Socialism. A system in which the means of production and distribution are owned by the society and community (i.e. government) rather than by private individuals. Such a system is usually implemented by legal means, while communism is a form of socialism in which private ownership of the means of production and distribution is replaced by violent revolution. At any rate, socialism continues to be advocated today by politicians such as Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Zohran Mamdani.
But when did the idea of socialism begin? Not with Karl Marx, since he advocated taking socialism to extremes, as noted in his book The Communist Manifesto. Instead, the concept of socialism was created in France during the 1790s by those who believed that the government should organize the economy. In addition, socialists believed the rich and the poor should be more economically equal, and that private property should be regulated by the government or eliminated and replaced by state or community ownership. The result would be a utopian society.
During the late 1700s and early 1800s, socialism was advocated by four French individuals: Count Henri de Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier, Louis Blanc, and Pierre Joseph Proudhon.
Count Henri de Saint-Simon was a noble who believed the key to progress was social organization. Such organization would be achieved by the “parasites” (e.g. court, nobles, lawyers, clergy) giving way to the “doers”- scientists, engineers, industrialists, who in turn would plan the economy. In addition, the doers could also implement vast public works projects and investment banks.
Charles Fourier was a philosopher who called for the establishment self-sufficient communities devoted to a combination of agriculture and industry- an idea that spread to America.
Louis Blanc was a journalist who called on the workers to demand the right to vote and take over the state by peaceful means. He believed the state should establish government-backed workplaces in order to ensure full employment. He also believed in the concept of the right to work.
Pierre Joseph Proudhon was a printer who believed the concept of property was nothing but theft, as well as property being profit that was stolen from the worker, who in turn was the source of all wealth. At the same time, Proudhon was also an anarchist who feared the power of state.
There was sympathy among the French population to the ideas of these four individuals, given the radicalism brought on by the French Revolution, as well as the ideologies that emerged in its aftermath (e.g. liberalism, nationalism). Such sympathy could be found among skilled artisans who opposed laissez-faire laws preventing workers from organizing, as well as among workers who wanted collective action and government intervention in economic affairs.
The idea of utopian socialism never gained the popularity its advocates sought in France and elsewhere, given the weaknesses of its economic arguments. As a result, Karl Marx took socialism to the next level (i.e. communism) when he emphasized the concept of class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Such a struggle would result in a violent worldwide revolution in which the proletariat would triumph, and a classless society would emerge.
Today, the idea of socialism has become more popular, due to leftist indoctrination in the schools and differentiating its ideas from those of communism- particularly by adhering to the beliefs of Saint-Simon, Fourier, Blanc, and Proudhon.
But at any rate, the concept of socialism has been proven to be inefficient and destructive.
Which is why it must be defeated.
