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{{Socialism}}
[[Image:Redflag.jpg|frame|right|The color [[red]] and particularly the [[red flag]] are traditional symbols of Socialism.]]
'''Socialism''' is an [[ideology]] with the core belief that a [[society]] should exist in which popular collectives control the means of [[Power (sociology)|power]], and therefore the means of [[production]]. In application, however, the [[de facto]] meaning of socialism has changed with time. Although it is a politically [[Loaded language|loaded]] term, it remains strongly related to the establishment of an organized [[working class]], created through either [[revolution]] or [[social evolution]], with the purpose of building a [[classless society]]. It has also increasingly become concentrated on [[social reform]]s within modern [[democracy|democracies]]. This concept and the term '''Socialist''' also refer to a group of ideologies, an [[Social economy|economic]] system, or a [[state]] that exists or has existed.
In [[Marxism|Marxist]] theory, it also refers to the society that would succeed [[capitalism]], and in some cases develop further into [[communism]]. Marxism and communism are both branches of socialism.
The word dates back at least to the early [[Nineteenth Century|nineteenth century]]. It was first used, self-referentially, in the English language in 1827 to refer to followers of [[Robert Owen]]. In France, again self-referentially, it was used in 1832 to refer to followers of the doctrines of [[Claude Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simon]] and thereafter by [[Pierre Leroux]] and J. Regnaud in ''[[l'Encyclopédie nouvelle]]''<!--pages 1 and 2, ''A History of Socialist Thought, Volume 1, (1965)-->. Use of the word spread widely and has been used differently in different times and places, both by various individuals and groups that consider themselves socialist and by their opponents. While there is wide variation between socialist groups, nearly all would agree that they are bound together by a common history rooted originally in [[Nineteenth Century|nineteenth]] and [[Twentieth Century|twentieth-century]] struggles by [[industrial]] and [[agricultural]] [[worker]]s, operating according to principles of [[solidarity]] and advocating an [[egalitarian]] society, with an [[economics]] that would, in their view, serve the broad populace rather than a favored few.
== An ideology or a group of ideologies ==
According to [[Marxist]]s (most notably [[Friedrich Engels]]), socialist models and ideas are said to be traceable to the dawn of human social history, being an inherent feature of human nature and early human social models. During [[the Enlightenment]] in the [[18th century]], revolutionary thinkers and writers such as the [[Marquis de Condorcet]], [[Voltaire]], [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau|Rousseau]], [[Diderot]], abbé de Mably, and [[Morelly]] provided the intellectual and ideological expression of the discontented social layers in [[France|French]] society. This included even the [[bourgeoisie]], at that time kept out of political power by the ''[[ancien régime]]'', but also the "popular" classes among whom socialism would later take root.
The earliest ''modern'' socialist groups shared characteristics such as focusing on general welfare rather than [[individualism]], on [[co-operation]] rather than [[competition]], and on laborers rather than on industrial or political leaders and structures<!--page 3, ''A History of Socialist Thought, Volume 1, (1965) -->. They did not generally think in terms of [[class struggle]], but argued that the wealthy should join with the poor in building a new society. Class struggle, the challenge to [[private property]] and the accompanying notions of the special role of the [[proletariat]] in the [[revolution]] find their earliest origins in the [[Conspiracy of Equals]] of [[François-Noël Babeuf|Babeuf]], an unsuccessful actor in the [[French Revolution]]<!--pages 12-22, ''A History of Socialist Thought, Volume 1, (1965)-->. Later, they were much greatly developed by the Marxist branch of socialism.
[[Elie Halevy]] claims that the term "socialism" was coined independently by two groups advocating different ways of organizing society and economics: the [[Claude Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simonian]]s, and most likely [[Pierre Leroux]], in the years [[1831]]-[[1833|33]], and the followers of [[Robert Owen]], around 1835.
By the time of the [[Revolution of 1848]] there were a variety of competing "socialisms", the most influential being those founded by Saint-Simon, Owen and [[Charles Fourier]]. [[Karl Marx]] and [[Friedrich Engels]] by this time were referring to themselves as "communists", in large part to distinguish themselves from the above ideologies, which they described as "[[utopian socialism]]". (Engels later used the term "[[scientific socialism]]" to describe Marxism.)
