Communism is a future society based on highly advanced productive capacity where production and distribution are totally collectivized and run according to a common, scientific plan. Communism as an ideology is the path of building towards that, which requires working people having control of the state, and building up productive forces to where such an organizational structure is feasible.

In addition, no communist believes communism will come about simply by convincing people of it. This is referred to as utopianism, which stands in stark contrast to Marxist scientific socialism.