SOCIALISM
SOCIALIST
SOCIALISM
CAPITALISM VS SOCIALISM
THE THREE KINDS OF SOCIALISM
SOCIALISM LINKS
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SECTION 1
SOCIALISM
Socialism is an economic philosophy based on the need for regulations
on capitalism. Unchecked capitalism, most economists agree, can create
serious problems in the long term, since short-term personal profit
does not motivate companies to take care of infrastructure, the
environment, or their workers. Socialists emphasize this fact and argue
that only the government can solve the problems created by capitalism.
Other economic philosophies generally acknowledge the problem, but
advocate other solutions to it, while only a few extremists deny that
there is any problem with absolute capitalism.
Although many people think that socialism and capitalism are completely
incompatible systems, the fact is that most developed nations operate
on a combination of both. For example, nearly every major city in the
developed world has some system of government-run public transportation,
such as bus lines or a subway. There are also laws against child labor,
unsafe workplaces, and reckless pollution, and government programs that
help provide education, food, and healthcare to the poor. All of these
are socialist ideas that exist in relative harmony with capitalist
economies. Capitalism vs. socialism is a question of balance, not an
“either/or” question.
Types of Socialism
Socialists tend to be active social and political theorists, and have
developed a bewildering array of different schools of thought. These
various schools disagree on almost everything, but they all agree that
unchecked capitalism is a dangerous and destructive force. Also, these
schools are not mutually exclusive: that is, many people borrow ideas
from several different brands of socialism and form their own unique
political perspective within the broad umbrella of socialism. Here is
a small sample of some forms that socialism can take:
a. Communism
This is one of the most extreme forms of socialism, and a highly controversial
political philosophy. We will explore Communism in greater detail in section 3,
but for now you can think of Communism as a highly exaggerated form of socialism
(though some socialists argue that Communism is actually not socialist at all!)
b. Market Socialism
The government has an important role to play in protecting the poor, the environment,
and future generations, but should not set prices or interfere too much in the market.
Often combined with democratic socialism, or the view that socialism should be based
on elections. Many countries in Europe pursue this model, which has helped them limit
the effects of extreme poverty, but also imposes high tax burdens and in some cases,
when not managed well, can create budget problems.
c. Christian Socialism
Lots of people today argue that socialism is anti-religion, but this is far from the
truth. In fact, socialism is in many ways based on religion: Christianity heavily
emphasizes helping the poor, an idea that would ultimately evolve into European
socialism. Today, many Christians continue to preach a version of the “social gospel,
” a blend of Christian ethics and socialist economics.
d. Eco-Socialism
No one can deny that our planet is facing serious environmental challenges, from
burning rainforests to bleached corals and melting glaciers. Eco-socialists argue
that these problems can only be solved by government intervention, and that the
capitalist profit motive cannot be reconciled with environmental protection. They
advocate strict limits on pollution and extractive industries such as mining,
fishing, and drilling.
e. Socialist Anarchism
Anarchism is an extraordinary family of political philosophies, some of which belong
to the socialist tradition. Socialist anarchists believe that a socialist society
can only emerge from the destruction of all existing governments, and argue that new,
more socialistic systems will emerge after this worldwide collapse.
f. National Socialism (Nazism)
The Nazi Party referred to themselves as “National Socialists,” but they did not draw
on the ideas of traditional socialism. Nazism belongs to the family of fascist ideologies,
which are based on authoritarian capitalism rather than on socialism. Hitler criticized
both capitalism and socialism, seeing his philosophy as a new, third approach.
Socialism
https://philosophyterms.com/socialism/
Socialism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism
Types
of
Socialism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_socialism
Soap-bubbles
of
Socialism
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Soap-bubbles_of_Socialism
HOW
SOCIALISM
WORKS
https://money.howstuffworks.com/socialism1.htm
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SECTION 2
CAPITALISM
VS
SOCIALISM
The main difference between capitalism and socialism is the extent
of government intervention in the economy.
A capitalist economic system is characterised by private ownership
of assets and business. A capitalist economy relies on free-markets
to determine, price, incomes, wealth and distribution of goods.