Depending on the context, the term socialism may refer either to these ideologies or any of their many lineal descendants. While these cover a very broad range of views, they have in common a belief that [[feudalism|feudal]] and [[capitalism|capitalist]] societies are run for the benefit of a small economic elite and that society should be run for the common good. "Socialist" ideologies tend to emphasize economic cooperation over economic competition; virtually all envision some sort of economic planning (many, but by no means all, favor [[planned economy|central planning]]). All advocate placing at least some of the means of production -- and at least some of the distribution of goods and services -- into collective or cooperative ownership.
Historically, the ideology of socialism grew up hand in hand with the rise of [[labor union|organized labor]]. In many parts of the world, the two are still strongly associated with one another; in other parts, they have become two very distinct movements.
===Branches of socialism===
[[Image:Socialismchart.png|thumb|right|A chart of some branches of socialism.]]
Since the [[19th century]], socialist ideas have developed and separated into many different streams. Notable ideologies that have been referred to using the ''label'' "socialism" are:
* [[African socialism]]
* [[Anarchism]], especially [[Libertarian socialism]]
* [[Anarcho-syndicalism]]
* [[Christian socialism]]
* [[Communism]]/[[Marxism]]
* [[Democratic socialism]]
* [[International socialism]]
* [[Nazism|National Socialism]]
* [[Syndicalism]]
* [[Utopian socialism]]
The socio-political or intellectual movements basing themselves in the Marxist-Socialist tradition can generally be further divided into:
* [[Albanian Party of Labour|Hoxhaism]]
* [[Baathism]]
* [[Burmese Way to Socialism]]
* [[Castroism]]
* [[Council communism]]
* [[Arab Socialism ]]
* [[Juche]]
* [[Angka]]([[Pol Pot]]s [[Cambodia]]n political way)
* [[Left communism]]
* [[Leninism]]
* [[Rosa Luxemburg|Luxemburgism]]
* [[Maoism|Mao Zedong Thought]] or "Maoism"
**[[Abimael Guzmán|Gonzalo Thought]]
* [[Marxist humanism]]
* [[Socialism with a human face]]
* [[Stalinism]]
* [[Trotskyism]]
* [[Situationism]]
Several forms of "socialism" are considered by those further to the left to be [[reformist]] or [[revisionist]]. These include:
* [[Austromarxism]]
* [[Deformed workers' state]]
* [[Degenerated workers' state]]
* [[Evolutionary socialism]]
* [[Fabianism]]
* [[Social democracy]]
* [[Popular Socialism]]
* [[Yellow socialism]]
* [[Socialism with Chinese characteristics]] and other forms of [[market socialism]]
* [[Bernsteinism]]
* [[Kautskyism]]
* [[Titoism]]
* [[Labor Zionism]]
===Other ideologies including the word "socialism"===
Like other political terms, such as ''[[liberal]]'', ''[[conservative]]'' and ''[[democracy|democratic]]'' (see, for example, the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Russia]], which is neither liberal nor democratic), the words ''socialism'' or ''socialist'' have sometimes been used in self-description by groups that had little or no connection with the historical socialist movement, and who sometimes openly and virulently opposed the socialists in their countries.
The German [[National Socialist]]s (Nazis) used the word "socialist" in their official name much like any branch of Socialism, but most scholars argue that the term "socialism" in "national socialism" did not meaningfully extend beyond propaganda purposes. However, rightwing [[Hayek|F.A. Hayek]], [[Nobel prize]]-winning [[economist]], in his ''[[The Road to Serfdom]]'', notes that [[National Socialists]] did indeed "socialize" the economy. In practice, the Nazis allowed (friendly) capitalists to thrive while liquidating socialists everywhere else (including from within their own party in the [[Night of the Long Knives]]). Hayek points out that this state involvement in the economy, while not [[left-wing politics|left]] socialism, is socialism nevertheless. Unlike 'national socialists,' many [[left-wing politics|left]] socialists who consider themselves nationalist reject the [[Racialism|racialist]] theories and totalitarianism of the Nazis, unlike socialists, who are known for struggling for a classless society where everyone is equal. (see: [[Nazism in relation to other concepts#Nazism and socialism|Nazism and Socialism]]).
