Democratic socialism

Democratic socialism refers to a number of center-left tendencies which generally seek gradual reform of the capitalist system through participation in bourgeois democracy. Democratic socialists oppose the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system. While democratic socialists share some similarities to communists, their policies are done to relieve immediate social ills and not to transition to communism.

Marxist description

In the 1847 work The Principles of Communism, Friedrich Engels describes democratic socialists as being a semi-class conscious, working class tendency which shares some commonalities with the measures advocated by communists and who may collaborate with each other (while not halting the discussion of differences) so long as they do not side with the bourgeoisie.^[1]

External links

"Why Democratic Socialism Isn't Enough", (June 24, 2022) by Marxism Today

References

↑ Friedrich Engels (1847). The Principles of Communism.
"Finally, the third category consists of democratic socialists who favor some of the same measures the communists advocate, as described in Question 18, not as part of the transition to communism, however, but as measures which they believe will be sufficient to abolish the misery and evils of present-day society.
These democratic socialists are either proletarians who are not yet sufficiently clear about the conditions of the liberation of their class, or they are representatives of the petty bourgeoisie, a class which, prior to the achievement of democracy and the socialist measures to which it gives rise, has many interests in common with the proletariat.
It follows that, in moments of action, the communists will have to come to an understanding with these democratic socialists, and in general to follow as far as possible a common policy with them – provided that these socialists do not enter into the service of the ruling bourgeoisie and attack the communists.
It is clear that this form of co-operation in action does not exclude the discussion of differences."

[1] Friedrich Engels (1847). The Principles of Communism.
"Finally, the third category consists of democratic socialists who favor some of the same measures the communists advocate, as described in Question 18, not as part of the transition to communism, however, but as measures which they believe will be sufficient to abolish the misery and evils of present-day society.
These democratic socialists are either proletarians who are not yet sufficiently clear about the conditions of the liberation of their class, or they are representatives of the petty bourgeoisie, a class which, prior to the achievement of democracy and the socialist measures to which it gives rise, has many interests in common with the proletariat.
It follows that, in moments of action, the communists will have to come to an understanding with these democratic socialists, and in general to follow as far as possible a common policy with them – provided that these socialists do not enter into the service of the ruling bourgeoisie and attack the communists.
It is clear that this form of co-operation in action does not exclude the discussion of differences."

[1]

Democratic socialism

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Marxist description

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Democratic socialism

Marxist description

External links

See also

References

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