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Archae

(46,328 posts)
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 01:31 PM Mar 2014

Is North Korea communist, or fascist?

I was in an interesting conversation on another message board, we were discussing whether North Korea is a communist country or fascist country.

Most people agreed it's a "CINO" country, "communist in name only."

One person at the other message board said even Stalin never got as bad as the authorities in N Korea are.

44 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Is North Korea communist, or fascist? (Original Post) Archae Mar 2014 OP
Juche treestar Mar 2014 #1
It's a absolute monarchy at this point Scootaloo Mar 2014 #2
Has there ever been a communist country that was not "CINO"? (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #3
Sure hasn't been. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #8
Communists aren't very smart, are they? Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2014 #18
Well, not necessarily. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #21
So, in other words, they're fantasists who kill tens of millions of people over pipe dreams. Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2014 #22
Are you aware that Anarchism shares the same goal as Communism DireStrike Mar 2014 #29
I know it doesn't mean the hyper-centralized state of communism. Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2014 #30
I didn't ask for a creed, I asked what it meant to you. DireStrike Mar 2014 #32
I see it as abridge. Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2014 #37
Was going to say the same thing, +1. eom tarheelsunc Mar 2014 #34
Authoritarian/totalitarian/fascist JaneyVee Mar 2014 #4
With authoritarian strongmen in control, Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2014 #5
It's neither, it's a despotic absolute monarchy dressed up in Stalinist drag. Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #6
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2014 #7
Totalitarian feudalism. CJCRANE Mar 2014 #9
it's not fascist for the reason you list qazplm Mar 2014 #15
A democracy, Lil Kim won the 'election' with 1000% of the votes! nt Mnemosyne Mar 2014 #10
actually qazplm Mar 2014 #16
I am shamed and humbled. Off with my head! nt Mnemosyne Mar 2014 #24
CNN still saying it is too close to call. Nt madinmaryland Mar 2014 #19
You sure they aren't waiting for Rmoney to win? nt Mnemosyne Mar 2014 #25
Ha Reter Mar 2014 #38
Perish the thought! Welcome to DU, Reter! Mnemosyne Mar 2014 #40
I don't blame the people for voting for Kim. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #41
And his hair! Best to keep our heads... nt Mnemosyne Mar 2014 #43
It appears to be a Hereditary Dictatorship of the Lunatic. nt Zorra Mar 2014 #11
Lunatocracy Throd Mar 2014 #17
Pretty much my thoughts anything else starts leading away from the raw facts. TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #36
Well said. That's how it appears to me as well. Zorra Mar 2014 #39
Autocracy Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2014 #12
Bingo! davekriss Mar 2014 #20
Neither. It is a really a monarchy now cthulu2016 Mar 2014 #13
Communism is an economic framework...Fascism is a political one brooklynite Mar 2014 #14
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2014 #23
It's not an easy call. defacto7 Mar 2014 #26
Totalitarian? 2naSalit Mar 2014 #27
I believe the proper name for the government type is "batshit crazy" n/t Godhumor Mar 2014 #28
perfect. nt La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2014 #31
Why are you all hating on North Korea? penultimate Mar 2014 #33
Hannah? (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2014 #35
Might want to make sure you use the sarcasm emote :) Marrah_G Mar 2014 #42
Ah, the memories. nt Codeine Mar 2014 #44

treestar

(82,383 posts)
1. Juche
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 01:35 PM
Mar 2014

They run on the principles of Juche which the Great Leader Kim Il Sung wrote about extensively in many volumes. Basically comes down to whatever Dear Leader says.

 

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)
2. It's a absolute monarchy at this point
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 01:36 PM
Mar 2014

As Treestar says, it's whatever "Dear leader" - a hereditary position - says.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
21. Well, not necessarily.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:14 PM
Mar 2014

Communism depends on a fundamental change in human attitudes towards property, class, and hierarchy to be truly successful, and most importantly, a near global change in those attitudes.

It's hard to implement a revolutionary new concept when one's faced with incompatible attitudes at home and predatory powers abroad.

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
22. So, in other words, they're fantasists who kill tens of millions of people over pipe dreams.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:17 PM
Mar 2014

Pretty much what I've come to learn about communism.