Some [[Japan]]ese right-wing and [[nationalists]] thinkers, such as [[Kita Ikki]], also used the term from the 1920s to the [[Pacific war]] period, referring to a [[state socialism]], rooted in the Japanese feudal [[Shogunate]] and [[Meiji period|Meiji]] periods. This was based on socialist theory, which arrived to Japan in 1901, introduced by Western [[missionaries]], and built on the work of Japanese socialists thinkers, [[Kotoku Shusui]] and [[Katayama Sen]], as well as [[social Darwinism]], [[Marxism]], and similar ideas. These ideologies were continued in the work of [[Yoshino Kazuko]] and [[Minobe Tatsu Kichi]], in "[[minponshugi]]" and "[[minshushugi]]", Japanese socialist philosophies. Yoshino Kazuko also founded the [[Reimeikai Party]], a movement based on [[Christian Socialism]], [[Confucian]] politics, Marxism and [[syndicalism]], with some [[populism]]. In this period, the first nationalist [[secret societies]] were born.
<!-- why more later if development,how [[Aikukosha]] ([[Patriotic]] Society), founded in Osaka during 1875 for [[Itagaki Taisuke]], for leading the flag of popular cause front government actions,based in "[[Minken]]" antigovernment movements why surging for the people scarcies and protect your rigths in 1873. -->
During the [[Showa]] Epoch, the final developments of these ideologies combined Japanese state socialist thinking with contemporary European [[fascist]] ideals and the Japanese WW2 radical right-wing ideology of [[Militarism-Socialism]]. Under this movement ideologists such as [[Sadao Araki]] founded the right-wing [[Kodoha]] party; [[Hachiro Arita]] organized the [[Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere]] concept and [[Naoki Hoshino]] organized the foundation of puppet state of [[Manchukuo]] along with local nationalist groups;the local left socialism along [[Russia|Russian]] and [[Chinese Communism|Chinese]] [[soviet]]s elements conduct in development of Japanese local [[communist]] thinking. (''See also'' [[Socialist thinking and the Empire of Japan]], [[Japanese nationalism]],[[Japanese fascism]] and [[Communist Party of Japan]])
Another party who employs the word "socialist" in its name but is viewed by many as being not genuinely socialist, is the [[Ba'ath Party|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party]] which rules [[Syria]] and also ruled [[Iraq]] under [[Saddam Hussein]]. It claims a tradition of secular, non-Marxist socialism, but most political theorists (as well as nearly all other socialists) argue that, in fact, it persecutes socialists (who wish to redistribute wealth more equally in the country) while promoting capitalists from within the [[dominant minority]] ethnic group that controls the Party and, decisively, the Syrian armed forces. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] assisted Saddam Hussein with [[death squads]], effectively whiping out the Iraqi communists.
For a discussion of the controversial views of one [[philosophy of history|philosopher of history]] who sees a close, though antagonistic, relationship between the left and the right descendants of [[Hegelianism]], see [[Eric Voegelin]].
Various [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] clerical parties have at times referred to themselves as "Christian Socialists." Two examples are the [[Christian Social Party]] of [[Karl Lueger]] in [[Austria]] before and after [[World War I]], and the contemporary [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]]. Most other socialists would consider these two parties to be "socialist" in name only. However, there are other individuals and groups, past and present, that are clearly both Christian and Socialist, such as [[Frederick Denison Maurice]], author of ''The Kingdom of Christ'' (1838), or the contemporary Christian Socialist Movement (UK) (CSM), [http://www.christiansocialist.org.uk] affiliated with the British [[The Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. (''See main article [[Christian socialism]]; see also [[Christian left]] and [[social gospel]]'')
Some [[individualist anarchist]]s, such as [[Benjamin Tucker]], refer to their philosophy as "anarchistic socialism," though supporting private property in the produce of labor, including capital, and opposing collectivism. Tucker defines "state socialism" as "the doctrine that all the affairs of men should be managed by the government, regardless of individual choice."
===A
Some groups (see above) have called themselves socialist while holding views that most socialists consider antithetical to socialism. The term has also been used by some politicians on the [[right-wing politics|political right]] as an epithet for certain individuals who do not consider themselves to be socialists and policies that are not considered socialist by their proponents (e.g. referring to all [[publicly funded medicine]] as "socialized medicine" or to the [[United States Democratic Party]] as "socialist"). This article touches only briefly on those peripheral issues.
