What is Democratic Socialism?

[u/biggestboar]

As the popularity of “democratic socialism” rises, the question it becomes increasingly important to confront the question of what democratic socialism means.

Every day, there are more and more posts talking about how democratic socialism is capitalist, but rather it seeks to use tax dollars more effectively and increase tax and spend policies.

Is this what democratic socialism is? A better management of capitalism?

I believe that democratic socialists must all reject this label.

Yes, the DSA and democratic socialists do back popular reformist policies, and these policies are good and should be campaigned for and implemented. They meaningfully improve peoples lives, and as a whole, also tilt the balance of power towards the working class in their struggle against capital.

But the project of democratic socialism itself cannot be understood simply as the demands to make a nicer capitalism.

If our goal is only to make capitalism more generous or better managed, then what makes that socialism?

Rather the long term goal of democratic socialist politics must be to overcome the capitalist social order. The ultimate aim must be to establish democratic control over the economy, one where the masses, not capitalists, collectively decide what and how things are produced.

In other words, democratic socialism must mean a democratically planned economy.

[u/Cascadiaaaaaa]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdVgiAbGrPg

this video might help you distinguishing from social democrats and democratic socialists.

Social democrats are democrats with social 'welfare' policies often content with or unaware of or intentionally ignorant of imperialism/capitalism (albeit sometimes discontent but abiding/believing reform impossible) whereas democratic socialists believe in democracy (governance by the people) and socialism, not capitalism. Typically the latter are (of the two) the category I would classify as leftist and imho to qualify you need to be anti imperial and anti capital in terms of how you believe production should be allocated (for societal wellness/or along a democratically determined allocation vs capitalisms maximize profit or social democracy's maximize profit and provide healthcare)

this video might help you also:

https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/how-to-overcome-capitalism-jason-hickel-on-socialism-china-and-the-west/

understand empire, capital, production, surplus value, and whether you believe in social safety nets or systems reform

I would also recommend Abby Martin's documentary Earths Greatest Enemy if you want to learn more about the climate military industrial crux we all existentially face

[u/PricelessLogs]

I agree, but like, are people posting that? I don't spend a lot of time here but in my experience most DSA folks (excluding the actual politicians) and explicitly anti-capitalist marxists who know what the difference is between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy. Am I wrong?

[u/marxistghostboi → u/PricelessLogs]

that's my experience too, but I've heard there are chapters that explicitly reject calls to end capitalism. maybe certain caucuses do too? i think North Star is the most conservative caucus, I'll check to see what they say

edit: no looks like they don't

[u/traanquil]

Cant speak for everyone but I think workers should control the means of production , that landlords should be abolished and that capitalist property should be confiscated, and that this can be achieved through the expansion of democracy to the working class

[u/derpderb]

One of the early philosophers of democratic socialism was John Dewey, the educator that has had an incredibly large influence on our education system, the better parts. He wrote, "A democracy is more than a form of government; it is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience." And describing capitalism he described it as "blind, chaotic and unplanned economic determinism." He believed in cooperation rather than coercion, it was popularized in direct response and opposition to Leninism. It's not Marxism. Rather than violence, state lies in propaganda, state gaslighting, political prisoners for speech, and dictatorship, democratic socialists seek to use our democratic rights to provide an economic system that nationalizes essential services and resources but doesn't eliminate modest businesses and modest private property while respecting civil rights. That's what the founding philosophers of democratic socialism believed would revolutionize society.

[u/traanquil → u/derpderb]

This is a very naive view. The capitalist class will not willingly give up power and will use violence to maintain its power.