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Edited on Sun Mar-27-11 04:10 PM by white_wolf
Since a lot of people misunderstand Socialism, I have decided to make a series of threads explaining the system. This one will cover basic definitions and the different ideologies within it. I understand if you disagree with Socialism, this isn't meant so much as to convince people as it is to explain things. The definitions are from dictionary.com, Lenin's quote and the 6th party congress was taken from Wikipedia.
Socialism: 1. "a theory or system of social organization that 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." 2. (in Marxist theory) "the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles. These are very basic definitions of socialism."
Marxism: "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from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society."
Now we get into the more complicated definitions. These next ones are the various tendencies withing socialism, so I will try to explain them a little bit more than just providing dictionary definitions.. I will go into them in depth later, this is simply to provide basic dictionary definitions so people understand what the words mean.
Leninism: Likely the most well-known form of Marxism. Lenin based his theories on the conditions of Russia in the early 20th century and tried to conceive a path to Russian Socialism. In my mind, it should not have been applied outside of Russia, simply because it was created to address the specif problems of Russia. Here is the dictionary definition: "the modification of Marxism by Lenin stressing that imperialism is the highest form of capitalism." This is not a great definition as it does not explain what is meant by imperialism being the highest form of capitalism. In my mind the Iraq and Afgan wars did lend some credence to his theory, with the massive profits made by groups like Haliburton and Blackwater.
Puregonzo1188 mentioned organization in regards to Leninism so I feel I should define the key organizational feature of Leninism. Democratic-Centralism. 1. "A Leninist doctrine requiring discussion of issues until a decision is reached by the party. After a decision is made, discussion concerns only planning and execution. This method of decision making directed lower bodies unconditionally to implement the decisions of higher bodies." Lenin described it in his own words like this: "freedom of discussion, unity of action." The sixth Party Congress laid it out in four steps:
1. That all directing bodies of the Party, from top to bottom, shall be elected;
2 That Party bodies shall give periodical accounts of their activities to their respective Party organizations;
3 That there shall be strict Party discipline and the subordination of the minority to the majority;
4 That all decisions of higher bodies shall be absolutely binding on lower bodies and on all Party members
Trotskyism: First the direct definition: "the form of communism advocated by Leon Trotsky, based on an immediate, worldwide revolution by the proletariat." Trotsky created his theory of "Permanent Revolution" in which he argued that a capitalist state and a socialist state could not exist peacefully, as a capitalist state would see a socialist state as a threat. Trotsky also wanted what he called "worker's democracy" where all power would be vested in workers councils called "soviets."
Democratic Socialism: "a form of socialism with a democratic government; the ownership and control of the means of production, capital, land, property, etc., by the community as a whole -- combined with a democratic government." Personally I don't agree with this definition as in my view Trotskyism supports a democratic government as do most other socialists. The main thing about Democratic Socialism as opposed to Trotskyism or any other form of revolutionary socialism, is the belief that socialism can be achieved through reforms. The revolutionaries will argue that the capitalists will never peacefully give up power.
There are a few other forms, but I will save them for when I get more in depth, simply because I haven't studied enough of Maoism or Stalinism, or anarchism. Other than than questions on those three, feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to answer.
Damn it. I forgot to define something very important. The Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
so here goes: 1.n Marxism, "the dictatorship of the proletariat denotes the transitional socialist State between the capitalist class society and the classless communist society" 2. "The temporary period following the fall of capitalism characterized by a struggle to achieve a classless, stateless and moneyless communist society" As this is rather controversial just by the name I'll explain it a little bit. It does NOT denote what we think of as a dictatorship, because in Marx's time such dictatorships hadn't emerged. He considered capitalism the dictatorship of the bourgeois, so it does not imply a tyrant holding absolute power as some think.
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