Smurfs, Communism & the Ideal Society

ENTERTAINMENT | MAHI

Written by Kyla Blennerhassett (she/her) | @kylablennerhassett | Contributing Writer

The Smurfs are a cheerful, utopian community of little blue creatures first created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo (Pierre Culliford) in 1981. They work together, living in self-sufficient harmony, each contributing to the good of the village and its leader Papa Smurf. Their classless, cooperative way of living is superior to Aotearoa and the world’s capitalist society. The Smurfs treat one another with equity and compassion, sharing their belongings and working together. 

The theory that the Smurfs are communists has become increasingly popular over the last few years. However modern-day communism is not the term that best describes their economic structure due to their absolute lack of currency or trading system. Instead, the economic structure of the Smurfs’ village can be viewed as Primitive Communism, a social structure developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels used to describe hunter-gatherer societies. 

Under capitalism, people’s financial status and worth to society is calculated by the valuation of their labour and the capital their labour accrues. But the Smurfs mirror Primitive Communism. They treat one another equally no matter how much or little they contribute to village life. Each Smurf has a different occupation, such as Baker Smurf, Doctor Smurf, Farmer Smurf and Chef Smurf. They do not have set ‘hours’ of work or a rate of pay to achieve - instead working flexibly however works best for them. The Smurfs are always happy to help each other, with a sense of community at the forefront of their societal structure. 

In our capitalist society, people often give up their passions for high-paying careers to take part in the rat race and avoid falling into poverty. With no pressure to provide income for themselves or their families, the Smurfs do not face this issue and can work on projects that bring them joy and fulfilment. In Primitive Communism, value is innate, rather than determined by social class. As such, the Smurfs are free to choose a profession based on their passions and skill sets.

Baker Smurf is passionate about baking cakes and bread to share with the village. He does not have to worry about what time he wakes up or the amount of bread he is required to make and is free to work as much or as little as he wants, finding joy and fulfilment in what he chooses to do. Grouchy Smurf, on the other hand, can pursue his passion of ‘grouching’ at everything around him. Despite his lesser contribution to the village, Grouchy Smurf is treated like any other smurf. 

Primitive Communism focuses on gathering necessary resources - with no need for constant development of new technology as everyone is content with their current lifestyle. The Smurfs live in a pre-industrial society, untainted by capitalism or cultural standardisation. Provided they have the necessary basics like food, water and shelter to survive, they are content with their simplicity, choosing passion over progress and prioritising their personal relationships over material possessions. In our capitalist society we are always yearning for the latest iPhone or a new pair of Levi’s jeans. The Smurfs instead focus on what really matters, needs not wants.  

The Smurfs’ leader, Papa Smurf, gives advice and holds authority over the community. He is a decisive, fair leader, who does not exercise this power for personal gain. While leading the decision-making process, he does not gain privilege from his authority, his value undetermined by his role. Papa Smurf showcases another aspect of primitive communism, having one or more leaders in the community, while still maintaining a decision-making process in which everyone’s opinions are taken into account.

In Primitive Communism, everyone who is able contributes to the collection and preparation of food, which is distributed equally. Because the Smurfs share their possessions freely with one another, no theft occurs within the village. If they want or need something, all they have to do is ask! No one goes hungry or without shelter, as they work collectively to ensure everyone is cared for. The Smurfs’ fulfilment in their chosen occupations is an effective crime reduction strategy. The only theft that occurs in the world of the Smurfs is by an outside threat: Gargamel. He is the personification of capitalism: a power-hungry wizard willing to sacrifice the lives of the Smurfs for his own selfish gain. The capitalist class system is a major contributor to high crime rates as individuals of lower socioeconomic status have also been found to experience more chronic and uncontrollable life events and stressors than those in higher socioeconomic statuses. 

Homelessness is a reality for many, leaving them without the food, water and shelter necessary to survive. Many homeowners are in debt, working tirelessly to pay off their mortgage and support their loved ones. Stress and burnout have negative impacts on their mental health and well-being. The Smurfs’ lack of social classes creates a lifestyle that is beneficial to their state of mind by encouraging a healthy work-life balance and ensuring they treat one another as equals. I don’t know about you, but as a stressed university student, a healthy work-life balance is exactly what I need. Count me in!