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The communist ideal of entire societies is claimed to be doomed to failure by many economists. However, there are inumerable examples of communist groups throughout history, and in existence currently. Small groupings of families, extended families, clans and tribes are usually organized in a communist manner.

With the principle of each providing to his ability to each according to their needs, family groups are virtually always organized in such a manner. From the traditional American nuclear family, with a father, mother and children, to the extended clans of tribal societies, everyone has a responsibility for providing a portion of the needs of the group.

Property is often held for the common good, even if, where title exists, absolute ownership is inferred to the head of the family. Family farms are often worked to support an extended family with the traditional roles of men working the fields and women tending the home often being blurred, especially when times of hard labor such as harvest roll around. Other property may be considered the personal property of individuals or community property to support the family.

In primitive tribal societies based on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle some men will have the responsibility of acquiring enough game to feed the clan and other members will be tasked with gathering vegetables, fruit and grain to provide a complete diet. This is a perfect example of communism in action. Each individual has responsibility for a portion of the labor necessary to support the community.

Often a single leader will have final authority in such a community. Even in such instances, however, most decision making is made by the community. In the case of Native American tribes, for example, it was common for different chiefs to have authority in various areas, one for camp, one for travel, one for war and one for peace.

One difficulty of extending such a social organization beyond the size of a widely extended family is the lack of common ground. Families, even when united through marriage rather than by blood, have ties that cannot be matched in a broader society. Parents care for their children and children for their parents in ways that can't be approximated through legislation or diktat. Even when not united as familial units, groups of similar size can readily agree on common goals, especially when

Communism may well be an ideal means of organizing small groups, even if it doesn't work for millions. For those with familial connections or other common bonds working together for the benefit of all is possible.

Learn more about this author, Keith Hamburger.
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