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The first socialists were termed [[Utopia|utopian]] socialists by later socialist thinkers, and include [[Robert Owen]], who tried to found socialist factories and other structures within a [[Capitalism|capitalist]] society and [[Henri de Saint Simon]], the first [[individual]] to coin to term "socialism" and the originator of technocracy and industrial planning. The first socialists predicted a world improved by harnessing technology and combining it with better social organization, and many contemporary socialists share this belief.[http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h44-ph.html].Early socialist thinkers tended to favor more authentic meritocracy, while many modern socialists have a more egalitarian approach. There is disagreement over the extent that National Socialism is socialist; although Adolf Hitler's National Socialist Program included socialist elements, the Nazis did not nationalize industry, but instead created a highly regulated economy with state-led economic planning.

The first socialists were termed [[Utopia|utopian]] socialists by later socialist thinkers, and include [[Robert Owen]], who tried to found socialist factories and other structures within a [[Capitalism|capitalist]] society and [[Henri de Saint Simon]], the first [[individual]] to coin to term "socialism" and the originator of technocracy and industrial planning. The first socialists predicted a world improved by harnessing technology and combining it with better social organization, and many contemporary socialists share this belief.[http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h44-ph.html].Early socialist thinkers tended to favor more authentic meritocracy, while many modern socialists have a more egalitarian approach. There is disagreement over the extent that National Socialism is socialist; although Adolf Hitler's National Socialist Program included socialist elements, the Nazis did not nationalize industry, but instead created a highly regulated economy with state-led economic planning.

Socialists mainly share the [[belief]] that capitalism unfairly concentrates [[power]] and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital, creates an unequal society, and does not provide equal opportunities for everyone in society. Therefore socialists advocate the [[creation]] of a [[society]] in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly based on the amount of work expended in production, although there is considerable disagreement among socialists over how, and to what extent this could be achieved.  

Socialists mainly share the [[belief]] that [[capitalism]] unfairly concentrates [[power]] and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital, creates an unequal society, and does not provide equal opportunities for everyone in society. Therefore socialists advocate the [[creation]] of a [[society]] in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly based on the amount of work expended in production, although there is considerable disagreement among socialists over how, and to what extent this could be achieved.  

Socialism is not a concrete philosophy of fixed doctrine and program; its branches advocate a degree of social interventionism and economic rationalization, sometimes opposing each other. Another dividing feature of the socialist movement is the split between reformists and the revolutionaries on how a socialist economy should be established. Some socialists advocate complete [[nationalization]] of the means of production, distribution, and exchange; others advocate state control of capital within the framework of a market economy. Socialists inspired by the Soviet model of economic development have advocated the creation of centrally planned economies directed by a state that owns all the means of production. Others, including Yugoslavian, Hungarian, Polish and Chinese Communists in the 1970s and 1980s, instituted various forms of market socialism, combining co-operative and state ownership models with the free market exchange and free price system (but not prices for the means of production) Social democrats propose selective nationalization of key national industries in mixed economies and tax-funded welfare programs and the regulation of markets. Libertarian socialism (including social anarchism and libertarian Marxism) rejects state control and ownership of the economy altogether and advocates direct collective ownership of the means of production via co-operative workers' councils and workplace democracy.

Socialism is not a concrete philosophy of fixed doctrine and program; its branches advocate a degree of social interventionism and economic rationalization, sometimes opposing each other. Another dividing feature of the socialist movement is the split between reformists and the revolutionaries on how a socialist economy should be established. Some socialists advocate complete [[nationalization]] of the means of production, distribution, and exchange; others advocate state control of capital within the framework of a market economy. Socialists inspired by the Soviet model of economic development have advocated the creation of centrally planned economies directed by a state that owns all the means of production. Others, including Yugoslavian, Hungarian, Polish and Chinese Communists in the 1970s and 1980s, instituted various forms of market socialism, combining co-operative and state ownership models with the free market exchange and free price system (but not prices for the means of production) Social democrats propose selective nationalization of key national industries in mixed economies and tax-funded welfare programs and the regulation of markets. Libertarian socialism (including social anarchism and libertarian Marxism) rejects state control and ownership of the economy altogether and advocates direct collective ownership of the means of production via co-operative workers' councils and workplace democracy.

