Remembering that Marx used socialism and communism as interchangeable terms, here' Zinn's version of Marx explaining that the 20th Century dicatatorships of Marxist-Leninists was NOT communism:
^^^^^^^ CB: But Marx did predict a transitional phase or first phase of communism that was not full communism. It is deep disservice to the Marxist cause to claim that the efforts of Marxist-Leninists, Soviets, etc. in 20th Century did not achieve any of the elements of Marx's first phase of communism. It is basically doing the work of the bourgeoisie to claim no success at socialism was accomplished by the first revolutions. It's utopian , philosophical idealist error as well. Of course, the first efforts to build socialism would be imperfect from the standpoint of an ideal in utopian socialists' heads.
"What we have to deal with here [in analyzing the programme of the workers' party] is a communist society, not as it has developed on its own foundations, but, on the contrary, just as it emerges from capitalist society; which is thus in every respect, economically, morally, and intellectually, still stamped with the birthmarks of the old society from whose womb it comes."
^^^^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS9ohPSFxSA&feature=player_embedded