SOCIALISM: DERIVATIVES AND ALTERNATIVES: Socialism. Socialism? Socialism?!?
In: The new presence: the Prague journal of Central European affairs, Band 12, Heft 4, S. 8-9
ISSN: 1211-8303
In: The new presence: the Prague journal of Central European affairs, Band 12, Heft 4, S. 8-9
ISSN: 1211-8303
In: Alternatives: global, local, political, Band 16, Heft 3, S. 367-376
ISSN: 0304-3754
World Affairs Online
Though it may be surprising in today's political context, in which the term ""socialism"" is often uttered like a profane insult, this political school of thought was quite popular in the early twentieth century and gained a significant amount of traction among prominent thinkers and leaders. In this concise volume, author Edward F. Adams presents two stinging critiques of socialism, and many of his arguments remain just as compelling nearly a century later
There are principles in the world by which everything happens, by which the world works. This applies to both natural and social phenomena. However, it happens that these principles are inverted into something completely different. It is also often the case, in order to hide the true essence, that new names for phenomena or processes that obscure things and hide the right intentions are invented. The best example of how this works in practice can be seen in the examples of totalitarianism and democracy. The principle of totalitarianism is based on an authoritarian system of government, unlimited power of the leader, aggressive expansionism and control of the state. In its original meaning, democracy (the rule of the people - the majority) is the opposite of totalitarianism. However, do we have the true rule of the people today, or is there just a new form of totalitarianism behind that phrase? Every period, including this one today, imposes some general ideas that preoccupy people and nations. One such example is the mundialist idea of organizing a "world without borders" as a whole into which individual peoples and states are immersed. A process called transition has been imposed as a by-product of globalization and a mandatory pattern for former socialist countries. Therefore, Wallerstein is right in saying that the whole world is in a situation of "a kind of global transition". A large number of papers have been written in an effort to explain these processes. One of the discourses that can explain the "global transition" is the principle of inverted socialism. Namely, if socialism is based on the idea of social justice, that is, the distribution of social wealth to as many members of society as possible, the inverted socialism operates on the principle of profit privatization, and the socialization of losses at all levels. Globally, the rich (2%) are becoming richer and the majority of the population is becoming poorer. As a result of such a process, instead of a harmonious future, as Fukuyama predicted, there is the death of the welfare state on the one hand, and the socialization of losses on the other (the best example is the world financial crisis and bank rehabilitation by the states - of course at the expense of the people). Therefore, both globally and locally, it is time for a new Marx and a new true rather than inverted socialism.
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In: The new presence: the Prague journal of Central European affairs, Band 12, Heft 3, S. 36-39
ISSN: 1211-8303
In: Alternatives: global, local, political, Band 16, Heft 3, S. 367-376
ISSN: 2163-3150
In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Band 57, Heft 3, S. 37-43
ISSN: 0012-3846
Begins with a description of Western socialism, or social democracy, identifying three key features, or ambitions. This "participatory" socialism, marked by democracy, regulation, & welfare, is deemed conventional, but a "natural" & adverse tendency toward authoritarianism & hierarchy is also seen to operate. Attention is given to "socialism-in-the-making's" political/moral character & social location in the contested spaces of civil society. D. Edelman
In: World politics: a quarterly journal of international relations, Band 42, Heft 4, S. 563-596
ISSN: 1086-3338
The immediate causes of the current crisis in socialism are the highly authoritarian and extremely hierarchical political and economic structures created by Leninism. Yet the collapse of state socialism also appears to be part of a more general crisis of socialism, a crisis that includes even its potentially more democratic variants. At the core of this broader crisis lies the diminishing appeal of the publicly owned enterprise, an institution that has always been central to the very definition of socialism, but whose economic advantages are called into question by the recent and rapid development of global markets in factors of production and especially in assets. Consequently, communism's demise by no means signifies a victory for either democratic socialism or even social democracy.
