THE MANY FORMS OF SOCIALISM

COMMON THEMES IN SOCIALISM

1. Human nature: inherently good and cooperative2. Good of society more important than individual3. Belief in principles of egalitarianism among

human beings4. Capitalism has grave moral flaws, such as

inequalities of wealth, income, opportunity, and power; excessive individualism, competition, materialism, exploitation of working class

5. Support for communal or public ownership of means of production

6. Some kind of socio-economic reform or even revolution is necessary to remedy the excesses of liberalism

UTOPIAN SOCIALIST Reacted to the excesses and injustice of

capitalism Transformation of society into small communities Radical redistribution of wealth and abolition of

private property Understood the rights of women to be an integral

part of the realization of an egalitarian society Attainment of socialism through a gradual,

nonviolent, moral revolution; education was key to social change

Charles Fourier, Pierre Proudhon, William Thompson and Anna Wheeler

SOME MARXIST TERMINOLOGY

Iron Law of Wages (David Ricardo): the worker is never paid more than enough to assure a supply of labor; this amount is no more than basic subsistence for worker and family

Theory of Surplus Value (Ricardo): worker produces more value than he receives in the form of wages; cost of production does not measure profit

Bourgeoisie and Proletariat Dialectical Materialism: all goods are

material, and material goods are the sources of power

MARXISM Scientific socialism: socialism was going to

happen in accordance with certain objective historical laws

Desirable end: communism, defined as the common ownership of the means of production

The dialectical struggle between classes propels history forward; dialectical method—progress results from the conflict of opposing forces

The group controlling economic capital controls the political, social, and cultural system of society

Theory of violent revolution in most developed capitalist societies

SuperstructureLaw PhilosophyForms and principles of government Moral codesPolitical theory Religion Art

Structure (Economic, Material Foundation of Society) Relations of Production Social Relationships Class Structure Command and Obey Owners and Workers

Resources and Technology Forces of Production (Means of Production)

COMMUNIST MANIFESTO (1848): MANDATORY CONDITIONS FOR TRANSITION TO COMMUNISM

Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. Abolition of all right of inheritance. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with

State capital and an exclusive monopoly. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the

State. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the

bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equal distribution of the population over the country.

Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factor labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.

APPEAL AND SPLIT OF MARXISM

“Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.” Workers of the world, Unite!

End of 19th century: Marxism split into three variants:1. Orthodox Marxism2. Marxist-Leninist3. Revisionist Marxists—developed into

democratic socialism of today

MARXIST-LENINISMMarxist-Leninism:1. Revolution is possible in semi-

industrial states2. Imperialism added New Life to

Capitalism3. Vanguard was needed to act and

decide on behalf of working class4. Socialism, the last step before

communism, still required state in form of the dictatorship of the proletariat

DEMOCRATIC (MODERATE) SOCIALISM

Attainment of social change through peaceful political means

Establishment of political democracy—representative government

Establishment of economic socialism; state control of key enterprises/economic sectors

Belief in liberal values such as individual and civil rights