ME WHEN MY FRIEND SAYS THAT THE SOVIET UNION WAS SOCIALIST; BOTH SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM PLACE GREAT VALUE ON CREATING A MORE EQUAL SOCIETY AND REMOVAL OF CLASS PRIVILEGE. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT SOCIALISM IS COMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRACY AND LIBERTY, WHEREAS COMMUNISM INVOLVES CREATING AN ‘EQUAL SOCIETY’ THROUGH AN AUTHORITARIAN STATE, WHICH DENIES BASIC LIBERTIES. DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM IN THE WEST INVOLVES PARTICIPATING IN DEMOCRACY TO SEEK AN INCREMENTAL REDUCTION IN INEQUALITY. IT IMPLIES A MIXTURE OF PUBLIC SECTOR INTERVENTION AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. COMMUNISM IS A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC IDEOLOGY – CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE COMMUNISM OF THE SOVIET UNION AND CHINA. IT AIMED AT STATE CONTROL OF THE ECONOMY TO ATTAIN GREATER EQUALITY – OFTEN AT THE EXPENSE OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY. MY FRIEND: