1. Socialism, Communism, Fascism
The five-pointed red star, a pentagram without the inner pentagon, is a symbol of communism as well as broader socialism in general. It is sometimes understood to represent the five fingers of the worker's hand, as well as the five continents. A lesser known suggestion is that the five points on the star were intended to represent the five social groups that would lead Russia to communism: the youth, the military, the industrial labourers, the agricultural workers or peasantry, and the intelligentsia. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels used the red star as a symbol. It was also one of the emblems, symbols, and signals representing the Soviet Union under the rule and guidance of the Communist Party, along with the hammer and sickle. The star has since become a symbol representing socialism of all varieties.
The hammer and sickle is a part of communist symbolism and its usage indicates an association with Communism, Communist Party, or Communist state. It features a hammer superimposed on a sickle, or visa versa. The two tools are symbols of the industrial proletariat and the peasantry; placing them together symbolises the unity between industrial and agricultural workers.
It is best known from having been incorporated into the red flag of the Soviet Union, along with the Red Star. It has also been used in other flags and emblems.
The symbol of fascism, in its original Italian incarnation under Benito Mussolini, and which gave fascism its name, was the fasces. This is an ancient Roman symbol of power carried by lictors in front of magistrates: a bundle of sticks, which included an axe indicating the power over life and death.

2. Socialism a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, characterized by:
rejection of the idea that the wealthy “deserve their wealth” because they created it - but instead an argument that wealthy exploit working classes
vision of society based on economic equality
belief in cooperation, production for benefit of all
idea of public ownership of means of production, not public ownership of everything

3. Marx and Socialism German Socialist writer (1818 – 1883)
believed society wasn’t made up of individuals, but of CLASSES (based on economics)
argued some classes were oppressed by others
during his lifetime, he looked at the working classes and argued they were oppressed by the capitalist classes – and that this was wrong
Marx envisioned the working class taking over the gov’t (through revolution) and then the gov’t taking over all industry

4. Marxism to Communism Many Socialists disagreed with Marx’s ideas on:
need for revolution
complete abolition of all private ownership
1848: Marx and Engels publish the COMMUNIST MANIFESTO

5. Communism Communism is characterized by:
The immediate aim of the Communists is the… formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy, conquest of political power by the proletariat." - Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto, 1848
Communism is characterized by:
idea that history is guided by class struggle
desire to establish a classless, stateless society
belief in the abolition of all private ownership,
belief that this will come about through revolution

6. Communism vs. Socialism
Communism emerged out of Socialism – and early communists considered themselves socialist
For modern communists: Communism is an advanced stage of Socialism  Socialism is the stage between Capitalism (which is bad) and Communism (which is perfect)
Communism in practice has moved significantly away from the theory – disconnecting it from Socialism

7. Fascism a reaction to the rise of Liberalism, Socialism and Communism
developed in Italy under Mussolini
flourished in economically unstable countries prior to WWII

8. Fascism vs. Communism Both were dictatorial in nature and both deprived individuals of their rights within society… BUT
Communism
proposed revolution to overthrow capitalism and ban private ownership
called for a ‘withering away of the state’ with eventual cooperative public control
Fascism
gov’t works within capitalism – works with people who control production to improve state economy
exalted the state above all, and used police and military to control people

9. Why did Fascism object to Socialism and Communism?
Fascists saw these other ideologies as having failed because they couldn’t bring stability
Fascism is based on idea of absolute state
In a fascist state, citizens are obliged “to believe, to obey, to combat” for the good of the state – this is the direct opposite of the 19th century ideals of individual liberty and freedom

10. Let’s Summarize… SOCIALISM COMMUNISM
man is naturally good – a bad environment makes people bad
gov’t should regulate economy – public ownership
equality is important, but the common good is the ultimate goal
people give gov’t authority, and can take it away  change happens through REFORM
COMMUNISM
man is perfectible
eventually, the state will wither away and people will not need gov’t
all goods will be held in common
equality is important, but the common good is the ultimate goal
people consent to be governed until the state withers away – starts with REVOLUTION

11. To continue… FASCISM man needs to be controlled
the state is all important – the individual is only important insofar as how he contributes to the state
the gov’t controls all aspects of life – this brings stability and order
the people have no control over gov’t, and no right to rebel against gov’t
enemies of the state will be dealt with harshly