Socialism and Socialism and CommunismCommunism

Seeking UtopiaSeeking Utopia

Socialism defined Socialism defined

Text: “An ideology arguing that Text: “An ideology arguing that citizens are best served by policies citizens are best served by policies focused on meeting the basic needs focused on meeting the basic needs of the of the entire entire society rather than on society rather than on serving the needs of individuals as serving the needs of individuals as individualsindividuals.”.”

SocialismSocialism

Ancient roots – Judeo-Christian belief Ancient roots – Judeo-Christian belief in the common good, which takes in the common good, which takes precedence over individual desiresprecedence over individual desires

Term “socialism” coined in 1827 by Term “socialism” coined in 1827 by British socialist Robert Owen to British socialist Robert Owen to describe his view of a cooperative describe his view of a cooperative new society.new society.

Socialism’s emergenceSocialism’s emergence

Liberal political parties in 19Liberal political parties in 19thth century century Europe failed to address the Europe failed to address the desperate needs of working people.desperate needs of working people.– Classical liberalism views poverty as an Classical liberalism views poverty as an

individual choice or failure, not the result individual choice or failure, not the result of social structures. Also suspicious of of social structures. Also suspicious of big government.big government.

– Socialism provides a different conception Socialism provides a different conception of individual responsibility & of of individual responsibility & of government.government.

SocialismSocialism

In England, socialism became a In England, socialism became a political movement in 1884, with the political movement in 1884, with the creation of the Fabians, who provided creation of the Fabians, who provided the basis for the new Labour Party. the basis for the new Labour Party. Many Labour governments since, Many Labour governments since, including the former including the former

government of government of

Prime Minister Prime Minister

Tony Blair.Tony Blair.

Socialism’s principlesSocialism’s principles

egalitarianismegalitarianism or equality.  Humankind or equality.  Humankind will be unified and cooperative, once will be unified and cooperative, once wealth is owned and used for the common wealth is owned and used for the common good. Capitalism exploits the very people good. Capitalism exploits the very people who create society’s wealth.who create society’s wealth.

Moralism. Moralism. Division of rich & poor is evil; Division of rich & poor is evil; capitalism is fundamentally unjust. capitalism is fundamentally unjust. Instead, the ideal future emphasizes Instead, the ideal future emphasizes peace, social justice and true liberty for peace, social justice and true liberty for all.  all. 

Social democracySocial democracy

A variation on socialism that argues A variation on socialism that argues that socialism and democracy can that socialism and democracy can work together. Example: British work together. Example: British Labour Party.Labour Party.

Change comes through peaceful Change comes through peaceful democratic processes like elections.democratic processes like elections.

Democratic governments should Democratic governments should promote economic - as well as promote economic - as well as political - freedom & equality.political - freedom & equality.

Social democracySocial democracy

Socialist political parties compete and win Socialist political parties compete and win office in every western democracy except office in every western democracy except the United States. the United States. – Argentina Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Argentina Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada,

Colombia, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Colombia, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Netherland, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Netherland, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Venezuela.South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Venezuela.

Why might this be so? What’s different Why might this be so? What’s different about the U.S.?about the U.S.?

Democratic Socialists of Democratic Socialists of AmericaAmerica

““Democratic SocialistsDemocratic Socialists believe that both believe that both the economy and society should be run the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few…. many to make profits for a few…. many structures of our government and economy structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed … so that must be radically transformed … so that ordinary Americans can participate in the ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.”many decisions that affect our lives.”

– http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html

Social democracy’s similarities Social democracy’s similarities with Marxismwith Marxism

Sees capitalism as exploitive, leading Sees capitalism as exploitive, leading to social injustice and extreme to social injustice and extreme income inequality.income inequality.

These economic conditions have These economic conditions have adverse effects on ordinary working adverse effects on ordinary working people – in terms of physical health, people – in terms of physical health, psychological well-being, housing, psychological well-being, housing, education, etc.education, etc.

