Or that there is an overwhelming authority figure that not only holds the figurative leadership role but ALSO the physical means, such as the military or the police, to enforce its will over the people. If such an authority exist, you can have 'utopia' in that you can impose your will -- enforcible -- upon the people to deny them any more materialism beyond their basic needs.
Remember...From each according to his ability. To each according to his needs.
So if you make everyone the same, regardless of their many internal motivations, you can have at least a physical 'utopia', if not a moral one. Laws can and do affect a person's behavior and over the long term, perhaps even alter his intellectual outlook on a particular subject. Laws that limits one's possession of 'private property' is necessary if there is a desire to achieve 'social justice'. So over the long term perhaps there may no need to have such laws because the people would so internalize 'From each according to his ability. To each according to his needs' that all men would become 'angels'.
North Korea is being more true to communist ideals than China in creating and enforcing laws -- To each according to his needs. Is that a 'shame' or a 'virtue'?