Differences and conflict within Socialism

Revolutionary socialism rejects the use of democratic methods in the pursuit of a socialist society. In the 19th century, this 'revolutionary road' to socialism was popular with many on the left for

two reasons.

·   The early development of industrialisation and capitalism brought poverty, exploitation and unemployment, which was expected to radicalise the working classes who were at the sharp end of these changes.

·      As the workers were not part of the 'political nation', they had little ability to influence policies in government systems usually dominated by the landed aristocracy or bourgeoisie.

Revolutionary socialism, closely associated with Marxism, is a strand of socialist thought advocating for the overthrow of the existing system to establish a fundamentally different one. This theory emerged in the nineteenth century in various forms, appealing to many during a time when voting rights were limited and trade unions were illegal. Revolutionary socialists believed that revolution was imperative as the state served the ruling class and could not be reformed but had to be dismantled. They aimed for the complete abolition of capitalism, class distinctions, and private property, ultimately striving for absolute equality in a communist society. The Russian Revolution of 1917 marked the first successful socialist revolution, introducing Lenin's concept of an intellectual vanguard leading the unpoliticized masses. Throughout the twentieth century, revolutionary socialism inspired global uprisings against oppression and played a significant role in anti-colonial movements, with revolutions in China and Cuba. However, the outcomes of revolutionary socialism often fell short of expectations, with authoritarian states emerging and civil rights being suppressed. Today, revolutionary socialism has waned in relevance due to the USSR's failure and the collapse of communism in 1989/90. Understanding socialism necessitates a grasp of European history, with changes in ideology linked to historical events such as the Industrial Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the Cold War, and the fall of communism.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 'social democracy' was linked to anti-capitalism and even revolutionary beliefs. In the UK, for instance, the Social Democratic Federation was established by Henry Hyndman in 1881 after being inspired by Marx's works. By the mid-20th century, it evolved into a key form of revisionist socialism, moving away from Marx and Lenin's ideologies. This transformation originated from post-1945 developments within West Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), a significant socialist entity in Western Europe. At the 1959 Bad Godesberg conference, SPD revisionists like future West German chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt persuaded the party to sever ties with Marxism, embracing modern capitalism and the post-war West German state. This shift also had a British influence, with Brandt and others bolstered by British socialist Anthony Crosland's book 'The Future of Socialism' (1956), a seminal work in post-war social democracy. Crosland advocated for a reformed capitalism based on John Maynard Keynes' principles, where the state actively managed market forces to ensure full employment and steady economic growth. He argued that Keynesian economics made capitalism more stable, leading to a richer, fairer, and more egalitarian society. Social democrats drew inspiration from theorists like Bernstein, who in 'Evolutionary Socialism' (1899) posited that capitalism had evolved, workers' conditions were improving, and classes could collaborate. This perspective challenged Marx, asserting that revolution was neither inevitable nor desirable. Bernstein highlighted democracy as the path to achieving socialist objectives, supporting trade unions and cooperative movements to enhance workers' rights. Social democracy combines capitalist acceptance with a belief in a proactive state to curb capitalism's excesses and establish a welfare system for societal equality. Gradualism rejects revolution in favor of parliamentary socialism, aiming to unite the nation across classes peacefully and democratically. As workers' economic and social statuses improved, they gained voting rights and societal integration through avenues such as trade unions. This progress led to the emergence of socialist political parties like the UK's Labour Party, appealing to the expanding working-class electorate. Social democrats view the state as a neutral instrument adaptable to any mandate, not merely a tool of the capitalist elite. Critical of free-market inequalities yet recognizing capitalism's wealth creation capacity, social democrats seek to harmonize socialism with capitalism. Through progressive taxation and a mixed economy model blending private enterprise with state control in key sectors, they address social and economic disparities. Influential liberal economist John Maynard Keynes shaped 20th-century social democracy, advocating for active state intervention to stimulate economic growth.

Since the 1980s, reformist socialist parties worldwide, particularly in countries like the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand, have experienced a wave of revisionism known as 'neo-revisionism'. This has led them to distance themselves to varying degrees from the traditional principles of social democracy. This shift has been labeled in various ways, such as 'new' social democracy, the 'third way', the 'radical centre', the 'active centre', and the 'Neue Mitte' (new middle). The ideological implications of neo-revisionism, especially its connection to traditional social democracy and socialism in general, have sparked debate and confusion. The diverse forms of neo-revisionism in different countries have given rise to contrasting projects, including those led by Tony Blair and New Labour in the UK, Bill Clinton and the New Democrats in the USA, as well as initiatives in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite these variations, the core idea of neo-revisionism is encapsulated in the concept of the third way, which proposes an alternative to both capitalism and socialism, specifically challenging old-style social democracy and neoliberalism. While the third way is open to interpretation and lacks precision, certain recurring themes can be identified. One of these is the rejection of traditional socialism, particularly the 'cybernetic model' of socialism proposed by Anthony Giddens. This model sees the state as the brain within society, a concept that neo-revisionism moves away from in favor of a 'dynamic market economy', aligning with the ethos of globalisation and the transition to an 'information society' or 'knowledge economy'. Embracing the market over state intervention, the third way promotes a pro-business and pro-enterprise approach, seeking to build upon the neoliberal transformations of the 1980s and 1990s. Another key belief of the third way is its emphasis on community and moral responsibility, drawing on socialist principles like fraternity and cooperation. While it adopts many economic theories of neoliberalism, the third way rejects its philosophical underpinnings and social implications, warning against the moral erosion caused by market fundamentalism. Some iterations of the third way, such as the 'Blair project' in the UK, strive to merge communitarian and liberal ideals, resembling the 'new liberalism' of the late nineteenth century. At the core of communitarian liberalism is the idea that rights and responsibilities are intrinsically linked, advocating for a balance between the two.