Social democracy’s similarities Social democracy’s similarities with Marxismwith Marxism

Both ask the question: why should Both ask the question: why should those who provide the money those who provide the money (capital) receive all the profits, and (capital) receive all the profits, and those who provide the labor receive those who provide the labor receive none of the profits?none of the profits?

It is labor, after all, that turns raw It is labor, after all, that turns raw materials (including cash) into materials (including cash) into something with greater value.something with greater value.

Social democracy’s differences Social democracy’s differences

from Marxismfrom Marxism Private property not abolished, but the Private property not abolished, but the

public should control the use of property public should control the use of property and make necessities available to all.and make necessities available to all.

Individual rights not abolished but Individual rights not abolished but should complement other important should complement other important values such as concern for others.values such as concern for others.

Change can occur through an Change can occur through an evolutionary process that uses evolutionary process that uses democratic means. democratic means.

Marx’s view of social Marx’s view of social democracydemocracy

Karl Marx said social democrats were Karl Marx said social democrats were naive to think that “enlightened naive to think that “enlightened capitalists” would join with workers capitalists” would join with workers to form a new society. to form a new society.

Violent revolution was inevitable.Violent revolution was inevitable.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

German political thinker in 19German political thinker in 19thth century.century.

Did most of his work in Britain.Did most of his work in Britain. Influenced by German philosopher Influenced by German philosopher

Hegel.Hegel. Published Published Communist ManifestoCommunist Manifesto in in

1848 with co-author Frederick Engels.1848 with co-author Frederick Engels. Wrote multi-volume Wrote multi-volume CapitalCapital ( (Das Das

Kapital)Kapital), starting in 1867., starting in 1867.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Studied British economic records for Studied British economic records for 20 years to develop theory that 20 years to develop theory that everything is based on the economic everything is based on the economic system: politics,system: politics,

law, social structures, law, social structures,

family relations, family relations,

even religious belief.even religious belief.

DefineDefine

Bourgeois Bourgeois

DefineDefine

Bourgeois: Bourgeois: modern capitalists modern capitalists who own the means of who own the means of production and therefore get to production and therefore get to keep all the profits.keep all the profits.

Today, this would include major Today, this would include major stockholders in corporations.stockholders in corporations.

DefineDefine

ProletariansProletarians

DefineDefine

ProletariansProletarians: modern wage : modern wage laborers who sell their labor to laborers who sell their labor to live and don’t get any of the live and don’t get any of the profits that they help to create.profits that they help to create.

This includes everyone who is not a This includes everyone who is not a stockholder or owner of capital, stockholder or owner of capital, even professionals who work for a even professionals who work for a salary.salary.

Karl Marx’s key ideasKarl Marx’s key ideas

Economic systems go through historic Economic systems go through historic cycles. Over time, an economic system cycles. Over time, an economic system becomes rigid and cannot adjust to new becomes rigid and cannot adjust to new technologies, so a new system emerges, technologies, so a new system emerges, with new class relations and oppression. with new class relations and oppression.

Someday, a perfect classless society will Someday, a perfect classless society will emerge and there will be no further cycles.emerge and there will be no further cycles.

Marx’s key ideasMarx’s key ideas

1. Slave system gave way to feudal 1. Slave system gave way to feudal economyeconomy

2. Feudal economy broke down with 2. Feudal economy broke down with growth of manufacturing, towns, growth of manufacturing, towns, navigation & transportation, navigation & transportation, emergence of middle classemergence of middle class

3. Industrial capitalism emerged, with 3. Industrial capitalism emerged, with only two classes: proletariat and only two classes: proletariat and bourgeoisie. bourgeoisie.

Industrial Capitalism – Industrial Capitalism – Negative EffectsNegative Effects

Destroys important human values, Destroys important human values, replacing even religious belief with replacing even religious belief with naked exploitation.naked exploitation.

Undermines an individual’s sense of Undermines an individual’s sense of personal value in one’s work.personal value in one’s work.

Undermines human relationships; all Undermines human relationships; all relationships are based on cash. relationships are based on cash.