In 1869, under the influence of Marx and Engels, the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany was founded. In 1875, the SDW Party merged with the General German Workers' Association, of [[Ferdinand Lassalle]], metamorphosing to the contemporary German Social Democratic Party (SPD). Since the 1870s, in Germany, Socialism was associated with [[trade unions]], as the SPD constituted trade unions, while, in Austria, France, and other countries, socialist parties and anarchists did like-wise. That [[ideology|ideologic]] development greatly contrasts with the British [[experience]] of Socialism, wherein politically-moderate New Model Unions dominated unionized labor from the mid–nineteenth century, and trade-unionism was stronger than the ''political'' labor movement, until appearance of the Labour Party in the early twentieth century. The first U.S. socialist party was founded in 1876, then metamorphosed to a Marxist party in 1890; the Socialist Labor Party exists today.  An early leader of the Socialist Labor Party was [[Daniel De Leon]], who had considerable influence beyond the United States as well.

In 1869, under the influence of Marx and Engels, the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany was founded. In 1875, the SDW Party merged with the General German Workers' Association, of [[Ferdinand Lassalle]], metamorphosing to the contemporary German Social Democratic Party (SPD). Since the 1870s, in Germany, Socialism was associated with [[trade unions]], as the SPD constituted trade unions, while, in Austria, France, and other countries, socialist parties and anarchists did like-wise. That [[ideology|ideologic]] development greatly contrasts with the British [[experience]] of Socialism, wherein politically-moderate New Model Unions dominated unionized labor from the mid–nineteenth century, and trade-unionism was stronger than the ''political'' labor movement, until appearance of the Labour Party in the early twentieth century. The first U.S. socialist party was founded in 1876, then metamorphosed to a Marxist party in 1890; the Socialist Labor Party exists today.  An early leader of the Socialist Labor Party was [[Daniel De Leon]], who had considerable influence beyond the United States as well.

Socialists supported and advocated many branches of Socialism - from the gradualism of trade unions to the radical revolution of Marx and Engels to the anarchists emphasizing small-scale communities and [[agrarianism]]; all co-existing with the most influential Marxism and Social Democracy. The Anarchists, led by the [[Mikhail Bakunin]], believed Capitalism and State inseparable, neither can be abolished without abolishing the other.

Socialists supported and advocated many branches of Socialism - from the gradualism of trade unions to the radical revolution of Marx and Engels to the anarchists emphasizing small-scale communities and [[agrarianism]]; all co-existing with the most influential Marxism and Social Democracy. The Anarchists, led by the [[Mikhail Bakunin]], believed [[Capitalism]] and [[State]] inseparable, neither can be abolished without abolishing the other.

==Second International==

==Second International==

and  

and  

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

"Although the world contains resources, which could be made to provide a decent life for everyone, Capitalism has been incapable of satisfying the elementary needs of the world’s population. It proved unable to function without devastating crises and mass unemployment. It produced social insecurity and glaring contrasts between rich and poor. It resorted to imperialist expansion and colonial exploitation, thus making conflicts, between nations and [[race]]s, more bitter. In some countries, powerful capitalist groups helped the barbarism of the past to raise its head again in the form of Fascism and Nazism." The Frankfurt Declaration 1951

"Although the world contains resources, which could be made to provide a decent life for everyone, [[Capitalism]] has been incapable of satisfying the elementary needs of the world’s population. It proved unable to function without devastating crises and mass unemployment. It produced social insecurity and glaring contrasts between rich and poor. It resorted to imperialist expansion and colonial exploitation, thus making conflicts, between nations and [[race]]s, more bitter. In some countries, powerful capitalist groups helped the barbarism of the past to raise its head again in the form of Fascism and Nazism." The Frankfurt Declaration 1951

</blockquote>

</blockquote>

In the UK, the National Health Service provided free health care to all of the British population. Working-class housing was provided in council housing estates, and university education available via a school grant system. Ellen Wilkinson, Minister for Education, introduced free milk in schools, saying, in a 1946 Labor Party conference: ''Free milk will be provided in Hoxton and Shoreditch, in Eton and Harrow. What more social equality can you have than that?'' To wit, Clement Attlee's biographer says this ''contributed enormously to the defeat of childhood illnesses resulting from bad diet. Generations of poor children grew up stronger and healthier, because of this one, small, and inexpensive act of generosity, by the Attlee government''.

