Question

During the Cold War, there were many communist nations. Now there are only a handful, (can you name them?). What does communism mean and how does it serve to shape the government and economics in a country?

a. China, North Korea, and Vietnam; Communism advocates for a classless society and state ownership of the means of production
b. Russia, Cuba, and Laos; Communism supports a free-market economy and limited government intervention
c. East Germany, Yugoslavia, and Mongolia; Communism prioritizes individual liberties and a decentralized government
d. Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia; Communism promotes a monarchy with hereditary rule

Answer 1

Answer (a) China, North Korea, and Vietnam reflects the current communist nations and accurately describes communism as promoting a classless society with state control over production.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the student's question is a. China, North Korea, and Vietnam; communism advocates for a classless society and state ownership of the means of production. Communism is an ideology that promotes the common ownership of all property and the means of production, with the intent to create a classless society where wealth and power are evenly distributed.

Communism significantly shapes a country's government and economics by instituting a planned or command economy where the state owns or controls businesses, farms, and factories. Decisions regarding what to produce, how to distribute resources, and setting prices are all managed by the government. This is in stark contrast to a free-market economy, where these decisions are made by the private sector and market forces.

During the Cold War, the global ideological contest between communism and capitalism led to profound geopolitical and social impacts, influencing nations worldwide. With the fall of the Soviet Union and the pulling away of several countries from communist ideologies, the number of communist countries has significantly diminished.