===What distinguishes the various types of socialism===
There are a few questions that point out some of the big differences among socialisms:
* Do advocates of this ideology say that socialism should come about through [[revolution]] (e.g. Leninism, Trotskyism, Maoism, revolutionary Marxism) or through [[reform]] (e.g. Fabianism, reformist Marxism), or do they view both as possible (e.g. [[Syndicalism]], various Marxisms) or do they fail to address the question of how a socialist society would be achieved (e.g. utopian socialisms)?
* Do they advocate centralized state control of the socialized sectors of the economy (e.g. [[Leninism]]), or control of those sectors by [[workers' council]]s (e.g. syndicalism, left and [[council communism]], [[Marxism]], [[Anarcho-communism]])? This question is usually referred to by socialists in terms of "ownership of the [[means of production]]." None of the social democratic parties of Europe advocate total state ownership of the means of production in their contemporary demands and popular press, but most contain rhetoric in their platform which state that in the event the capitalists fail to meet up to their end of the social contract, the workers have the legitimate historical basis to assume or seize total control of the means of production, should those conditions ever arise in the future.
* Do they advocate that the power of the workers' councils should itself constitute the basis of a socialist state (coupled with [[direct democracy]] and the widespread use of [[referendum]]s), or do they hold that socialism entails the existence of a legislative body administered by people who would be elected in a [[representative democracy]]? In other words, through what legal and political apparatus will the workers maintain and further develop the socialization of the means of production?
* Do they advocate total or near-total socialization of the economy (e.g. revolutionary Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Trotskyism, Left and Council Communism, anarcho-syndicalism and syndicalism), or a mixed market economy (e.g. Bernsteinism, reformism, reformist Marxism)? [[Mixed economy|Mixed economies]], in turn, can range anywhere from those developed by the social democratic governments that have periodically governed Northern and Western European countries, to the inclusion of small [[cooperative]]s in the planned economy of [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] under [[Josip Broz Tito]]. In a related, but not identical, question, do they advocate a fairer society within the bounds of capitalism (e.g. most social democrats) or the total overthrow of the capitalist system (most Marxists).
* Did the ideology arise largely as a philosophical construct (e.g. libertarian socialism), or in the heat of a revolution (e.g. early Marxism, Leninism), or as the product of a ruling party (e.g. Stalinism), or as the product of a party or other group contending for political power in a democratic society (e.g. social democracy).
* Does the ideology systematically say that "[[bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] liberties" (such as those guaranteed by the U.S. [[First Amendment]] or the [[Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union]]) are to be preserved (or even enhanced) in a socialist society (e.g. social democracy), or are undesirable (e.g. Maoism), or have they held different opinions at different times (e.g. Marx and Engels), or is this a dividing point within the ideology (e.g. different strains of Trotskyism)?
* Does their critique of the existing system center on the ownership of the means of production (e.g. Marxism), on the nature of mass and equitable distribution (e.g. most forms of utopian socialism), or on opposition to industrialism as well as capitalism (common where socialism intersects [[green politics]])? Utopian Socialists, like [[Robert Owen]] and [[Claude Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simon]] argued, though not from exactly the same perspective, that the injustice and widespread poverty of the societies they lived in were a problem of distribution of the goods created. Marxian Socialists, on the other hand, determined that the root of the injustice is based not in the function of distribution of goods already created, but rather in the fact that the ownership of the means of production is in the hands of the upper class. Also, Marxian Socialists maintain, in contrast to the Utopian Socialists, that the root of injustice is not in how goods ([[commodity|commodities]]) are distributed, but for whose economic benefit are they produced and sold.
* Which governments does the ideology regard as practicing or moving toward socialism and which does the ideology not regard as doing so? For example, in the era of the [[Soviet Union]], western socialists were bitterly divided as to whether the Soviet Union was basically socialist, moving toward socialism, or inherently un-socialist and, in fact, inimical to true socialism. Similarly, today the government of the People's Republic of China claims to be socialist and refers to its own approach as "[[Socialism with Chinese characteristics]]," but most other socialists consider China to be essentially capitalist. The Chinese leadership concurs with most of the usual [[#Opposition and criticisms of socialism|critiques against a command economy]], and many of their actions to manage what they call a socialist economy have been determined by this opinion.
