What are Communist Countries?

The term “communist country” is often used to refer to any nation who’s government subscribes to the ideology of communism. This is usually a type of authoritarian government, which is carried out by a single-party rule, or an authoritarian government with an ideology defined by the “dictatorship of the proletariat”. In practice, these countries attempt to implement Marxian economics, although in some cases the ideology may differ slightly from one country to the next.

History of Communist Nations

The first modern nation to embrace and practice communism was the Soviet Union, established in 1917. Since then, this form of government has been adopted by countries worldwide, from East Germany to North Korea. Communism was also adopted by much of Eastern Europe during the Cold War era, as the countries of Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania all adopted communist forms of government.

In the current era, there are still several nations who practice a form of communist government. Chief among these is China, which adopted communism in 1949. Following the death of Mao Zedong, the country diverged from true communism by introducing a series of capitalist-style economic reforms. Cuba is also a communist nation, though in recent years the country has moved away from hardline socialism and toward a market-oriented economy.

Communism Today

In addition to the countries mentioned above, there are several other nations who are currently governed by a form of communism. Vietnam is a notable example, as the country officially declared communism in 1976 and has largely adhered to it ever since. Laos is also a communist nation, with its government officially subscribing to “Marxism-Leninism” since 1975.

Several other countries have adopted various forms of communism in the modern age, including Angola, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, and Zimbabwe. Though some of these countries, such as North Korea, are considered totalitarian dictatorships, there are other nations on the list which are attempting to find a balance between communism and capitalism.

Though not a traditional communist nation, Venezuela is also often labeled as a communist or socialist country by some. This is due to its current government, which is led by President Nicolás Maduro and has presided over a steady decline of the economy. Maduro has implemented a policy of government-style control over businesses and industry, although the country has not yet implemented significant communist policies.

Conclusion

The term “communist country” is often used to describe any nation whose government subscribes to the ideology of communism. In practice, this ideology is usually carried out by a single-party rule or an authoritarian government with an ideology defined by the “dictatorship of the proletariat”. Currently, there are several countries which still practice a form of communism, from China and Vietnam to Cuba, Laos, and North Korea. Venezuela is also often labeled as a communist or socialist nation, though it has not yet implemented significant communist policies.