Why are socialist and communist countries usually considered more authoritarian than capitalist countries?
Why are socialist and communist countries usually considered more authoritarian than capitalist countries?
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I believe it's inherent to the system. The whole point of a communist system is a centrally planned, and controlled, economy. This gives the state immense control and as inherent to every form of government, self preservation at any cost.
As discussed in "rules for rulers" by cgp grey, there is no such thing as a benevolent or kind dictator. All politicians and leaders will use any means available to themselves to further their own ambitions.
The whole point of a communist system is a centrally planned, and controlled, economy.
This has not been universally true among socialist states.
This gives the state immense control
All states have immense control by virtue of having a monopoly on violence.
The capitalist class controls the state in capitalist countries, including ostensibly democratic” ones. They use the state to to rule the working class and to protect their private property.
self preservation at any cost.
This is practically every state that has ever existed.
“rules for rulers” by cgp grey,
Maybe step away from the Polandballs and go read/listen to some books.
This has not been universally true among socialist states.
An interesting point against communism is the lack of drive for innovation it creates. If you're living in a truly classless society (which has never and does not exist), you have no drive to do better, there is no personal reward to innovate besides progressing your society in ways you'll likely never see / be rewarded for.
This sounds like a neoliberal just-so story that may have come out of The Road to Serfdom.
China files more patents than the next nine countries combined: https://www.wipo.int/en/ipfactsandfigures/patents
China is first country to hold over 4 million domestic patents
The number of China's domestic valid patents does not include those held in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Ah, you know what you're clearly correct. China, who is not a communist state, has a population of a billion people, and an authoritarian regime who would love nothing more than for it to look like China's innovating having filed more patents than the next nine countries combined means that Communism drives innovation!
Besides common knowledge, you could also research why China files so many patents (subsidys per patent filed, and the fact China acknowledges utility model and industrial design patents that are not considered patents in most countries [AND these patents make up at least 75% of those filed in China, meaning their number of real (invention) patents is more like ~400,000, and that 75% is conservative.
That second paragraph isn't necessary though, your point never had legs to stand on.
I know a lot of people push back against this but it's true in many regards. The vast majority of soviet innovation is directly from government activity and investment. When the Soviet union surpassed western governments in certain fields, it was always heavily funded by the government.
If you step back and look at the small things, consumer products and especially computers, they were extremely behind.
For real, government funded space program ≠ innovation at scale