Note also that while many would say that socialism is defined by state ownership and state planning of the means of production and economic life, a certain degree of such state ownership and planning is common in economies that would almost universally be considered capitalist. In Canada, Crown Corporations are responsible for various sectors of the economy deemed to be of strategic importance to the people (for example power generation). In the U.S., a semi-private central bank with close ties to the federal government, the [[Federal Reserve]], regulates lending rates, serving as a "bank of banks." Also, governments in capitalist nations typically run the post office, libraries, national parks, highways, and (in the case of the US) [[NASA]]. Interestingly, though, the federal government's monopoly on space travel from U.S. take-off sites is itself a thing of the past -- as of 2004 (see [[Ansari X Prize]]) private capital is entering even that field.
State, provincial, and local governments within a capitalist system can operate and own power companies and other utilities, parks, mass transit including rail and airports, hospitals and other medical facilities, and public schools (often including a number universities). Capitalist governments also frequently subsidize or otherwise influence (though do not own) various sectors of the economy, such as automotive, weapons, oil (petrol), aerospace, and agriculture.
In the post-World War II political [[lexicon]], this sort of (limited) economic state planning became integral to stabilization of the global economy, and has come to be known as [[Keynesian]] economics, after [[John Maynard Keynes]].
Conversely, [[Chinese economic reform]] under [[Deng Xiaoping]] has been characterized by decreasing state ownership of the economy, the replacement of central planning mechanisms with market-based ones that are also used in Western capitalist nations, and even going as far as removing governmental social welfare services that are commonly found in most capitalist nations. However, because the legitimacy of the [[Communist Party of China]] is based on the premise that China has already made a transition to socialism, the government insists that it is a socialist government. Very few inside and outside China would support this claim.
One form of common ownership, or socialism, is a system of theocratic governance proposed by [[Joseph Smith]], the original prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was called the Law of Consecration. According to the Law of Consecration, no man "owns" any of his possessions, but instead everything is owned by the church, and individuals are granted a "stewardship" over property.
== An economic system ==
''Main article: [[Socialist economics]]''
As in the realm of ideology, there is no single consensus on what it means for a particular [[economic system]] to be "socialist". However, all socialists agree that a socialist economy must be run for the benefit of the vast majority of the people rather than for a small [[aristocracy|aristocratic]], [[plutocracy|plutocratic]], or [[capitalism|capitalist]] class. In the mid-nineteenth century, when socialism first arose, many political ideologies of the day were frank in supporting the interests of elite classes. Today, in a world where many countries offer a broader [[suffrage|electoral franchise]], such open support for the wealthy would be the equivalent of political suicide. Therefore, most ideologies claim to support the greatest good for the greatest number, something that was once advocated only by socialists. Still, even today, socialism stands out by being particularly forthright in advocating direct pursuit of working class interests, even at the expense of what other ideologies consider the legitimate property rights of the wealthy classes.
Most socialists argue that socialism also entails democratic control of the economy, although they differ vastly over the appropriate institutions of that democracy and over whether control should be centralized or highly dispersed. Similarly, they differ over the extent to which a socialist economy could involve [[market]]s, and among those who believe that it could, there is a further dividing line on whether markets should apply only to consumer goods or, in some cases, to the [[means of production]] themselves (factory and farm equipment, for example). For the means of production, this is a question of ownership of the economy, and therefore of control over it.
Many non-socialists use the expression "socialist economy" (or "socialization" of a sector of the economy) almost exclusively to refer to centralized control under government aegis: for example, consider the use of the term "[[publicly funded medicine|socialized medicine]]" in the US by opponents of [[publicly funded medicine|single-payer health care]].
There is general agreement among socialists and non-socialists that a socialist economy would not include private or estate ownership of large enterprises; there is less agreement on whether any such enterprises would be owned by society at large or (at least in some cases) owned cooperatively by their own workers. Among the few self-described socialists who dispute these principles are the leadership of the Communist Party of China, who claim to remain socialist, even while the continuing [[Chinese economic reform]] explicitly includes the concept of privately-owned large enterprises competing on an equal basis with publicly-owned ones. The adoption by China of this essential characteristic of capitalism is a principal reason why, outside and inside of China, few people (socialists or otherwise) consider present-day mainland China and its ruling party to be, in any meaningful sense, socialist.
