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Is there any book which explain the concept of communism, capitalism, socialism n all other important 'isms'? Please hel

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10 Answers to "Is there any book which explain the concept of communism, capitalism, socialism n all other important 'isms'? Please hel"

  1. BarvoDelancy - 31-35 years old - male

    Posted by BarvoDelancy Jun 12th, 2012 at 3:37PM

    I'd look online for a place that sells used college books and first a first year book on political science or philosophy.

    That said - start with this: www.politicalcompass.org

    It's a very well done (not perfect, but well done) quiz that puts you on a chart against different gradients of political systems. I'll explain the four basics:

    DISTRIBUTION OF POWER:

    Authoritarianism: The farther up you go, the fewer people have power. Authoritarian means a very strong government and a small number of people or only one person (at the very top) runs the country with no votes or rights for anyone.

    Libertarianism: The farther down you go, the more people have power and the weaker government is. At the very bottom there is nobody in charge, and things are decided by individuals or the group - everyone is as free as you can get.

    The middle tend to mean you have a strong government that answers to the people.

    WHERE THE MONEY IS AT:
    Right (capitalist): The farther right you go, the more money there is in the hands of individuals, the less here is in the group. The more right you go you have lower taxes, fewer programs like welfare, and a bigger gap between rich and poor. At the extreme you have no government control over money.

    Left (socialist): The more left you go means the money is more and more distributed. At the extreme left everyone makes the same money - no rich or poor.

    So let's look at some political ideologies!

    Neo-liberal: This is the current political state of the United States and most major world powers. It's halfway authoritarian and very right wing. It means a very powerful government and very little government involvement in the economy.

    Authoritarian communism: This is what Russia was. No freedom for the people, but nearly everyone made the same money except for a powerful ruling class who were very rich. It would be all the way at the top, and halfway to the left. North Korea is also like this.

    Libertarian communism (anarchism): This is me! Anarchy says that there is no rich or poor (or even money), and that all decisions are democratic done by vote. So leaders are temporary and there is no ruling class. People work for the common good, not for greed.

    Democratic socialism: Sweden used to be like this, but it keeps going further right. Very high taxes, but you can stil get rich - just not billionaire rich. Lots of social programs and nobody is poor. Most people are middle class.

    There are tons more, but I think if you play with this quiz and read what they have it will really help you understand this kinda stuff. Have fun and remember - I'm biased!

    Like (2)

  2. DarknessCalls - 41-45 years old

    Posted by DarknessCalls Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:24PM

    Try "Animal Farm" for the best description of communism/socialism EVER.

    Like (2)

  3. BarvoDelancy - 31-35 years old - male

    Reply by BarvoDelancy Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:26PM

    It's actually a commentary on Stalinism and how Stalin and people like him took over the movements. Orwell was as socialist as they get. Read Homage to Catalonia.

    Like (1)

  4. DarknessCalls - 41-45 years old

    Reply by DarknessCalls Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:27PM

    Yep, that was the contradiction of the man.

    Like (1)

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  5. Jillian439 - 51-55 years old

    Posted by Jillian439 Jun 13th, 2012 at 3:22AM

    At the top of your computer go to view and click on that a window will open up and go to explorer bars another window will open up go to reseach a side bar will open up with all the reference you could ever need good luck researching your every whim :)

    Like (1)

  6. aniave - 31-35 years old - female

    Posted by aniave Jun 12th, 2012 at 3:14PM

    Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 6th edition

    Like (1)

  7. englishsteve - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by englishsteve Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:52PM

    There must be lots of such books - but I haven't seen them. i'm sure Ernie's right and there will be a general primer in most good bookshops. Wikipedia is not definitive but can give good overviews and a useful starting point for further reading. Be aware that the same words can mean very different things in different countries - European and American usage of Socialism, Liberal and Conservative don't have much in common.

    Like (1)

  8. jo9973 - 41-45 years old - female

    Posted by jo9973 Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:46PM

    I think any basic sociology textbook should define all of those for you.

    Good luck!

    Like (1)

  9. fishsweeper - 51-55 years old - female

    Posted by fishsweeper Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:29PM

    Wouldn't that be a good book to have?.... But it would be written by someone who subscribed to one of those 'isms'!

    Like (1)

  10. jeanemae - 26-30 years old

    Posted by jeanemae Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:24PM

    You don't need a book; the online dictionary and wikipedia will give you more info than you need. They aren't terribly complicated ideas. The problem is people misuse the terms because they are politically "loaded." This means when people talk about these ideas you have to listen closely to determine what they might mean and if they are talking out of their a$$.

    Like (1)

  11. RRK1 - 56-60 years old - female

    Posted by RRK1 Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:22PM

    The encyclopaedia

    Like (1)

  12. ChipmunkErnie - 61-65 years old - male

    Posted by ChipmunkErnie Jun 12th, 2012 at 2:20PM

    No idea--ask at a library or book store. Wouldn't surprise me if there was something like POLITICAL/ECONOMIC SYSTEMS FOR DUMMIES out there---they seem to have about everything in that series.

    Like (1)

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