In the UK, the National Health Service provided free health care to all of the British population. Working-class housing was provided in council housing estates, and university education available via a school grant system. Ellen Wilkinson, Minister for Education, introduced free milk in schools, saying, in a 1946 Labor Party conference: ''Free milk will be provided in Hoxton and Shoreditch, in Eton and Harrow. What more social equality can you have than that?'' To wit, Clement Attlee's biographer says this ''contributed enormously to the defeat of childhood illnesses resulting from bad diet. Generations of poor children grew up stronger and healthier, because of this one, small, and inexpensive act of generosity, by the Attlee government''.

In 1956, [[Anthony Crosland]] said that 25 per cent of British industry was nationalized, and that public employees, including those in nationalised industries, constituted a like percentage of the country's total employed population. Yet Labour did not seek ending capitalism; national outlook and dedication to the "post-war order" prevented nationalization of the industrial commanding heights, as Lenin put it. In 1945, they were denominated ''socialist'', but, in the UK, Labour were the parliamentary majority, ''The government had not the smallest intention of bringing in the ‘common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange’'' as written in [[Clause 4]] of the Labour Party Constitution; nevertheless, Crosland said Capitalism had ended: ''To the question, ‘Is this still capitalism?’, I would answer ‘No’.'' In 1959, the German Social Democratic Party adopted the [[Godesberg Program]], rejecting class struggle and Marxism.

In 1956, [[Anthony Crosland]] said that 25 per cent of British industry was nationalized, and that public employees, including those in nationalised industries, constituted a like percentage of the country's total employed population. Yet Labour did not seek ending [[capitalism]]; national outlook and dedication to the "post-war order" prevented nationalization of the industrial commanding heights, as Lenin put it. In 1945, they were denominated ''socialist'', but, in the UK, Labour were the parliamentary majority, ''The government had not the smallest intention of bringing in the ‘common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange’'' as written in [[Clause 4]] of the Labour Party Constitution; nevertheless, Crosland said Capitalism had ended: ''To the question, ‘Is this still [[capitalism]]?’, I would answer ‘No’.'' In 1959, the German Social Democratic Party adopted the [[Godesberg Program]], rejecting class struggle and Marxism.

In 1980, with the rise of conservative [[neoliberal]] politicians such as Ronald Reagan in the U.S., Margaret Thatcher in Britain and Brian Mulroney, in Canada, the Western, welfare state was attacked from within. As education secretary of the Conservative Government, 1970–1974, Margaret Thatcher abolished free milk for school children. Monetarists and neoliberals attacked social welfare systems as impediments to [[private]] entrepreneurship at [[public]] expense.

In 1980, with the rise of conservative [[neoliberal]] politicians such as Ronald Reagan in the U.S., Margaret Thatcher in Britain and Brian Mulroney, in Canada, the Western, welfare state was attacked from within. As education secretary of the Conservative Government, 1970–1974, Margaret Thatcher abolished free milk for school children. Monetarists and neoliberals attacked social welfare systems as impediments to [[private]] entrepreneurship at [[public]] expense.

==Economics==

==Economics==

Economically, socialism denotes an economic system of state ownership and/or worker ownership of the means of production and distribution. In the economy of the Soviet Union, state ownership of the means of production was combined with central planning, in relation to which goods and services to make and provide, how they were to be produced, the quantities, and the sale prices. Soviet economic planning was an alternative to allowing the market ([[supply and demand]]) to determine prices and production. During the [[Great Depression]], many socialists considered Soviet-style planned economies the remedy to capitalism's inherent flaws - [[monopoly]], [[business cycle]]s, [[unemployment]], unequally distributed wealth, and the economic exploitation of workers.

Economically, socialism denotes an economic system of state ownership and/or worker ownership of the means of production and distribution. In the economy of the Soviet Union, state ownership of the means of production was combined with central planning, in relation to which goods and services to make and provide, how they were to be produced, the quantities, and the sale prices. Soviet economic planning was an alternative to allowing the market ([[supply and demand]]) to determine prices and production. During the [[Great Depression]], many socialists considered Soviet-style planned economies the remedy to [[capitalism]]'s inherent flaws - [[monopoly]], [[business cycle]]s, [[unemployment]], unequally distributed wealth, and the economic exploitation of workers.

