Polynesian communist state (5)
I believe the answer is:
maori
'polynesian' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'communist state' is the wordplay.
'communist' becomes 'Mao' (Mao is an example).
'state' becomes 'RI' (Rhode Island abbreviation).
'mao'+'ri'='MAORI'
(Other definitions for maori that I've seen before include "Let it stand" , "One of New Zealand's aboriginal people" , "Native of Aotearoa" , "Indigenous New Zealanders" , "NZ people" .)