A socialist economic system is characterised by greater government
intervention to re-allocate resources in a more egalitarian way.
There are also different aims of the economic systems.
Equality
•Capitalism is unconcerned about equity. It is argued that inequality
is essential to encourage innovation and economic development.
•Socialism is concerned with redistributing resources from the rich to
the poor. This is to ensure everyone has both equal opportunities and
in some forms of socialism – equal outcomes.
Ownership
•Capitalism – Private businesses will be owned by private individuals/companies
•Socialism – The state will own and control the main means of production. In
some models of socialism, ownership would not be by the government but worker
co-operatives.
Efficiency
•Capitalism. It is argued that the profit incentive encourages firms to be more
efficient, cut costs and innovate new products that people want. If firms fail
to keep up, they will go out of business. But, this business failure allows
resources to flow to new more efficient areas of the economy. Something known
as ‘creative destruction’
•Socialism. It is argued that state ownership often leads to inefficiency because
workers and managers lack any real incentive to cut costs. One joke under Soviet
Communism was ‘They pretend to pay us. We pretend to work.’
Unemployment
•In capitalist economic systems, the state doesn’t directly provide jobs. Therefore
in times of recession, unemployment in capitalist economic systems can rise to very
high levels, e.g. 20% + in Great Depression
•Employment is often directed by the state. Therefore, the state can provide full
employment even if workers are not doing anything particularly essential. Socialism
is sometimes associated with Keynesian demand-management – attempts to stimulate the
economy in times of slump. Keynes himself was not a socialist.
Price controls
•Prices are determined by market forces. Firms with monopoly power may be able to
exploit their position and charge much higher prices.
•In a state-managed economy, prices are usually set by the government this can lead
to shortages and surpluses.
Evaluation
There are many different forms of ‘socialism’ from totalitarian ‘Communist regimes’
To democratic socialist parties in Western Europe, who pursue a pragmatic form of
redistribution – aiming for equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome.
Pragmatic socialism
Some forms of socialism, adopt a more pragmatic approach. Many industries are left
in private hands – a recognition free-markets are more efficient in producing goods.
However, the socialist society attempts to use progressive taxation and social
spending to provide a minimum safety net. Important public services are run directly
by the government.
Responsible capitalism
Many ‘advanced capitalist societies’ have considerable government intervention. The
government may provide unemployment benefits and public spending on infrastructure,
healthcare and education.
Capitalism vs Socialism
https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/capitalism-v-socialism/
Socialism
vs
Capitalism
https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/socialism-vs-capitalism/
“Socialism” vs. “Capitalism”
is a false Dichotomy
https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/8/16/17698602/socialism-capitalism-false-dichotomy-kevin-williamson-column-republican-ocasio-cortez
Socialism and Its Characteristics,
Pros, Cons,
Examples and Types
What It Is, How It Works,
Comparison to Capitalism,
Communism, Fascism
https://www.thebalance.com/socialism-types-pros-cons-examples-3305592
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SECTION 3
THE
THREE KINDS
OF SOCIALISM
In my discussions with socialists here and elsewhere I have managed
to separate three schools of thought in socialism:
(1) State socialism.
This is the most common, most prevalent in history and ideologically
biggest group.
•It includes systems, where a state or state-like organisation uses
force to maintain socialism: anything from State-socialism and
democratic-socialism to more statist strains of market socialism
(i.e. PerfectSociety) and syndicalism (anarcho or not).
•Markets are usually absent or very regulated and limited in scope
to minor consumer products. A (democratically formed) bureaucracy
makes the world go round, allocates resources and controls production.
(2) Free Market socialism.
This group is somewhat less common, but I personally can find a lot
of common ground with it's members.
•Under this approach, socialism happens naturally within a free-market
system. Co-ops fully own their MOP and trade goods on a free market,
state is either absent or very libertarian and self-employment is
common or even encouraged.
•This group houses libertarian market-socialists and a plethora of
anarchists: Mutualists, Individualist-Anarchists, likes of Lysander
Spooner, Kevin Carson and Benjamin Tucker.
