any governance model. Focusing on these contradictions distracts from the real issues, such as economic inequality and environmental degradation in capitalist societies. Instead of nitpicking communist flaws, we should address the pressing global challenges that affect us all, regardless of the system in place.