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Socialism
Socialism is an economic and political philosophy characterized by public or government ownership of property and goods.
635 Questions
Describe utopian socialism how is it different from communism?
Some forms of Utopian socialism share a lot of traits with authentic Marxist communism. The major difference between the two is Marxism is based upon "scientific socialism", and is a predicted outcome that Marx made based on the observations of society and history. Communism is based upon the materialist conception of history, while Utopian socialism is usually devoid of economics and the social forces, such as class conflict, that are forcing society to progress toward socialism.
In short, utopian socialism is simply a set of goals and an outline for a society people would like to have. It can be technocratic, meritocratic (as in the case of Simon) or egalitarian (as in the case of Fourier) and communal (as in the case of Robert Owen).
Communism, in the Marxian sense, is the end result of a historical struggle that is observed throughout history and by examining social and economic relationships.
Many western European influence of socialism socialism?
No. On the whole Western European countries are under capitalist governments. Great Britain and Greece are the only two countries who, by definition of their constitutions are socialist countries.
Why did the idea of socialism emerge during the Industrial Revolution?
Under Marx's theory the building of industry and the process of industrialism would create a large diversity between the Rich factory owners and the poor factory workers. The quality of life and work for the workers would fall and if the owners didn't give equal rights to their workers they could form unions, or revolt against the Factory owners and also the government for allowing the owners to keep those owners in power and keeping the workers quality of life low. When a revolt of the would occur it would overthrow the pro-factory leadership and install a pro-socialist or pro-poor class leadership which then these leaders would implement the changes to move to socialism, by letting the government take control of the market, and in which would pass laws improving the quality of life of the poor and middle class workers and slowly destroy the rich class.
What was the basic principle of the Marxist Theory?
The basic and underlying premise to Karl Marx theories were the concept of economic exploitation of labor. For example, a worker constructs an object, and the factory owner gains profit over its sale. Profit Marx argues profit removes from a workers just compensation (pay).
Do Americans truly want Socialism?
That premise is unlikely, most US Citizens would like to see a leveled playing field where the wealthy pay at least an equal contribution as the middle class, Warren Buffet's lowest level secretary's income is taxed at three times the rate as his is by his own calculation. He is against this practice as is Bill Gates. Socialism is not the point, equality and fairness is relevant and important.
How did socialism contribute to the decline of the Roman Empire?
In order to continue it's social/socialist programs in the capital city and empire, Rome would enable massive taxation to it's municipalities and territories (land whose residents would not be afforded the rights of a Roman Citizen), as well as impose trade restrictions ( a good example was Rome's price fixing of wheat in order to support it's burgeoning welfare system - Roman citizens were "entitled to the right" of "free" wheat, the "Annona") to keep artificial prices on certain commodities. This lead to massive inflation, which in turn put an added burden on the Roman state.
Rome would continue to conquer in order to obtain resources to fuel it's insatiable appetite.
Socialism is a grand idea on paper, until you put it to practice. Then it reveals itself as the parasite it is (it consumes everything to keep the ball rolling).
How does socialism compare to libertarianism?
socialism is the antethisis of libertarianism...
Based on the idea of a collectivist origin of rights, socialism is a system in which the state owns the means of production and of capital for investing in collective projects. there are many conceived forms of this, with the most famous being those of the Utopian socialists who envisioned a world in which all needs were met by the state's planned economy and all action being for the good of society as a whole.
libertarianism, in contrast, is a system based on the non aggression axiom:
"no person shall initiate coercion against another individual"
no exceptions
this goes hand in hand with the concept of private property rights, as opposed to state controlled use of property in a socialist system. the individual, acting upon his own rational self interest, has the right to dispose of this property as he wishes. Murray Rothbard, one of the framers of the modern anarcho-capitalist movement, argued that such natural market tendencies as the need to preserve capital gains into the future, etc... would benefit mankind on a whole, although this, as Rand said, is just a secondary consequence of free individuals acting on voluntary basis under a philosophically just system in which the only function of government is to uphold our rights to person and property.
libertarians hold to the concept of private ownership of all utilities, roads, etc. and are most closely associated with the Austrian school of economic thought, which puts emphasis on the actions of individuals in a free society based on psychology.
Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell, Ayn Rand (though she denied it) and Murray Rothbard are all examples of famous libertarians...
BTW... the libertarian PARTY is a statist organization which does not strongly stick to the principles of laissez faire and non initiation of force... it's just a watered down version of the republican party.
Edit: The Libertarian party - as with any political party in the massive US - contains a broad spectrum of ideology and adherence to party principles. Stating point blank that the Libertarian party is a watered-down version of the GOP is misleading and inaccurate.
What is a socialist country in which the government owns health care and communications?
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