DireStrike

(6,452 posts)
29. Are you aware that Anarchism shares the same goal as Communism
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:48 PM
Mar 2014

just with different methods as to how to achieve it?

Can you explain what Anarchism means to you?

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
30. I know it doesn't mean the hyper-centralized state of communism.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:52 PM
Mar 2014

Whatever its intended end, communism begins as the enemy of people and freedom.

And isn't it kind of ironic asking for a dogmatic creed for something such as anarchism?

DireStrike

(6,452 posts)
32. I didn't ask for a creed, I asked what it meant to you.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:56 PM
Mar 2014

I think Anarchism is a possible solution to Capitalism, though my instinct is to say it is utopian. I am far from omniscient in matters of human organization, but I just can't see how to defeat a well-organized global system (Or at least, a global system consisting of well-organized states) without some organization of our own.

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
37. I see it as abridge.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 05:05 PM
Mar 2014

If people want to self-organize and create their own community that shares labor, resources and surplus I say, good luck. But if other people want to freely engage in competitive markets for personal profit I say, good luck. I would like to see people peaceably living their lives without regard for the busybodies of the world in such numbers that they are essentially ungoverned, except by their consciences.

I am not willing to accept the centralized tyranny of Communism to achieve that.

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
5. With authoritarian strongmen in control,
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 01:38 PM
Mar 2014

it doesn't really matter what they call themselves.

The people have absolutely zero input, zero power.

Response to Archae (Original post)

CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)
9. Totalitarian feudalism.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 01:44 PM
Mar 2014

Communism is where the state takes over all businesses.

Fascism is where big business takes over the state.

qazplm

(3,626 posts)
15. it's not fascist for the reason you list
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 02:27 PM
Mar 2014

it's more communist because the state owns all businesses.

However, it's also a totalitarian dictatorship (which is obviously not one of the tenets of communism (although in my opinion it's the unavoidable result of trying to implement communism because plenty of folks, being humans, won't agree to the ideals of communism)).

It's just a weird, unholy mix of all of the worst things. Heck, even feudalism was slightly better.
One hopes "Dear Leader" and the rest of his thugs get sucked up by a black hole or meet some other situation which removes them from the scene. It might result in calamity for a bit, but perhaps the aftermath will be better for the population. Sadly amazing to see the same group of people so successful below one line on a map, and so horrible above it.

qazplm

(3,626 posts)
16. actually
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 02:28 PM
Mar 2014

100000 percent, and how dare you show such a lack of belief in the Dear Leader by claiming he can only win a measly 1000% of the vote!!

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
41. I don't blame the people for voting for Kim.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 08:44 PM
Mar 2014

It isn't often that one gets the chance to vote for such an accomplished golfer.

TheKentuckian

(25,026 posts)
36. Pretty much my thoughts anything else starts leading away from the raw facts.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 05:04 PM
Mar 2014

Hereditary absolute rulers, growing seemingly more mad by the generation is it's own category and discussing economics and politics is pretty much fundamentally dishonest because what it actually and functionally is an extraction system to transfer all wealth and power to a genetically insane tyrants. No matter what system is presented, it is actually a sham.

 

Tierra_y_Libertad

(50,414 posts)
12. Autocracy
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 02:06 PM
Mar 2014

au·toc·ra·cy
noun \ȯ-ˈtä-krə-sē\

: a form of government in which a country is ruled by a person or group with total power

brooklynite

(94,588 posts)
14. Communism is an economic framework...Fascism is a political one
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 02:10 PM
Mar 2014

In as much as there is no private property or business ownership, I would say it's communist. In as much as it trumpets the importance of the State over the individual, I would say it's fascist.

Response to Archae (Original post)

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
26. It's not an easy call.
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:40 PM
Mar 2014

That kind of communism is like a circle that goes all the way through the spectrum back to fascism; it's like fascism almost touching communism.

But then it's a imperial dynasty as well with Un being the newest emperor god in the linage.

It's just whatever it is, a mishmash of political positions.

penultimate

(1,110 posts)
33. Why are you all hating on North Korea?
Sun Mar 30, 2014, 04:59 PM
Mar 2014

I think it seems like a grand place to live. I've never seen a North Korean not smiling. As opposed to Baltimore, where no one ever smiles.

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