In: World politics: a quarterly journal of international relations, Band 42, Heft 4, S. 563
ISSN: 0043-8871
In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Band 25, Heft 3, S. 341-348
ISSN: 0012-3846
Socialism is not often defined clearly or examined closely by Marxist & other theorists who conceive it as a goal but do not examine its dynamics as they do those of other societies. Socialism is a step past the welfare state, & analysis of the welfare state is a first step to analysis of socialism. The welfare state exists to solve the problems created by capitalism's anarchic nature, & by bourgeois culture's lacks, & thus to preserve capitalism. Socialism must be a system of economic planning & of culture founded in a morally conscious collectivity; it cannot use the market without subverting itself, & tradition cannot work in guiding a changing economy. Socialist culture must be founded on aspiration not to individual material achievement, but to collective moral achievement. Such aims cannot be achieved by reform of the existing bourgeois order, but only by basic change. Lewis Coser finds the welfare state significantly different from capitalism; in addition, capitalism in the laissez-faire era was founded on moral conformity to a great degree, & socialist theorists have regularly called for increased individualization. Bogden Denitch notes Heilbroner's questioning whether democratic institutions can exist in a socialist society. Yugoslavia offers an example of the use of markets both for economic efficiency & as a means of turning economic enterprises into communities; the basing of democratic institutions on these productive communities offers a new form of democracy appropriate to socialist societies. Michael Harrington finds only two future polar extremes likely: authoritarian bureaucratic collectivism & democratic communitarian collectivism. Heilbroner recognizes the danger of socialism leading to the first, but not the opportunity to make it into the second. Michael Walzer finds capitalist individuality founded in individual isolation from wide political issues & fixation on narrowly egoistic concerns. In bourgeois society, the kind of commitment which can make genuine use of freedom is found mainly in the struggle to create socialism, & the freedom of socialist society is best understood as freedom to debate paths to socialism. In A Reply, Heilbroner notes that equality & democracy, along with individuality, are products of bourgeois society, & that their preservation under socialism is desirable, but not necessarily achievable. W. H. Stoddard.
In: Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises
In: Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises Ser
Intro -- Ludwig von Mises, Socialism -- Front Matter -- Title Page -- Copyright Details -- Table of Contents, p. vii -- Publisher's Preface, p. xv -- Foreword, p. xix -- Preface to the Second English Edition, p. 1 -- Translator's Note, p. 3 -- Preface to the Second German Edition, p. 5 -- Introduction, p. 15 -- Part 1. Liberalism and Socialism -- Chapter 1. Ownership, p. 27 -- Chapter 2. Socialism, p. 45 -- Chapter 3. The Social Order and the Political Constitution, p. 58 -- Chapter 4. The Social Order and the Family, p. 74 -- Part 2. The Economics of a Socialist Community -- 1. The Economics of an Isolated Socialist Community -- Chapter 5. The Nature of Economic Activity, p. 95 -- Chapter 6. The Organization of Production Under Socialism, p. 110 -- Chapter 7. The Distribution of Income, p. 131 -- Chapter 8. The Socialist Community Under Stationary Conditions, p. 142 -- Chapter 9. The Position of the Individual Under Socialism, p. 163 -- Chapter 10. Socialism Under Dynamic Conditions, p. 173 -- Chapter 11. The Impracticability of Socialism, p. 186 -- 2. The Foreign Relations of a Socialist Community -- Chapter 12. national Socialism and World Socialism, p. 197 -- Chapter 13. The Problem of Migration Under Socialism, p. 201 -- Chapter 14. Foreign Trade Under Socialism, p. 205 -- 3. Particular Forms of Socialism and Pseudo-Socialism -- Chapter 15. Particular Forms of Socialism, p. 211 -- Chapter 16. Pseudo-Socialis Systems, p. 233 -- Part 3. The Alleged Inevitability of Socialism -- 1. Social Evolution -- Chapter 17. Socialistic Chilliasm, p. 249 -- Chapter 18. Society, p. 256 -- Chapter 19. Conflict as a Factor in Social Evolution, p. 279 -- Chapter 20. The Clash of Class Interests and the Class War, p. 292 -- Chapter 21. The Materialist Conception of History, p. 314.
In: Political systems of the world
"Discusses socialism as a political system, and details the history of socialist governments throughout the world"--Provided by publisher
In: Examining Political Systems Ser.
Since the eighteenth century, socialism has evolved alongside increasingly industrial societies in which workers and the government keep the wealthy few from exploiting the masses. Socialism has been shaped by Communism and Democracy both, and has undergone changes in the twentieth century alongside the turmoil of World Wars and the Cold War. The birth of Socialism is examined as well as major figures in its development and practice in government and labor unions. This comprehensive volume intersperses historical context with photographs, artwork, publications and more to help readers comprehend this important and evolving movement.
In: Capital & class, Band 13, Heft 1, S. 156-161
ISSN: 2041-0980
In: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Russia, S. 221-226