State Socialism
State socialism is a term variant of socialism, which refers to the means of production and the political monopoly. State socialism is often referred to simply as " socialism." The "state" attribute is used mainly to China and to distinguish itself as a socialist designating states of the former Warsaw Pact, other democratic, anti-authoritarian or state socialist movements and critical theories.
Conceptual history
" The mentioned term" state socialism " was first used in the German labor movement under August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht. The old social democracy made at that time about the trials Bismarks funny, the labor movement with the help of social concessions and police state to demoralize ( carrot and stick ). The old Social Democrats called this policy " state socialism ". In this sense, in a policy with a "carrot and stick" against the working people, sounds like " state socialism " at quite different. "
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were a particularly after the failure of the Paris Commune, for the seizure of political power by the working class, which just had to organize in working parties. Thus, within the International Working Men's Association (IAA or later " First International ", London Conference on 17 to 23 September 1871, and the Hague Convention 2 to 7 September 1872) adopted at its instigation, one of them worded resolution, the solidarity of the expressed with the Paris Commune, and it turned out that the " constitution of the working class as a political party is essential for the triumph of the social revolution and its ultimate goal - the abolition of classes " is. In addition, the statutes were later to this point, constitution of workers' parties and the conquest of political power supplements.
Often also the formula of "actually existing socialism " or real socialism is used for the concept of state socialism. These countries, which were led by a Communist Party, appealed to Marxism or Marxism -Leninism. However, there are also differences between the theory of Karl Marx and these socialist states. Some critics thought that these states are excessively bureaucratic and have been reduced to a mere nationalization of industry.
According to the Marxist view, it means that the state after a successful revolution gradually on the road to communism " asleep " ( Friedrich Engels) will, if he had become no longer necessary or unnecessary. In a transitional period, the State is required for the dictatorship of the proletariat. In the Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels demand the nationalization of all instruments of production: " The proletariat will use its political supremacy to wrest from the bourgeoisie, by degrees, all capital, all instruments of production in the hands of the State, ie organized as the ruling class proletariat to centralize and to increase the total of productive forces as rapidly as possible. " In reality, no one could the former socialist countries, also due to the absence of the world revolution, " asleep ". The nature of these governments is controversial within Marxism. The Trotskyists denote the socialist states as Stalinist and claim that the socialist claim a bureaucratic dictatorship has given way. Certain directions of Trotskyism ( under Tony Cliff ) keep the former states of the USSR even for state capitalist and non-state socialist.
Anarchists criticize Marxism ( with its claim to power, conquest and whose idea of a state ) as state socialism, because according to their ideas for social appropriation of the means of production, no state is required.
Historically, the term was based on the Bismarckian social policy, often by liberals - but also of Bismarck himself
Likewise, the economic policies of National Socialism can be referred to as state socialism. On the one hand, there was indeed entrepreneurial freedoms for the company. From the mental construct of the fascist state and the actual real economic expression, but increased state intervention in economic affairs and tried this direct.
Today, many European leftist parties support different forms of nationalization in the form of democratic socialism. However, many of these mostly moderate socialist parties negate the overthrow of capitalism in the form of a socialist revolution, so they advocate a continued existence of the capitalist state, but with enhanced social components. This is often referred to as state socialism, but is ultimately a variant of social democracy, the idea of " tame" capitalism through the welfare state to.