Chapter 8: Democratic Socialism and Communism: Ideologies of the Left

Chapter Summary

As the twenty-first century dawned, it appeared that liberal democracies had won the day. The fall of the Soviet Union indicated that the appeal of communism was waning. Many countries in Eastern Europe adopted some form of democracy and initiated market reforms that might lead to a capitalist system.

However, the story of politics is much more complicated. A number of countries, such as China, Cuba, North Korea, and Vietnam, still maintain some form of communism. Even more numerous are the nations that hesitate to embrace all the ideals of liberal democracy, particularly that of a free market. Despite the current popularity of liberalism and democracy, there continues to be a vibrant leftist tradition that offers a powerful critique of liberalism and its own version of how to achieve the good life. Chapter 8 explores the ideologies of the left: namely, democratic socialism and communism.

Democratic socialism, as the term indicates, combines democracy and socialism. Politically, it involves a commitment to popular, constitutional rule and the protection of basic rights. Economically, it involves an equitable distribution of the community’s wealth. Democratic socialists maintain that key aspects of economic life must be publicly owned or socially controlled to ensure this equitable distribution. Socially, democratic socialism involves the belief that all human beings, in a cooperative community, should have the opportunity to fulfill their good and creative potential. There are many sources of democratic socialism, including the Judaic-Christian tradition’s concern for the poor, the nineteenth-century utopians, Marxist thought, revisionists of Marxist thought, the Fabian socialists in England, and the trade union movement.

Critics of democratic socialism argue that sooner or later the demand for equality will lead to a loss of liberty and that socialism is inherently inefficient. To its defenders, democratic socialism constitutes a brave attempt to advance social justice for those who have been least free in society. Pragmatically, its defenders argue that it offers a sane middle ground between capitalism and communism.

Although communism shares with democratic socialism a powerful critique of capitalism, it is a distinct political ideology, with its own diagnosis of what ails society. The call for equality, which lies at the heart of communism, is best captured in the motto: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” The key ideals of communism include a vision of a better world, which pointedly appeals to the oppressed worker and the exploited, and a philosophy of history. Communism purports to explain the evolution and structure of all human society. It describes the historical development of society as a clash of material and economic forces. Finally, communism is a strategy of revolutionary action for overthrowing capitalism.

The key sources of communist thought are Karl Marx, who provided much of its economic theory, V. I. Lenin, who was a master revolutionary, Joseph Stalin, who built up communism in the Soviet Union, and Mao Zedong, who took communism to Asia and into a very agricultural society.

To its critics, communism is too utopian, potentially totalitarian, and a failed theory of economics. To its defenders, communism remains a truly liberating philosophy that offers the only theory of politics and economics to truly appreciate the force of history and the power of economics.

Democratic socialism and communism remain important political forces. They will remain so as long as economic and social conditions create significant inequalities. The demand for some kind of egalitarian politics will not disappear, although it might appear under different names and in different guises. No matter what name it appears under, we can be sure that traditions of criticism developed by socialists and communists will contribute to any new ideology devoted to making people politically equal.

Chapter Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to...

• define social democracy.
• explain the sources of this ideology.
• offer a criticism and defense of democratic socialism.
• define communism.
• explain the contributions that Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao made to communism.
• offer a criticism and defense of communism.

Suggested Readings

The following readings supplement those suggested in chapter 8 of the text.

Barker, Peter, ed. The Party of Democratic Socialism in Germany: Modern Post-Communism or Nostalgic Populism? New York: Rodopi, 1998.

Carver, Terrell, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Marx. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.

McCollum, James K. Is Communism Dead Forever? Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1999.

Milward, Bob. Marxian Political Economy: Theory, History and Contemporary Relevance. London: Macmillan, 2000.

Tam, Henry, ed. Progressive Politics in the Global Age. New York: New York University Press, 2001.

Wheen, Francis. Karl Marx: A Life. New York: Norton, 1999.

Annotated Links

The following links will help you explore the themes of chapter 8 on the Web.

The Fabian Society

The Fabian Society was founded in 1884 as a socialist society committed to gradual, rather than revolutionary, social reform. Now, it is a leftist organization based in the United Kingdom. It is independently run but affiliated with the Labour Party. The Fabian Society’s searchable Web site features “current activities” and “get involved” sections. In addition, a “freethinking” section is a forum for numerous articles and online debate.

"Red Files"

This “Red Files” Web site is a companion to the popular four-part PBS television series by the same name. The series exposed the Soviet view of history with never-before-seen films and dossiers. The site includes still frames and audio from the series plus a wealth of additional information on Soviet history. The site provides maps and other reference materials, including a link to the Russian archives. This highly recommended site is both entertaining and informative.

Marxists.org Internet Archive

This is an excellent Web site that provides a wide range of resources. The site acts both as an Internet archive and as an encyclopedia of Marxism. It has sections on art, philosophy, psychology, political economy, and history. Political writers categorized as socialists, anarchists, reformists, communists, Stalinists, Maoists, national liberationists, and black liberationists are covered in depth.

The British Labour Party

Great Britain’s Labour Party is a self-proclaimed democratic socialist party that values social justice, strong community, reward for hard work, decency, and rights matched by responsibilities. The Web site for this popular party offers political news and campaign information. The policy section of this site provides a good representation of the doctrines of a democratic socialist political party.

From Marx to Mao

This Web site is dedicated to Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. Each leftist legend has his own Internet library composed of a rich supply of archival documents. The libraries are organized chronologically, but they are fully searchable. Highlights of the Mao section include Mao’s comments on Chiang Kai-shek, commerce and capitalism, the Communist party, being revolutionary, and the role of the countryside.

AlterNet.org

Alternet.org is a leftist online magazine created by the Independent Media Institute. The site features several “content files,” including files relating to human rights and global affairs. Each file provides links to additional information and urges readers to take action. In addition to offering weekly news e-mails, the Web site hosts discussion forums on current issues.