It has been claimed, both by socialists and non-socialists, that the former [[Soviet Union]] and the [[Eastern Bloc]] had socialist economies, as the means of production were owned almost entirely by the state and the bulk of the economy was centrally controlled by the Communist Party acting through the state. However, many other socialists object to that label, because the people in those countries had little or no control over the government, and therefore they had little or no control over the economy. The aforementioned socialists argue that these societies were essentially [[oligarchy|oligarchies]]; some would call them [[state capitalism|state-capitalist]], [[Stalinist]], or as some Trotskyists would say, "[[degenerated workers state]]s". Trotskyists contend that Stalinist economies fulfilled one criterion of a socialist economy, in that the economy was controlled by the state, but not the other criterion, that the state must be in turn democratically controlled by the workers. Many non-Marxist socialists would agree with the general outline of this argument, while perhaps dissenting from the statement that ''state'' control of the economy is one of the criteria of socialism. Further, many socialists would argue that the Soviet Union and its satellite states merely replaced a capitalist ruling class with a new ruling class, the [[coordinator class]] or ''[[nomenklatura]]'', who played an extremely analogous role to the former capitalists, by managing the economy for their own benefit, or at least attempting to do so.
During the Cold War, a common term used by the Soviet Union and its allies to refer to their own economies was "actually existing socialism" (presumably as against any number of theoretically possible socialisms, but carrying an implicit statement that their economy was, in fact, socialist). Another similarly used term was (and is) "[[real socialist]]." Typically, when these terms were or are used by anyone outside of the particular parties that ruled these countries (or the parties who supported them in other countries), they are placed in [[scare quotes]] and are used with at least mild irony.
== A state that exists, or has existed, or may exist ==
''Main articles: [[Communist state]], [[Social democracy]]''
Most past and present states led by parties of [[Communist]] orientation called (or call) themselves "socialist." However, by anti-communists in the western world they were usually referred to as "Communist states." Once again, whether these states were socialist or not was (and is) disputed, with the large majority of today's socialists (including many, perhaps most, communists) contending that they were not socialist, for reasons directly analogous to those just discussed in the section above (regarding the "socialist" economy).
A libertarian socialist society known as "The Republic" emerged in 1930s Spain during the civil war. See [[Anarchism in Spain]].
There are also some who dispute whether it is appropriate to refer to any state, past, present, future, or hypothetical as "socialist," preferring to reserve that word for an economy or even a society, but not a state.
== Socialism as transition from capitalism ==
Although Marxists and other socialists generally use the word "socialism" in the senses described above, there is also another specifically Marxist use of the term that is worth noting. [[Karl Marx]], in his exposition of [[historical materialism]] (his [[Hegelian]] model of history) saw socialism as a phase of human society that would follow capitalism and precede communism. Marx is by no means clear about the expected characteristics of such a society, but he is consistent in his belief in the eventual triumph of revolutionary-socialism over capitalism, and then, its eventual transformation into communism.
According to Marx, the socialist society will be controlled by the working class (the [[proletariat]]), whose familiarity with large, collective undertakings will be reflected in the character of this society. It will be a "[[dictatorship of the proletariat]]", in the sense that it is contrasted with the existing dictatorship of the [[bourgeoisie]] (i.e. capitalism). It is worth noting in this context that Marx was not necessarily advocating or predicting "dictatorship" in the sense that word is commonly used today; he was referring only to which ''class'' would be dominant - in other words, it is the proletariat who become the ruling class, not a "dictator". While Leninist dictatorship is arguably consistent with this vision, so is workers' democracy, analogous to bourgeois democracy. In addition, note that most Marxist models of socialism involve the abolition of the so-called "exploitation of man by man" which is presumed to exist in capitalist society. This would mean abolishing class distinctions, therefore making "the proletariat" a universal term synonymous with "the people".
Marx saw socialism (the "dictatorship of proletariat", as explained above) as a transitional phase, ultimately to be replaced by a classless ''communist'' society in which the existing forms of government would no longer be needed. According to Engels, the state was destined to eventually "wither away", as the [[representative democracy]] of socialism slowly turned into the [[direct democracy]] of communism, and economic life would be re-organised on a basis of freedom and equality. In holding this classless non-state as the ultimate goal, Marx expressed an ideal not far from that of anarchism. However, whereas the anarchists wanted to abolish the state overnight, the communists expected the "withering away" to be a slow and gradual process.
This definition of socialism is particularly important in understanding the official ideology of the People's Republic of China. The Communist Party of China states that class struggle has already pushed China into the socialist phase of social development. Because of this and Deng Xiaoping's theory of [[seek truth from facts|seeking truth from fact]]s, any economic policy which "works" is automatically classified as a socialist policy, and hence there are no constraints on how "socialism with Chinese characteristics" can look like.