Destroys human freedom. The only Destroys human freedom. The only freedom it protects is free trade.freedom it protects is free trade.

Industrial Capitalism – Industrial Capitalism – Positive EffectsPositive Effects

Unprecedented exploration and Unprecedented exploration and technological advancements.technological advancements.

War less likely.War less likely. Urbanization opens people’s minds to Urbanization opens people’s minds to

new ideas.new ideas. Economic production centralized, Economic production centralized,

leading to favorable conditions for leading to favorable conditions for communism to emerge.communism to emerge.

From From Communist ManifestoCommunist Manifesto

““The bourgeoisie … has created The bourgeoisie … has created enormous enormous citiescities, has greatly increased the urban , has greatly increased the urban population as compared with the rural, and population as compared with the rural, and has thus has thus rescued rescued a considerable part of the a considerable part of the population population from thefrom the idiocy of rural lifeidiocy of rural life…. …. The bourgeoisie, during its rule of scarce The bourgeoisie, during its rule of scarce one hundred years, has created one hundred years, has created more more massive and more colossal productivemassive and more colossal productive forces forces than have all preceding generations than have all preceding generations together… railways, electric telegraphs, together… railways, electric telegraphs, clearing of whole continents for cultivation, clearing of whole continents for cultivation, canalization of rivers.” canalization of rivers.”

Communist Revolution Communist Revolution InevitableInevitable

Capitalism creates huge factories. Capitalism creates huge factories. Workers become concentrated and Workers become concentrated and begin to organize for legal reforms begin to organize for legal reforms (higher wages/better working (higher wages/better working conditions). Their effort fails. conditions). Their effort fails.

Fierce competition between Fierce competition between capitalists leads to new technologies, capitalists leads to new technologies, which leads to lower costs.which leads to lower costs.

Communist Revolution Communist Revolution InevitableInevitable

In the competition, some capitalists go In the competition, some capitalists go bankrupt & have to become workers, bankrupt & have to become workers, and many workers lose their jobs as and many workers lose their jobs as new technology replaces them. new technology replaces them.

((Consider reports that U.S. workers’ Consider reports that U.S. workers’ productivity is going up. Fewer workers are productivity is going up. Fewer workers are making more goods, which means making more goods, which means technology is replacing them.) technology is replacing them.)

Communist Revolution Communist Revolution Inevitable Inevitable

Greater numbers of people permanently Greater numbers of people permanently unemployed. Misery widespread.unemployed. Misery widespread.

Fewer people can afford the products of Fewer people can afford the products of capitalists, so fewer companies survive. capitalists, so fewer companies survive.

Class struggle reaches a climax.Class struggle reaches a climax. Conditions now ripe for revolution. The Conditions now ripe for revolution. The

proletariat, having nothing to lose but proletariat, having nothing to lose but their chains, rise up. their chains, rise up.

Communist RevolutionCommunist Revolution

Revolution will eliminate private Revolution will eliminate private property. No longer will man have the property. No longer will man have the means of exploiting another man. means of exploiting another man.

Bourgeoisie will fight, so revolution Bourgeoisie will fight, so revolution will be violent.will be violent.

A dictatorship of the proletariat will A dictatorship of the proletariat will follow to weed out remaining follow to weed out remaining capitalist elements.capitalist elements.

The Worker’s UtopiaThe Worker’s Utopia

In the end, a classless society with In the end, a classless society with no more oppression or internal no more oppression or internal contradictions. contradictions.

People will be free to choose how People will be free to choose how they labor, and can be creatively they labor, and can be creatively productive. They will be able to live productive. They will be able to live to their fullest potential. Consider to their fullest potential. Consider the description in Marx’s the description in Marx’s Communist Communist ManifestoManifesto in 1845: in 1845:

The Worker’s UtopiaThe Worker’s Utopia

““In communist society, …nobody has In communist society, …nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes,… to hunt in any branch he wishes,… to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, … without ever after dinner, … without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic.” herdsman or critic.”