This book is an analysis of communism and socialism, tracing their development from their origins to the present day. The author examines the philosophical underpinnings of these systems and their practical implementation, paying particular attention to the experiences of the Soviet Union and other socialist states. Written with clarity and precision, this is an essential introduction to the subject. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.