What is Democratic Socialism?
Democratic socialists say democracy should not stop at the voting booth. If a few owners control the jobs, the housing and the money, then ordinary people have little real power, even in a free country. So they want more of the economy owned by the public, by co-ops or by workers. What marks them out is the method. They reject one-party rule and revolution, and insist on multiple parties, a free press and elections. They also differ from many social democrats, who want to manage capitalism, by aiming to go past it.
Core beliefs
- People should have a vote at work and in the economy, as well as in government.
- Key industries, utilities and banks should belong to the public or to society.
- Health care, housing and schooling should be rights for everyone.
- Socialism must be won and kept through free elections and civil liberties.
- Unions and social movements are the main force that drives change.
History
The idea grew from the socialist movements of the late 1800s. In Britain, the Fabians and then the Labour Party pursued socialism through Parliament, and in 1918 Labour adopted a clause calling for common ownership. In France, Jean Jaurès argued that socialism was the next stage of the republic. In America, Eugene Debs ran for president for the Socialist Party several times in the early 1900s, and Norman Thomas carried on afterward. After 1917, democratic socialists drew a line between themselves and Soviet communism, which they thought denied freedom. In 1982 Michael Harrington helped found the Democratic Socialists of America.
Variants
Some favor taking key industries into state hands under an elected government. Others prefer worker co-ops and self-management, which looks more like market socialism. Ethical socialists, shaped by R. H. Tawney, build their case on fellowship and equality as moral values. Eco-socialists add climate and nature to the list. In many countries, the left of a social democratic party and a democratic socialist group are hard to tell apart, and one party may hold both.
Criticisms
Right-wing critics say broad public ownership dulls incentives, wastes money and gives too much power to the state, even an elected one. Economists often argue that without market prices it is hard to decide where money and resources should go. Social democrats say the plan is too costly or unrealistic, and that a regulated market can reach similar results. From the other side, revolutionary socialists argue that business will block any elected government that threatens it.
In practice
The best-known test came in Britain after 1945, when Clement Attlee's Labour government took coal, rail and other industries into public hands and launched the National Health Service in 1948. Democratic socialist parties have sat in governments across Europe and Latin America. Many of the policies linked to the tradition, such as universal health cover, public housing, worker seats on company boards and co-ops, are now part of debates in many democracies. On the 12 axes, it scores strongly toward Public on Ownership and toward Shared on Welfare.