==Socialism and the mixed economy==
As remarked above, some self-described socialists, especially those who identify as social democrats, but also including (for example) the reform-oriented "[[Euro-communist]]s", advocate capitalism rather than a complete re-working of existing capitalist economies along socialist lines. These views also extend to many who would not describe themselves as "socialists."
In the most moderate formulation of such a mixed economy, collective ownership is typically limited to control of [[natural resource]]s and [[Public utility|public utilities]]. The rationale for prioritizing these is that natural resources are a common patrimony and that (all or some) public utilities are ''[[natural monopolies]]''.
Others would extend a socialist approach within a mixed economy to what they deem to be essential industries to prevent certain capitalists from having a stranglehold on society, or to prevent massive concentrations of wealth which result in a power imbalance (including disproportionate bargaining leverage). There is also often a rationale of national defense or national sovereignty. Thus, many otherwise capitalist countries have, at least at times, nationalized such industries as [[steel]], [[automobile]]s, or [[airplane]]s. In the U.S., for example, President [[Harry S. Truman]] nationalized the steel mills during the [[Korean War]]. They soon returned to private ownership by order of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], however.
All socialist thinkers argue that unrestrained [[free market]] economics would generally result in profits for a few at the expense of the many. Communists, in particular, are adamantly opposed to any compromise with capitalism, claiming that any economic system that permits the private accumulation of wealth is inherently unjust and allows capitalists (those who own and control capital) to compel behavior out of individuals due to their own necessity to survive. (''see: [[labor theory of value]]''). As noted several times above, this is disputed by the contemporary Communist Party of China, making China (if it is regarded as socialist or communist) an inevitable exception to much of what follows here.
While few self-described communists support any scheme upholding private ownership of the means of production (except, perhaps, as a temporary disposition on the way to something purer, and again noting the contemporary Chinese exception), other socialists are split over this, arguing over whether to only moderate the workings of market capitalism to produce a more equitable distribution of wealth, or whether to expropriate the entire owning class to guarantee this distribution. Many socialists acknowledge the extreme complexity of designing other appropriate non-market mechanisms to identify demand, especially for non-essential goods. Some have put forward models of moderate [[market socialism]] where markets exist, but an owning class does not.
In practice, many aspects of the socialist worldview and socialist policy have been integrated with capitalism in many European countries and in other parts of the world (especially in the industrialized "first world"). Social democracy typically involves state ownership of some corporations (considered strategically important to the people) and some participation in ownership of the means of production by workers. This can include [[profit sharing]] and worker representation on decision-making boards of corporations (a measure in vigour in [[Germany]], for instance). Some inherently capitalist measures, such as stock ownership for workers or [[stock option]]s would, however, also fit the description. Social services are important in social democracies. Such services include [[social welfare]] for the disadvantaged and [[unemployment insurance]].
Likewise, market economies in the United States and other capitalist countries have integrated some aspects of socialist economic planning. Democratic countries typically place legal limits on the centralization of capital through [[anti-trust]] laws and limits on monopolies, though the extent to which these laws are actually enforced has to do with the balance of power between the actually existing or emerging monopoly firms, as well as political ties between government and some corporations (''[[crony capitalism]]''). Ownership of stock has become common for middle class workers, both in companies they work for and in other companies (''see [[mutual fund]]''). [[Labor market]] pressures (''see'' [[labor economics]]) and regulations have encouraged profit sharing. Social welfare and unemployment insurance are mandated by law in the [[US]], [[UK]], [[Canada]] and other market economies. There is a lively debate today as to whether the world is moving closer to or farther away from "socialism", as defined by different people. Another component of this debate is whether or not these developments are to be encouraged.
== Opposition and criticisms of socialism; arguments for and against ==
''See main article: [[Criticisms of Socialism]]''
A number of thinkers, economists and historians have raised some issues with socialist theory. These individuals include [[Milton Friedman]], [[Ayn Rand]], [[Ludwig von Mises]], [[Friedrich Hayek]], and [[Joshua Muravchik]], to name a few. Most of their objections and critiques seem directed more at a [[command economy|centrally planned economy]] (not a part of all proposed socialisms), some at socialism and Marxism in general, but because these distinctions are relatively difficult to tease out of their writings, it is probably useful to take them up in a single context.