(3) Communism.
This system is supposedly supported by all Marxists and Communists.
However, in real world it has only existed in the form of small
closed communes.
•It proposes a non-market socialist society existing naturally without
a state. It's main feature is a moneyless gift economy, where people
produce for others, without profit or trade. Nobody is excluded from
MOP and people organise production themselves.
•On top of being the end goal of all Marxists, it is also supported by
Anarcho-Communists and Old-School Utopian Socialists.
The three kinds of socialism
https://www.reddit.com/r/CapitalismVSocialism/comments/5u5rts/the_three_kinds_of_socialism/
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SECTION 4
SOCIALISM
LINKS
8 questions about democratic
socialism and Bernie Sanders’s
vision for the United States
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/14/8-questions-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask-about-democratic-socialism/?utm_term=.60ab39cd6b51
21st Century Socialism
http://21stcenturysocialism.com/
Anthropology of Socialist Societies
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Anthropology/faculty/INTL-ENC.doc
Approaching Socialism
http://www.monthlyreview.org/0705magdoffs2.htm
Capitalism vs. Socialism
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Capitalism_vs_Socialism
Capitalist vs. Socialist Economies: What's the Difference?
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/082415/pros-and-cons-capitalist-vs-socialist-economies.asp
The Counterhegemonic
Blogspot Socialism in Action
http://counterhegemonic.blogspot.com/
Differences Between Capitalism and Socialism
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/the-characteristics-of-capitalism-and-socialism-393509
Heaven on Earth:
the Rise and Fall
of Socialism
http://www.pbs.org/heavenonearth/
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History of socialism
at Spartacus Educational
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/socialism.htm
In Defense of Marxism
http://www.marxist.com
The Intellectuals and Socialism
http://www.mises.org/etexts/hayekintellectuals.pdf
The Marxists Internet Archive
http://www.marxists.org
Marxist.net
http://www.marxist.net
Modern History
Sourcebook on socialism
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook33.html
New Ideas of Socialism
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Users/ssfa2/newideas.pdf
A Philosophy of Life
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/at/freud.htm
Socialism
http://www.socialism.com/
Socialism
http://www.econlib.org/LIBRARY/Enc/Socialism.html
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Socialism
http://www.mises.org/etexts/ecopol.asp#_Socialism
Socialism
https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_socialism.html
Socialism
https://www.iep.utm.edu/socialis/
Socialism
https://www.britannica.com/topic/socialism
Socialism/Antisocialism
http://www.polyarchy.org/essays/english/socialism.html
Socialism and Liberty
http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/shaw/works/guide2.htm
Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/index.htm
Socialist history
http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/History/Articles.html
The Soul of Man under Socialism
http://libcom.org/library/soul-of-man-under-socialism-oscar-wilde
State socialism and anarchism
http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/tucker/tucker2.html
A Theory of Socialism
and Capitalism
http://www.mises.org/etexts/Soc&Cap.pdf
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Towards a New Socialism
http://www.ecn.wfu.edu/~cottrell/socialism_book/new_socialism.pdf
Towards a New Socialism?
http://www.mises.org/journals/qjae/pdf/qjae7_1_6.pdf
The Two Souls of Socialsm
http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/contemp/pamsetc/twosouls/twosouls.htm
Two Types of Socialism
http://reformedlibertarian.com/articles/economics/two-types-of-socialism/
What Americans Must
Know About Socialism
https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/what-americans-must-know-about-socialism
What remains of Socialism
http://www.sps.cam.ac.uk/pol/staff/eperreausaussine/what_is_left_of_socialism.pdf
What is Socialism vs. Capitalism?
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/economics/socialism-vs-capitalism/
Why Socialism?
http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einst.htm
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Fact-Checking
https://www.poynter.org/category/fact-checking/
Foundations Magazine
http://www.foundationsmag.com/index.html
The Anti-Defamation League
https://www.adl.org/
Eurovoc
http://eurovoc.europa.eu/
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