Democratic Socialism

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Democratic Socialism


Socialism was divided into two main schools after karl Marx. These were – (i) Revolutionary socialism, and (ii) Evolutionary socialism. Revolutionary socialism believes in violence. Anarchism, syndicalism, and communism are kinds of revolutionary socialism. Evolutionary socialism or democratic socialism believes in the adoption of peaceful and legitimate means for bringing about socialism. Collectivism, fabianism and guild socialism come under the category of Democratic Socialism


Several eminent socialist thinkers made their contribution to the development of Democratic Socialism. These include R.H. Jawney, Ramsey Macdonald, Harold J. Laski, Clement R. Atlee, F.M. Durbin, John Kenneth Galbraith, CAR Crossland, GDH Cole, Jawaharlal Nehru, Robert Owen, St. Simon.


Evolution of Democratic Socialism






The impact of the industrial and intellectual revolutions was great on the minds of European thinkers, and it helped the clear emergence of socialism. Original and rational thinkers began to make out a strong case for social and economic justice and condemned the exploitation of workers, the actual producers of wealth. The Industrial Revolution, which was attended by several ugly features, gave opportunities for fresh and revolutionary thought a serious socialist thinkers. The Industrial Revolution in Britain and the Intellectual Revolution in France more or less at the same time prepared the ground for socialist thought.

Democratic socialist ideas first blossomed in Britain. It is regarded as the leader and profounder of democratic socialism. Britain had started peogressive politics in terms of parliamentary supremacy in the 17th century against all rival claims. In the 20th century, again it spearheaded the ideology of democratic Socialism.


Definition and Meaning of Democratic Socialism






Socialism in its essence is a state of society in which all people work cooperatively as equals for the common good of all. In recent times people who hold this principle have been describing the principle as democratic socialism, to distinguish the principle from authoritarian and undemocratic states, which have wrongly described themselves as socialist in character.


The word socialism, as it first appeared was used in publication devoted to cooperatives in Great Britain. Socialism was used to describe a society in which people work together to increase the benefit of all. Another underlying assumption was that people are, by natural rights, equals. Socialist have always been recognised for upholding the principle of the equality of peoples as a highest value. Socialism describes a society in which people work together to increase the benefit of all. Because socialists value the principle of equality, persons truely socialist in spirit value democracy as a vital political principle. In a democracy, each person has the right to be heard and to be given due consideration. The governments is chosen by a vote of the people. This is the basis of democratic socialist.


Democratic socialism is difficult to define, and groups of people have radically different definition for the term. Some equate it to other socio-economic systems such as Collectivism, State Socialism, Evolutionary Socialism.


Democratic socialism has been defined as a "political and economic theory of social oragnization, the essential feature of which is governmental control of economic activities to the end that competition shall give way to cooperation and that oppoetunities of life and the rewards of Labour shall be equally apportioned". (Webster)


Bogdan Dentisg, in 'Democratic Socialism' defines it 'as proposing a radical oragnization of the socio-economic order through public ownership workers' control of the labour process and re-distributive tax policies.


Democratic Socialists support the idea of democratic public control of these activites which are described as the 'commanding heights' of the economy, but do not support the idea of state ownership of every human enterprise.


Democratic socialism advocates socialism as a basis for the economy and democracy as a governing principle. This means that the means of production are owned by the entire population and that the political power would be in the hands of the people through a democratic state or republic as a post-state form of self-government. In its broadest sense, democratic socialism could refer to any attempt to bring out socialism through peaceful democratic means as opposed to violent insurrection. That does not include social democracy— "It is the Policy or Theory which aims at securing by the action of the central democratic authority a better distribution and in due subordination through a better production of wealth that now prevails." — Britannica (11th ED.)


Differences between Socialism and Capitalism







Capitalism describes a state of society, which accepts and encourages private ownership of the means of production. Capitalism exalts the selfish individual. In capitalism regulation of self-interest is discouraged as a hindrance to the operation of a "free market".


In contrast democratic socialists favour government programmes to help provide all citizens with their basic needs. Socialists have implemented improved unemployment compensation, social security, more equitable taxation public radio and television, and improved educational oppotunities.

Thus, democratic socialism is the radical idea that people should live and work cooperatively in a democratic society.



Principles of Democratic Socialism







1. Widening Base of Democracy:- Democratic socialism desire to widen the base of democracy. If democracy is to be real, it should go far beyond the frontiers of politics and enter the economic field. Unless democratic principles are applied to production and distribution democracy will remain a sham.


2. It is opposed to Capitalism:- Democratic socialism strongly condemns capitalism. According to its capitalism on is based inequality exploitation of the masses and this system can never be for the sake public welfare. Democratic socialism opposes dehumanising tendency capitalism. It strongely rejects violence and terror tactics of communism. Socialist society can be establised only through democratic process such elections, parliament, fundamental rights, etc.


3. Against selfish Individualism:- Democratic Socialism stand for the common ownership of important means of production, which are to be utilised for the common good. It holds that socialism does not require wholesale socialization of the means of production and distribution instead, if some essential means of production and distribution are placed under state ownership so as to ensure the supply of essential achievement in the direction of Socialism


4. Supports Parliamentary Democracy:- Most democratic socialists support parliamentary democracy, although libertarian socialists favour decentralized communes. According to Ramsey Macdonald an individual is a rational being who needs both economic and political liberty and this can be achieved only in a parliamentary democracy. If any democratic socialist party gets a majority in the parliament, this party can establish both political and economic authority and supports local self governments.


5. Favours Peace:- Democratic socialists have always favoured peace and opposed war as a means of settling differences between nations and groups, thus, look to duly consituted courts to settle differences. Democratic socialists knowing the world societies are 
interdependent; hope to establish a world of cooperative common wealth a world of nations which will operated with each other for the common good.




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