== References and further reading ==
* Makoto Itoh, Political Economy of Socialism. London: Macmillan, 1995.
* [[Friedrich Engels]], ''The Origin Of The Family, Private Property And The State'', Zurich, 1884
* Elie Halevy, ''Histoire du Socialisme Européen''. Paris, Gallimard, 1937
* ''Market Socialism: the debate among socialists'', ed. [[Bertell Ollman]] (1998) ISBN 0415919673
* G.D.H. Cole, ''History of Socialist Thought, in 7 volumes'', Macmillan and St. Martin's Press (1965), Palgrave Macmillan (2003 reprint); 7 volumes, hardcover, 3160 pages, ISBN 140390264X
* Michael Newman, "Socialism - a Very Short Introduction", Oxford University Press (2005) ISBN 0-19-280431-6
* [[James Weinstein]], ''Long Detour: The History and Future of the American Left'', [http://www.westviewpress.com/about.html Westview Press], 2003, hardcover, 272 pages, ISBN 0813341043
* [[Leo Panitch]], ''Renewing Socialism: Democracy, Strategy, and Imagination'', ISBN 0813398215
* [[Michael Harrington]], ''Socialism'', New York: Bantam, 1972
* [[Edmund Wilson]], ''To the Finland Station: A Study in the Writing and Acting of History'', Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1940.
* Albert Fried, Ronald Sanders, eds., ''Socialist Thought: A Documentary History'', Garden City, NY: Doubleday Anchor, 1964.
==See also==
*[[Anarchism]]
*[[Communist state]]
*[[Cultural revolution]]
*[[History of socialism]]
*[[Infosocialism]]
*[[Ingsoc]], the totalitarian ideology in George Orwell's dystopic novel ''Nineteen Eighty-Four''<!--does link this really belong here?-->.
*[[Libertarian socialism]]
*[[List of socialists]]
*[[Marxism]]
*[[Socialist economics]]
*[[Capitalism]]
*[[Laissez-faire capitalism]]
*[[Socialism and sexual orientation]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.marxismonline.com Marxism Online]
*[http://revcom.us/ Revolutionary Communist Party USA] ''Revolution'' paper online
*[http://www.awtw.org/rim/index.htm Revolutionary Internationalist Movement] Coalition of various Marxist-Leninist-Maoist parties from around the world
*[http://atlanta.rcyb.info/ Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade, Atlanta] Youth organization and supporters of the RCP, USA
*[http://www.socialistinternational.org/ Socialist International]
*[http://www.pbs.org/heavenonearth/ PBS Heaven on Earth : the Rise and Fall of Socialism]
*[http://www.thinksocialist.com/wordpress/ ThinkSocialist - Commentary, News, and Discussion of Socialism]
*[http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Politics/Socialism/Opposing_Views/ Google Directory collection of critical articles]
*[http://www.pathfinderpress.com Pathfinder Books, Socialist bookstore online]
*[http://www.rebelforums.org/ The Rebel Alliance Leftist Community], home to the '''Rebel Alliance Forums''' and other articles on [[socialism]], [[communism]] and [[anarchism]]
*[http://www.econlib.org/library/Mises/msS.html ''Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis''] a critique by Ludwig von Mises
*[http://www.revolutionaryleft.com Revolutionary Left], active forum with theoretical discussions of different revolutionary socialist ideologies
*[http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Socialism.html ''Socialism'' by Robert Heilbroner]
*[http://www.polyarchy.org/essays/english/socialism.html Socialism/Antisocialism - The transformation from socialism to statism]
*[http://www.islamic-finance.com/indexnew.htm ''Socialist Thought''] compares French and English schools
*[http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~rcgfrfi/ww/castro/1992-csw.htm ''Capitalism is a Society of Wolves'' by Fidel Castro] Criticism of capitalism in support of socialism
*[http://www.socialistworld.net Committee For a Workers International CWI/CIT] active in over 35 countries
*[http://www.hooverdigest.org/051/friedman.html ''The Battle's Half Won'' by Milton Friedman] "We have succeeded in stalling socialism. Can the Bush administration reverse it?"
*[http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-hitler.htm ''Myth: Hitler was a leftist.'' by Steve Kangas] "Fact: Nearly all of Hitler's beliefs placed him on the far right."
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