socialism

Definition of socialism in English English dictionary: The intermediate phase of social development between capitalism and full communism. This is a strategy whereby the state has control of all key resource-producing industries and manages most aspects of the economy, in contrast to laissez faire capitalism; Any of various economic and political philosophies that support social equality, collective decision-making, distribution of income based on contribution and public ownership of productive capital and natural resources, as advocated by socialists; The socialist political philosophies as a group, including Marxism, libertarian socialism, democratic socialism, and social democracy; a theory of civil polity that aims to secure the reconstruction of society; A kind of command economy in which the government owns and operates the main industries, while individuals own and operate less crucial industries; A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; A term covering many belief systems that oppose the concentration of wealth and power that is a natural part of capitalism Whereas capitalists emphasize freedom for the individual to possess private property, socialists emphasize the well-being of the community They strive to achieve this through many methods, including public ownership, regulation, and state-sponsored social programs Socialism has taken on many different forms throughout the world, with varying degrees of success Some socialists favour a gradual move away from unrestricted capitalism and the maintenance of a democratic society; others favour force to overthrow capitalism and distribute wealth; The intermediate phase of social development between capitalism and full communism. This is a strategy whereby the State has control of all key resource-producing industries and manages most aspects of the market, in contrast to laissez faire capitalism; An economic system that stresses the varying degrees of government ownership and redistribution of wealth; a political theory advocating state ownership of industry; Philosophical approach to government that allows for public ownership of businesses; In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme; The international communist society where classes and the state no longer exist; n a political and economic theory advocating collective ownership of the means of production, and collective control of distribution It advocates use of coercive force by the civil government to attain the "ideal" of economic and social fairness and equality In practice socialism always leads to an aristocracy which brutally enforces its "ideal" upon the rest of society; A social system in which the means of producing and distributing goods are owned collectively and political power is exercised by the whole community; a theory or system of social organization by which the major means of production and distribution are owned, manages, and controlled by the government, by an association or workers, or the community as a whole; An economic and political system in which private property is abolished and the means of production (i e , capital and land) are collectively owned and operated by the community as a whole in order to advance the interests of all In Marxist ideology, socialism is considered an intermediate stage in the inevitable transformation of capitalism into communism A socialist society is envisioned as being characterized by the dictatorship of the proletariat; the existence of a high degree of cooperation and equality; and the absence of discrimination, poverty, exploitation, and war With the non-existence of private ownership, the private profit motive is eliminated from economic life Consequently, market forces do not play a role in organizing the process of production Instead, large-scale government planning is employed to ensure the harmonious operation of the process of production; an economic system in which the people (government) own and operate the principle means of production This means things such as communications, railroads, steel, oil, and so on; a political theory advocating state ownership of industry an economic system based on state ownership of capital; Any of various political philosophies that support social and economic equality, collective decision-making and public control of productive capital and natural resources, as advocated by socialists; The attempted abolition of all privilege by restoring power entirely to the coercive agent behind privilege, the State, thereby converting capitalist oligarchy into Statist monopoly Whitewashing a wall by painting it black; Socialism is a set of left-wing political principles whose general aim is to create a system in which everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from a country's wealth. Under socialism, the country's main industries are usually owned by the state. an economic and political system in which large industries are owned by the government, and taxes are used to take some wealth away from richer citizens and give it to poorer citizens capitalism, communism communism. System of social organization in which private property and the distribution of income are subject to social control; also, the political movements aimed at putting that system into practice. Because "social control" may be interpreted in widely diverging ways, socialism ranges from statist to libertarian, from Marxist to liberal. The term was first used to describe the doctrines of Charles Fourier, Henri de Saint-Simon, and Robert Owen, who emphasized noncoercive communities of people working noncompetitively for the spiritual and physical well-being of all (see utopian socialism). Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, seeing socialism as a transition state between capitalism and communism, appropriated what they found useful in socialist movements to develop their "scientific socialism." In the 20th century, the Soviet Union was the principal model of strictly centralized socialism, while Sweden and Denmark were well-known for their noncommunist socialism. See also collectivism, communitarianism, social democracy. Christian socialism Guild Socialism National Socialism utopian socialism; economic theory or system in which production should be for the public good rather than private profit; The view that the government should own and control major industries; (3 syl ) The political and social scheme of Robert Owen, of Montgomeryshire, who in 1816 published a work to show that society was in a wretched condition, and all its institutions and religious systems were based on wrong principles The prevailing system is competition, but Owen maintained that the proper principle is co-operation; he therefore advocated a community of property and the abolition of degrees of rank (1771-1858 ) The Socialists are called also Owenites (3 syl ) In France the Fourierists and St Simonians are similar sorts of communists, who receive their designations from Fourier and St Simon (q v ); See Communism, Fourierism, Saint- Simonianism, forms of socialism; system in which the government controls production and distribution of goods and wealth in a country; {i} political theory advocating the collective ownership and administration of the production and distribution of goods; political system based on the theory of socialism; government ownership of the means of production; leads to economic stagnation due to a lack of competition, innovation and productivity (examples: postal service, transportation, civil courts, education); an economic system based on state ownership of capital; an economic system in which the means of production are controlled by the state
National Socialism: The ideology of Adolf Hitler's NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party), including a Führer's totalitarian government, racism, nationalist territorial expansion (Lebensraum) and state control of the (war) economy
National Socialism: The ideology of any other patriotic socialist party unconnected with Nazism
democratic socialism: A left-wing ideology that aims to introduce democracy into the workforce, i.e. worker cooperatives, and ensure public provision of basic human needs
democratic socialism: Any form of socialism based on democratic principles and institutions
lemon socialism: The practice in otherwise free market capitalist economies in which the government steps in to bailout or otherwise subsidize weak or failing firms. A government attempting to transition from capitalism to socialism by this method takes control of the worst industries — the "lemons" — first, which undermines such an approach
libertarian socialism: Any of a group of political philosophies dedicated to opposing coercive forms of authority and social hierarchy: prominent examples being capitalism and the State; especially one that encourages the direct seizure by the people of the means of production with the aim of moving toward the creation of a radical direct democracy
socialistically: in a socialist manner, like a socialist
democratic socialism: (Politika Siyaset) '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 political power would be in the hands of the people through a democratic state
Christian Socialism: religious/political movement in which religious and business leaders unite to fight capitalism and promote socialism (began in the late 1800s in Britain and the United States)
Christian socialism: Social and political movement originating in mid-19th-century Europe. Christian socialists attempted to combine the fundamental aims of socialism with the religious and ethical convictions of Christianity, promoting cooperation over competition as a means of helping the poor. The term was coined in Britain in 1848 after the failure of the reform movement known as Chartism. Christian socialism found followers in France and Germany, though the German group, led by Adolf Stoecker, combined its activities with violent anti-Semitism. Although the movement died out in the U.S. in the early 20th century, it retains an important following in Europe
National Socialism: Nazism. or Nazism Totalitarian movement led by Adolf Hitler as head of Germany's Nazi Party (1920-45). Its roots lay in the tradition of Prussian militarism and discipline and German Romanticism, which celebrated a mythic past and proclaimed the rights of the exceptional individual over all rules and laws. Its ideology was shaped by Hitler's beliefs in German racial superiority and the dangers of communism. It rejected liberalism, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, stressing instead the subordination of the individual to the state and the necessity of strict obedience to leaders. It emphasized the inequality of individuals and "races" and the right of the strong to rule the weak. Politically, National Socialism favoured rearmament, reunification of the German areas of Europe, expansion into non-German areas, and the purging of "undesirables," especially Jews. See also fascism
christian socialism: Maurice, Charles Kingsley, and others in England about 1850
christian socialism: Any theory or system that aims to combine the teachings of Christ with the teachings of socialism in their applications to life; Christianized socialism; esp
christian socialism: the principles of this nature advocated by F
guild socialism: An English socialist doctrine of the early 20th century according to which industry would be owned by the state but managed by guilds of workers. Movement that called for workers' control of industry through a system of national guilds, organized internally on democratic lines, and state ownership of industry. It began in England in 1906 with publication of Arthur J. Penty's The Restoration of the Gild System and was organized into the National Guilds League in 1915. It reached its apex with the left-wing shop stewards' movement during World War I and, after the war, with building guilds that built houses for the state. Both movements collapsed after the economic slump of 1921, and the league was dissolved in 1925
guild socialism: a form of socialist theory advocating state ownership of industry but managements by guilds of workers
national socialism: Nazism, political movement of the Nazi party
state socialism: advocated in Germany, which, while retaining the right of private property and the institution of the family and other features of the present form of the state, would intervene by various measures intended to give or maintain equality of opportunity, as compulsory state insurance, old- age pensions, etc
state socialism: an economic system in which the government owns most means of production but some degree of private capitalism is allowed
state socialism: answering closely to socialism of the chair
state socialism: A form of socialism, esp
utopian socialism: socialism achieved by voluntary sacrifice
utopian socialism: Political and social idea of the mid-19th century. Adapted from such reformers as Robert Owen and Charles Fourier, utopian socialism drew from early communist and socialist ideas. Advocates included Louis Blanc, noted for his theory of worker-controlled "social workshops," and John Humphrey Noyes, founder of the Oneida Community in the U.S. Utopian settlements were also attempted by religious groups such as the Mennonites, Shakers, and Mormons. See also Brook Farm