NEO-SOCIALISM

NEO-SOCIALISM: A FORM OF CAPITALISM

The article suggests that socialism is probably most likely to be found in the emerging workfare state. The irony is that socialism becomes a form of capitalism. This neo-socialism is based on private means of production, regulatory bodies, and social services.

INTRODUCTION

MARX AND MARXISM

Marx lived in an era when capitalism was coming to fruition. He saw a strong emerging ruling class, the alienation of the labor force, the creation of false consciousness, and the complex division of labor from historical materialism. He was a Jew who became a nominal Lutheran, married the girl next door, and earned his PhD in his early 20’s. He spent most of his life in England and never met Lenin, Mao, or any other historical Marxist. Before he died, he declared “I am not a Marxist.”

ORTHODOX MARXISM EMERGES

From the writings of DAS KAPITAL, and later editions, various Marxist scholars argued about what Marx meant in terms of definitions and “praxis.” For most, this leads to a one party state, ruled by leading members of the Communist party. Communism never existed as Marx described it. Communism emerges after hundreds of generations of humans are trained to be socialist humans. That is they learned to be selfless. Selfishness is removed by the culture. In the mean time, Command Socialism is the Left of Center totalitarian state. Command Socialism was not monolithic and numerous nations used their own variations of what was attributed to Marx. For the most part, it did not work.

MARXIST REVISIONISM BLOSSOMS IN EUROPE

Revisionism became prominent in parliamentary democracies. Both Trotskyites and Fabians attracted workers to Labour and Social Democratic Parties. The premise of this wing is that Socialism meant government ownership or co-op ownership of the strategic means of production. All else would remain in the hands of Capitalists. At this juncture Marx could be thought of as a contributor or not. Eduard Bernstein is often the name associated with the Revisionist wing. However, revisionism really means a derivation away from Marxism. In the early 80’s Prime Minister of the Tory party in the United Kingdom started privatizing public enterprises and this movement became prominent throughout Western democracies. This leaves us with Scandinavian Capitalism. Most other countries have moved toward forms of Capitalist democracies and the United States has become the leader of globalism in which capital can move almost anywhere and labor can not. The remaining ideologies are capitalist democracies, theocratic states, and various forms of fascism. There are a few Leftist still remaining in power. Command Socialist countries are slowly changing to fascism or democratic fascism.

NEO-SOCIALISM

We are now two revisions away from Marx. One could also cite at this juncture Adam Smith. His writings strongly suggest that he wanted a capitalism that provided for all the members of the society. Marx is utilized here because he is attributed to the word Socialism and he wanted enterprises or government entities to provide services for the proletariat or the salaried workers of a given society.  Today, Conservatives would delight in attaching socialism and Marx to the welfare state to demean it or destroy it and Socialist parties want to retain it because it appears to work and has the effect of using capitalism to Marxist ends. Liberals in America are in a historical squeeze. Most of their values have been put in tatters. At the time of this writing, there is one Socialist in the House of Representatives and he is now in the U.S. senate representing Vermont.

Neo-socialism encourages capitalist dynamism. However, capitalism can only be fostered in its purest form in third world countries that are the location for that which is outsourced. Unregulated capitalism is not bothered by environmental laws, government regulatory bodies, labor unions, regulated working conditions, health and disability insurance or other ramifications. One makes contract with an employer on a daily or weekly basis. One does not receive any benefits.

The neo-socialism described here is also called Social Democratic Revisionism or Social Democratic Socialism. . It is not likely to emerge in the USA. However, it may be able to prosper in European and Scandinavian countries. Although, capitalism is not as profitable, money can be made, class conflict is muted because numerous government agencies provide for in the post modern global society what the extended families and or kins did for their members in earlier societies.

NEO-SOCIALISM OF THE FUTURE

In many Scandinavian countries, this form of neo-socialism is favored by their populations because of the social support provided by the government. 

On the other hand, we may be moving to a globalization that leaves most poorer in core rich countries and in a society of lite democratic fascism for fear of terror and disruption by those who have been left behind.  One of the premises of postmodernism is that change is just that. It may or may not foster or diminish the human condition. We leave the post hope of modernist progress theory to something not necessarily wanted but endure. Nearly 80% live in authoritarian societies and that may be the future of parliamentary democracies of the west.

What is hopeful to a conservative may be post hope to a progressive...

If neo-socialism is to survive, it must become a part of capitalism. Socialism emerges when it becomes the party of social services that work and are efficient in a capitalist economy. It must also be fair. It can not reward people who do not work and are healthy.

It can not support single mothers who will not work. Ultimately, those that don’t contribute must then work for an assigned private employer or their country. Neo-socialism must mean a safety net and a job of the last resort. Services can be public or private, but transparent and regulated.

 CONCLUSION

 Neo-socialism means a private economy and social services that involve work if the person is healthy. It can prosper in many democratic countries, but probably not the United States.

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