Socialism and
Communism
Seeking Utopia
Capitalism
An economic system
Means of production are privately owned
and operated
Distribution is determined by a free market,
rather than by the state
Supply and demand
Social Organization
Socialism
Advocates the vesting of
the ownership and control
of the means of production
and distribution, of
capital, land, etc., in the
community as a whole.
Communism
A theory or system based
on the holding of all
property in common,
actual ownership being
ascribed to the
community as a whole or
to the state.
Socialism as an ideology
Text: “An ideology arguing that citizens are
best served by policies focused on meeting
the basic needs of the entire society rather
than on serving the needs of individuals as
individuals.”
Roots
Ancient roots – JudeoChristian belief in the
common good, which takes
precedence over individual
desires
Term “socialism” coined in
1827 by British socialist
Robert Owen to describe his
view of a cooperative new
society.
Socialism’s emergence
Liberal political parties in 19th century
Europe failed to address the desperate needs
of working people.
Classical liberalism views poverty as an
individual choice or failure, not the result of
social structures. Also suspicious of big
government.
Socialism provides a different conception of
individual responsibility & of government.
Labour Party
In England,
socialism became a
political movement
in 1884, with the
creation of the
Fabians, who
provided the basis
for the new Labour
Party.
Socialism’s principles
• Egalitarianism or equality. Humankind will be
unified and cooperative, once wealth is owned and
used for the common good. Capitalism exploits
the very people who create society’s wealth.
• Moralism. Division of rich & poor is evil;
capitalism is fundamentally unjust. Instead, the
ideal future emphasizes peace, social justice and
true liberty for all.
Social democracy
A variation on socialism that argues that
socialism and democracy can work
together. Example: British Labour Party.
Change comes through peaceful democratic
processes like elections.
Democratic governments should promote
economic - as well as political - freedom &
equality.
Social democracy
Socialist political parties compete and win office
in every western democracy except the United
States.
Argentina Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada,
Colombia, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, India,
Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Netherland, Puerto Rico,
South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Venezuela.
• Why might this be so? What’s different about the
U.S.?
Democratic Socialists of America
“Democratic Socialists believe that both the
economy and society should be run
democratically—to meet public needs, not to
make profits for a few…. many structures of our
government and economy must be radically
transformed … so that ordinary Americans can
participate in the many decisions that affect our
lives.”
http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html
Marxism
Noun:
the system of economic and political thought
developed by Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels,
especially the doctrine that the state throughout history
has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by
a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main
agency of historical change, and that the capitalist
system, containing from the first the seeds of its own
decay, will inevitably, after the period of the
dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a
socialist order and a classless society.
Social democracy’s similarities
with Marxism
Sees capitalism as exploitive, leading to
social injustice and extreme income
inequality.
These economic conditions have
adverse effects on ordinary
working people – in terms of
physical health, psychological
well-being, housing, education,
etc…
Social democracy’s similarities
with Marxism
Both ask the question: why should those
who provide the money (capital) receive all
the profits, and those who provide the labor
receive none of the profits?
It is labor, after all, that turns raw materials
(including cash) into something with greater
value?
Social democracy’s differences
from Marxism
Private property not abolished, but the
public should control the use of property
and make necessities available to all.
Individual rights not abolished but should
complement other important values such as
concern for others.
Change can occur through an evolutionary
process that uses democratic means.
Marx’s view of social democracy
Karl Marx said social democrats were naive
to think that “enlightened capitalists” would
join with workers to form a new society.
Violent revolution was inevitable.
Karl Marx
German political thinker in 19th century.
Did most of his work in Britain.
Influenced by German philosopher Hegel.
Published Communist Manifesto in 1848
with co-author Frederick Engels.
Wrote multi-volume Capital (Das Kapital),
starting in 1867.
Karl Marx
Studied British economic records for 20
years to develop theory that everything is
based on the economic system: politics,
law, social structures,
family relations,
even religious belief.
Define
Bourgeois
Define
Bourgeois: modern capitalists who own
the means of production and therefore
get to keep all the profits.
Today, this would include major
stockholders in corporations.
Define
Proletarians
Define
Proletarians: modern wage laborers
who sell their labor to live and don’t
get any of the profits that they help to
create.
This includes everyone who is not a
stockholder or owner of capital, even
professionals who work for a salary.
Karl Marx’s key ideas
Economic systems go through historic cycles.
Over time, an economic system becomes rigid and
cannot adjust to new technologies, so a new
system emerges, with new class relations and
oppression.
Someday, a perfect classless society will emerge
and there will be no further cycles.
Marx’s key ideas
1. Slave system gave way to feudal economy
2. Feudal economy broke down with growth
of manufacturing, towns, navigation &
transportation, emergence of middle class
3. Industrial capitalism emerged, with only
two classes: proletariat and bourgeoisie.
Industrial Capitalism –
Negative Effects
Destroys important human values, replacing
even religious belief with naked
exploitation.
Undermines an individual’s sense of
personal value in one’s work.
Undermines human relationships; all
relationships are based on cash.
Destroys human freedom. The only
freedom it protects is free trade.
Industrial Capitalism –
Positive Effects
Unprecedented exploration and
technological advancements.
War less likely.
Urbanization opens people’s minds to new
ideas.
Economic production centralized, leading to
favorable conditions for communism to
emerge.
Communist Revolution Inevitable
Capitalism creates huge
factories. Workers become
concentrated and begin to
organize for legal reforms
(higher wages/better
working conditions).Their
effort fails.
Fierce competition between
capitalists leads to new
technologies, which leads to
lower costs.
Communist Revolution Inevitable
In the competition, some capitalists go
bankrupt & have to become workers, and
many workers lose their jobs as new
technology replaces them.
(Consider reports that U.S. workers’ productivity
is going up. Fewer workers are making more
goods, which means technology is replacing
them.)
Communist Revolution Inevitable
Greater numbers of people permanently
unemployed. Misery widespread.
Fewer people can afford the products of
capitalists, so fewer companies survive.
Class struggle reaches a climax.
Conditions now ripe for revolution. The
proletariat, having nothing to lose but their
chains, rise up.
Communist Revolution
Revolution will eliminate private property.
No longer will man have the means of
exploiting another man.
Bourgeoisie will fight, so revolution will be
violent.
A dictatorship of the proletariat will follow
to weed out remaining capitalist elements.
The Worker’s Utopia
In the end, a classless society with no more
oppression or internal contradictions.
People will be free to choose how they
labor, and can be creatively productive.
They will be able to live to their fullest
potential. Consider the description in
Marx’s Communist Manifesto in 1845:
The Worker’s Utopia
“In communist society, …nobody has one
exclusive sphere of activity but each can
become accomplished in any branch he
wishes,… to hunt in the morning, fish in the
afternoon, rear cattle in the evening,
criticize after dinner, … without ever
becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or
critic.”
Communist Manifesto
Read the first chapter of the document and
answer the discussion questions
Answer the question of the day