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Socialism

African socialism
Arab socialism
Communism
DeLeonism
Democratic socialism
Eco-socialism
Economic democracy
Guild socialism
Libertarian socialism
Melanesian socialism
Market socialism
Revolutionary socialism
Social anarchism
Social democracy
Socialist market economy
Utopian socialism
Third World Socialism

Religious socialism

Buddhist socialism
Christian socialism
Islamic socialism

Key issues

Criticisms of socialism
History of socialism
Socialist economics
Socialist state
Types of socialism

People and organizations

List of socialists
First International
Second International
Third International
Fourth International
Socialist International
WFDY
IUSY

Related subjects

Anarchism
Autogestion
Class struggle
Democracy
Dictatorship of the proletariat
Egalitarianism
Equality of outcome
Impossibilism
Internationalism
Marxism
Proletarian revolution
Socialism in one country
Trade union
Utilitarianism

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Socialism refers to the goal of a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community.[1] As an economic system, socialism is often characterized by collective ownership of the means of production. Since the distribution of wealth is controlled as a whole, and not individually, socialism has been identified with communism. In a practical ideology, members of the community would contribute as much as reasonably possible, yet they would be capable of consuming as much as reasonably necessary.

The modern socialist movement largely originated in the late-19th century working class movement. During this period, the term "socialism" was first used by European social critics, who spoke against capitalism and private property. Karl Marx, who helped establish and define the modern socialist movement, wrote that socialism would be the socioeconomic system that arises after the proletarian revolution.[2]

Since the 19th century, socialism has coalesced into several socialist movements with differing and sometimes conflicting ideas, such those focused on reform and revolution. Some revolutionary socialists, influenced by the Soviet model of economic development, have championed complete nationalization of the means of production. Reformist socialists, on the other hand, have proposed selective nationalization of key industries within the framework of mixed economies.

Market socialism is another major strand of socialism. During the 1970's and 1980's, (Communists in Yugoslavia and Hungary proposed market socialism. Chinese Communists since the reform era, as well as some Western socialist economists, continue to propose various forms of market socialism. In socialist market economies, consumer demand has a greater influence over which items will be produced by the centrally controlled means of production., rather than central planners, guide production and exchange.[3] Social Anarchists, Luxemburgists (such as those in the Socialist Party USA) and some elements of the United States New Left favor decentralized collective ownership in the form of cooperatives or workers' councils over government ownership of the means of production.

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