Examples of pre-marxian "communism"

Economics Political Theory
1

Anyone have any? I assume it wasn’t called communism at that stage, but from what I’ve been told, there were people with similar ideas before marx (in the ruling class). Where do we research to learn more about this topic? I’m talking about “stateless, living in a commune” style communism, not the Soviet Union or China.

2

The Paris Commune I suppose was something like that, practically none there knew the writings of Marx and they somehow organized a collective government, although I admit my ignorance on the specific details.

3

Have you listened to this; http://mises.org/media/1605?

4

I will soon. [H]

I think the next book I need to read is “Economic Thought Before Adam Smith”, seems to have some history in it based on an article mises.org had up recently.

5

This is how a lot of communists like to debate our types: claim you don’t know enough about marxism/communism to refute or understand it, and basically that you’re beating on straw men. Of course that’s not always true, but it doesn’t stop them.

I’ll probably end up reading that stupid manifesto some day to see how well they understand their own political views. Read it once 15 years ago but I may not have even fully understood it back then. Not really looking forward to reading the drivel again, but then again I do like arguing with commies. [6]

6

communism – the final stage of societal evolution, when socialist nation states wither, give their power and place to a socialist world government

previously:-- ancient Egypt was a socialist state until death of Pepi II, after wich collapse

The so-called inka empire was a socialist state, lasted four centuries, until 130 spanish soldiers put an end to it
Luis Eaudin, “L’Empire socialiste des Inka”. Paris 1928

thousand year of feudalism in Europe was socialism – present day socialism is simply mechanized feudalism

7

Karl A. Wittfogel, “Oriental Despotism, A Comparative Study of Total Power.”
Yale University Press, New Haven, 1957

8

History of Economic Thought volume I is a good place to find some examples. Also The Socialist Tradition by Alexander Gray [ a link of the work is in my signature ] is a good place to find examples. Some communities that come to mind are communities centered around the theories of Charles Fourier which actually had quite a following in the US and also Robert Owen’s New Harmony project.