In the West, neoclassical [[liberal economists]] such as [[Friedrich Hayek]] and [[Milton Friedman]] said that socialist planned economies would fail, because planners could not have the business [[information]] inherent to a market economy (cf. economic calculation problem), nor would managers in Soviet-style socialist economies match the motivation of profit. Consequent to Soviet economic stagnation in the 1970s and 1980s, socialists began to accept parts of their critique. Polish economist Oskar Lange, an early proponent of market socialism, proposed a central planning board establishing prices and controls of investment. The prices of producer goods would be determined through trial and error. The prices of consumer goods would be determined by supply and demand, with the supply coming from state-owned firms that would set their prices equal to the marginal cost, as in perfectly competitive markets. The central planning board would distribute a "social dividend" to ensure reasonable income equality.

In the West, neoclassical [[liberal economists]] such as [[Friedrich Hayek]] and [[Milton Friedman]] said that socialist planned economies would fail, because planners could not have the business [[information]] inherent to a market economy (cf. economic calculation problem), nor would managers in Soviet-style socialist economies match the motivation of profit. Consequent to Soviet economic stagnation in the 1970s and 1980s, socialists began to accept parts of their critique. Polish economist Oskar Lange, an early proponent of market socialism, proposed a central planning board establishing prices and controls of investment. The prices of producer goods would be determined through trial and error. The prices of consumer goods would be determined by supply and demand, with the supply coming from state-owned firms that would set their prices equal to the marginal cost, as in perfectly competitive markets. The central planning board would distribute a "social dividend" to ensure reasonable income equality.

"Socialism cannot exist without a change in [[consciousness]] resulting in a new fraternal attitude toward [[humanity]], both at an [[individual]] level, within the societies where socialism is being built or has been built, and on a world scale, with regard to all peoples suffering from imperialist oppression."| [[Che Guevara]], [[Marxist]] revolutionary, 1965 [http://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1965/02/24.htm "At the Afro-Asian Conference in Algeria"] speech by [[Che Guevara]] to the Second Economic Seminar of Afro-Asian Solidarity in Algiers, Algeria on February 24 1965

"Socialism cannot exist without a change in [[consciousness]] resulting in a new fraternal attitude toward [[humanity]], both at an [[individual]] level, within the societies where socialism is being built or has been built, and on a world scale, with regard to all peoples suffering from imperialist oppression."| [[Che Guevara]], [[Marxist]] revolutionary, 1965 [http://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1965/02/24.htm "At the Afro-Asian Conference in Algeria"] speech by [[Che Guevara]] to the Second Economic Seminar of Afro-Asian Solidarity in Algiers, Algeria on February 24 1965

Marxist and non-Marxist social theorists agree that socialism developed in reaction to modern industrial capitalism, but disagree on the nature of their relationship. [[Émile Durkheim]] posits that socialism is rooted in the desire to bring the state closer to the realm of individual activity, in countering the [[anomie]] of a capitalist society. In socialism, [[Max Weber]] saw acceleration of the rationalization started in capitalism. As critic of socialism, he warned that placing the economy entirely in the state's bureaucratic control would result in an "iron cage of future bondage".

Marxist and non-Marxist social theorists agree that socialism developed in reaction to modern industrial capitalism, but disagree on the nature of their relationship. [[Émile Durkheim]] posits that socialism is rooted in the desire to bring the state closer to the realm of individual activity, in countering the [[anomie]] of a capitalist society. In socialism, [[Max Weber]] saw acceleration of the rationalization started in [[capitalism]]. As critic of socialism, he warned that placing the economy entirely in the state's bureaucratic control would result in an "iron cage of future bondage".

In the middle of the twentieth century, socialist intellectuals retained much influence in European philosophy; ''[[Eros and Civilization]]'' (1955), by [[Herbert Marcuse]], explicitly attempts to merge Marxism with Freudianism. The social science of [[structuralism]] much influenced the socialist [[New Left]] in the 1960s and the 1970s.

In the middle of the twentieth century, socialist intellectuals retained much influence in European philosophy; ''[[Eros and Civilization]]'' (1955), by [[Herbert Marcuse]], explicitly attempts to merge Marxism with Freudianism. The social science of [[structuralism]] much influenced the socialist [[New Left]] in the 1960s and the 1970s.