WHAT IS SOCIALISM? By Stephen D. Shenfield
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Down through the ages people have dreamed of a free and harmonious life based on social equality and voluntary cooperation. A life without rulers and ruled, bosses and underlings, rich and poor. Read more...

The space-age communism of Ivan Yefremov

The space-age communism of Ivan Yefremov

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Ivan Yefremov (1907--1972) was by original profession a paleontologist. His first stories, on the life of explorers, were published in 1944. Andromeda -- in Russian-language editions The Andromeda Nebula -- is his best-known science fiction novel. Not coincidentally, it was written in 1956, the year of the first sputnik (Soviet artificial earth satellite).

Was Nowhere somewhere? More's 'Utopia' and the meaning of socialism

Was Nowhere somewhere? More's 'Utopia' and the meaning of socialism

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The word utopia, together with its derivatives utopian and utopianism, is a familiar part of our political vocabulary. It originated as the title of a work by the Tudor lawyer, statesman and writer Thomas More, first published in Latin in 1516 as a traveller’s description of a remote island. Utopia is a pun: it can be read either as ou-topos, Greek for ‘no place’, or as eu-topos, ‘good place’ – that is, a good place (society) that exists in the imagination.

More invented the word, but the thing it represents is much older. Plato in his Republic discussed the nature of the ideal city state. Medieval serfs took solace in the imaginary ease and plenty of the Land of Cockaigne. More’s utopia, however, is the first to embody a response to capitalist social relations, which in the early 16th century were just emerging in England and the Low Countries (in agriculture and textiles). As the first modern utopia, it has a special place in the emergence of modern socialist thought.

Will socialism need a system of economic calculation?

Will socialism need a system of economic calculation?

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Will the socialist commonwealth need a system of economic calculation? That is, will it need a method for assessing the advantages and disadvantages of alternative courses of action in terms of a common measure? Many socialists think that this will not be necessary. I would like to explain why I disagree and suggest how such a common measure might be devised.

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'Cook-shops of the future'? Why we need to think about socialism

'Cook-shops of the future'? Why we need to think about socialism

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Strange as it may seem, I do not expect all socialists to appreciate a website devoted to the future society to which socialists aspire. In particular, I do not expect approval from many who call themselves Marxists. They will say – if they deign to comment at all – that socialists should not waste time and effort speculating about the future but focus on analyzing and assisting current struggles by working people. They may quote Marx’s dismissive remarks about ‘ready-made utopias’ and ‘recipes for the cook-shops of the future’ or perhaps Engels’ assurance that the people alive at the time of the revolution ‘will know what to do.’

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The World Socialist Movement defines socialism as:

a worldwide society in which the means of life are controlled democratically by and for the whole community 

worldwide   

Today’s world is an interconnected whole or “global village.” So it is no longer possible to create a new society in a single country. World capitalism must be replaced by world socialism.

means of life

This refers to the natural resources, production facilities, transportation networks, and distribution centers used to satisfy human needs. It does not include personal belongings.

democratic control

Socialism extends democracy to the economy. The means of life are controlled democratically by the community, which owns them in common.  

 
 

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About Site

By calling himself a ‘democratic socialist’ Senator Bernie Sanders has revived interest in the subject of ‘socialism.’ More people are trying to find out what ‘socialism’ means. If you are one of them then this site is designed to help you.

The issue of ‘socialism’ is surrounded by an enormous amount of confusion. One of the reasons for that is that different people use the same word to mean quite different things.

Read more...

//GENERAL//

Defining Socialism

Production For Use

Psychology of Socialism

Examples of Socialism

No Money

 

//POTENTIAL//

Waste

Resources

Technologies

//ASPECTS//

Food Production

Housing

Transport

Services

Work and Leisure

 

//THINKERS//

Pioneers

Utopias

People of Science and Culture

//PROBLEMS//

Organization of Socialism

Socialism and Climate Change

The ‘Soviet’ System

 

//CONTACT//

Contact

 

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