No. It was communist.
The society itself was not communist, but It was definitely ruled by communists. Even Marx called himself and the people who followed his ideas communists, not “socialists seeking communism.” When people say a country was/is “communist,” they mean it’s being ruled by Marxist-Leninists, not that it’s achieved the hypothetical level of society that usually only Marxists are familiar with.
If you ever feel like doing a second playthrough (the side quests and DLCs are fun) then train with captain Bernard, the captain in Ratttay, he teaches you some combos and blocks that make combat a whole lot more manageable.