How is pure socialism different than democratic socialism?

Answer 1

When I first pondered this question the word democratic stood out in democratic socialism. I basically can only say that communism is not democratic and that socialism is an economic theory and does not involve any social engagement except as it relates to economics. Communism engages itself in the social and economic aspects of our lives which is the primary reason it has been undesirable to most people since the fifties' til' today, dated 4/3/09. So democratic socialism can be said to mean that the government does not intrude into the social aspect of our lives, civil Libertarianism, although I imagine that individual rights and personal freedoms would be protected and that while the state owns and operates the market in the economy, it seems to me that is still democratically controlled by the public and members are free to enjoy some ownership and privilege. Communism also tends to be authoritarian in nature which locks out the very essence of democracy. A better question would be this," since socialism is the "in-between" state of capitalism and communism does democratic socialism lead to communism or is it now a distinct political philosophy apart from leading to communism?" I think the answer is that democratic socialism is now distinct but a very inquisitive question definitely worth looking into. Democratic socialism seems like the ideal party for liberals in this progressive age without meaning that you would someday have to become communist. The following websites may be useful. I should note here that democratic socialism is further to the left on the political spectrum than social democracy, which favors aspects of capitalism and justifiably so, but in some countries the two work together in the same party.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/communism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism

Communist parties in the U.S.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_USA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Labor_Party_(USA)

Democratic socialist and socialist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_USA

http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html and http://www.thelaborparty.org/index.html

Answer 2

Communists seek to overthrow exiting society and governments, replacing them with a new society that has no government, no money, no social classes, and no private ownership of "means of production". "The means of production" refers to things like factories, mines, farms, and so on, where stuff is made.

Democratic socialists do not necessarily seek to overthrow society, although some might. Democratic socialists believe that capitalism is incompatible with absolute freedom, and that some aspects of society must be run by society- generally, the government. However, democratic socialists also believe in democracy, and do not want a Dictatorship or oligarchy, as communist countries have historically been.

This is all a simplification, of course, because like everything in politics, everything is complicated. Especially once things start actually happening.