• The term ‘socialism’ is understood and defined in various ways by different thinkers and schools of thought.
• C.E.M. Joad in Introduction to Modern Political Theory (1924) observed that socialism varies with the temperaments of its advocates and the abuses prompting its advocacy.
• Joad compared socialism to a hat that has lost its shape because everyone wears it.
• Many works on socialism have evaded the problem of defining it, but a working definition is necessary to understand its applications.
• The Oxford English Dictionary defines socialism as a theory or policy advocating the ownership or control of the means of production (capital, land, property, etc.) by the community and their administration in the interests of all.
• This definition highlights the method and goal of socialism but is not comprehensive.
• A more elaborate definition is provided by Joseph A. Schumpeter in Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy (1942), where socialism is described as the organization of society where the means of production are controlled by public authority, making decisions on production and distribution instead of private firms.
• Many other definitions of socialism align with these ideas.
• In essence, socialism refers to an economic system where the major instruments of social production are owned and controlled by public authority to ensure they serve the public interest.
• Socialism is based on the idea that liberty and equality in the political sphere are meaningless without a reorganization of the economic life of society to turn them into substantive rights for citizens.
• The varieties of socialism differ due to their different answers to the question of how socialism can be established in society.
• Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the true character of socialism.

EVOLUTIONARY AND REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM

• ‘Socialism’ in popular parlance often refers to evolutionary socialism, achieved gradually, not through a complete transformation in one step.
• Evolutionary socialism differs from revolutionary socialism, which seeks to overthrow the capitalist system entirely in one stroke.
• Evolutionary socialism accepts a compromise between capitalism and socialism, allowing capitalism to continue with minor changes in a socialist direction, fitting within the liberal tradition.
• Revolutionary socialism attacks the contradictions of the existing social order and aligns with the Marxist tradition.
• Evolutionary socialism may be termed ‘liberal socialism’, while revolutionary socialism is referred to as ‘Marxian socialism’.
• Evolutionary socialism uses the democratic method, parliamentary reform, and economic planning to represent and address the interests of the working classes, leading to democratic socialism.
• Revolutionary socialism advocates organizing the working classes to fight against capitalism and establish complete socialization of production and distribution through revolution.
• Evolutionary socialism seeks to secure the economic rights of working classes, reconciling their interests with those of other classes, supporting the theory of harmony or equilibrium in social relationships.
• Revolutionary socialism rejects the theory of equilibrium and aims to reverse the power dynamic between dominant and dependent classes, ultimately aiming for a classless society.
• Exponents of evolutionary socialism were often associated with Fabian socialism.

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM

• Marxism seeks socialism through revolutionary method, while democratic socialism prefers an evolutionary or democratic method.
• Democratic socialism emphasizes the inseparability of democracy and socialism, aiming for social justice through democratic processes.
• It seeks partial socialization of production and distribution, advocating state ownership of essential means to ensure the supply of goods and services for the population.
• The goal of democratic socialism is to satisfy not just material needs, but also moral, intellectual, and emotional needs for the fuller development of individual personality.
• Freedom of thought and expression is essential for the development of personality, and democratic socialists stress the importance of freedom of religion, movement, and other democratic freedoms.
• Democratic socialism opposes all forms of dictatorship, including the dictatorship of the proletariat, as it suppresses personality and is detrimental to human happiness.
• It supports free competition for power, with structures like political parties, pressure groups, and parliamentary institutions playing a crucial role in achieving socialist ends.
• Harold J. Laski contributed significantly to democratic socialism, combining liberal freedom with socialist justice in works like Liberty in the Modern State (1930) and A Grammar of Politics (1938).
• E.F.M. Durbin elaborated the tenets of democratic socialism in The Politics of Democratic Socialism (1940).
• Countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and India follow the path of democratic socialism.
• Democratic socialism seeks to balance democratic rights and civil liberties with social-economic rights, a challenging combination.
• Achieving this requires:
  • A strong public opinion in favor of socialism and political will to implement it.
  • A robust resource base for the state to provide public services and social security without excessive taxation or coercion.
• Leadership must cultivate a sense of duty, work culture, and patriotism among citizens to ensure success.
• Heavy taxation on successful citizens could damage the resource base and undermine the prospects of democratic socialism.