Socialism 101. (Suggestions)

[white_wolf]

So for anyone who doesn't know, I am doing a series of threads explaining the various ideologies within Socialism.I plan to go over: Democratic Socialism, Social Democracy, Leninism, Trotskyism, Stalinism, Maoism,anarchism, libertarian socialism. My first post can be found in my Journal. Anyway I was just curious if there was an specific ideology, the majority of people might be curious about. If so post in this thread and I'll see which one gets the most votes and I'll start with that.

[JuniperLea]

1. Democratic Socialism

I've been interested in this for years, ever since I discussed it at some length with several Norwegians. I think it would need to be largely state run, but must be accepted nationally.

[white_wolf]

2. Actually

if a poster who could make a poll would post this question with options I listed, that would make this a lot easier. I'd be very grateful.

[Bucky]

3. So we're getting an explanation on socialism from someone unwilling to share DU's cost.

Buy the star, White Wolf. You'll feel better about yourself.

[leftstreet]

4. Actually, that would be an example of capitalism n/t

[readmoreoften]

5. I'm not sure its a good idea to cover this unless you have a real, longterm understanding of the

dynamics. It might be better to discuss groups in the US than "isms".

For example, anarchism is not necessarily socialism. Autonomism is somewhat the "anarchist" version of socialism. Or anarcho-socialism. But there are also anarcho-capitalists, etc. Some anarchists will tell you that anarcho-capitalists are not "real" anarchists. Others will work with any anarchists, preferring to work with anarcho-capitalists before Democratic socialists. I've seen anarchist bookstores who support Ron Paulites over Trotskyists.

You might want to get "guests" from these different groups to cover these topics. They are incredibly varied and the lived experience of being part of them makes more sense than some dictionary definition.

Some Trotskyist groups in the internationalist tradition are more comfortable organizing with Democratic Socialists than they are other Trotskyist groups. It's a very complicated historical situation, with some Trotskyist groups eventually aligning themselves with Stalinist politics. Furthermore, all Trotskyists are Leninists, but the term "Leninism" is a buzzword created by Stalin.

In many cases the lived experience of being a part of a socialist organization is more important than the "name" it falls under. The Stalinist CPUSA, far from being "extremist", is so conservative that it supports Democratic candidates and US intervention.

I'd rather encourage people to join a socialist organization than have wikipedia-style explanations of them. It's a little like explaining the experience of LGBT people from the outside...

[Starry Messenger]

6. I agree with readmore about the "-isms"

Getting bogged down in the factions might be kind of inside baseball. Better perhaps to start with the basics of scientific socialism, what capitalism really is, and how modern socialism differs from utopian, etc. Those are sources of confusion I've seen historically on the boards here. One well-meaning poster thought that Marx "invented" the Labor Theory of Value. That sort of thing. That's my .02.

[white_wolf]

8. Good suggestion.

It probably would be better to start with basics, what like capitalism is, scientific socialism before moving on to the "isms" because the far left is so divided it isn't even funny. I've posted on a far left board before, and the Trotskyists and the Stalinist seem to HATE one another with a passion.

[Starry Messenger]

9. I've read over at revleft

Reading those kinds of faction arguments is like watching paint dry too. ;) I think DU could benefit in a thorough grounding in the basics, and there would be interest, especially with everything going on in Wisconsin and overseas.

[white_wolf]

11. Yeah revleft is where I'm talking about.

It can get really stupid at times, over there. Trust me, the small arguments DU has is nothing at all compared to revleft.

[Taverner]

7. Don't forget Ricardian Socialism

David Ricardo lays out a plan of transition for Capitalism to evolve into Socialism. It's pretty cool.

Ricardo was also a big proponent of employee-owned companies

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. American Corporate Socialism.

[FormerDittoHead]

12. Here's what I say: screw the definitions and let's decide (as a people) what we WANT.

I guess fleshing out the differences between these ideologies has some academic value, but the implication is that one must "subscribe" to one or the other, or fight against one thing or the other is a false dichotomy.

The bottom line is that no one today would ever suggest having a society "strictly" one thing or another. It's always gong to be a mix, and I openly question the value of placing labels on these disparate things when in practice, what we want is... what we want.

Labels be damned. Let's decide on what we want, and fight for that, and against the things we don't want.

[dkofos]

13. You might have a go at faux socialism.

Faux socialism is the socialism taught to the mindless masses that watch fox all day.