Every Russian at least once in his life came across the concept of socialism. At least in the textbooks on the history of Russia. In the section devoted to the 20th century, a red background flickers from time to time, a coat of arms with a sickle and a hammer crossed, and the USSR abbreviation is written on each page. That period of Russian history, from 1921 to 1991, was the time when the socialist system was erected under the slogan of the doctrine of socialism. However, such socialist sentiments were in certain parts of the world long before the appearance of Bolsheviks and Communists on Russian soil. Thousands of years before Marx and Engels, philosophers expressed ideas filled with a socialist spirit.
What is the doctrine of socialism?
Any system is built on some theoretical basis, adheres to at least some doctrines. For the system indicated in the title of the article, the doctrine of socialism is extremely important and fundamental. What is it and what is socialism per se? This is a system, order, the main idea of which is to ensure economic and social equality between people. He opposes capitalism and the associated practice of exploitation of workers by entrepreneurs, the power of money and thirst for profit.
Some of the positions of socialism make it related to liberalism, but there is one key difference between them: liberalism is based on the individual, stands for individualism and good for each individual, while socialism expresses the interests of the collective, in which there is no place for the will of individuals.
Socialism and the socialist system are, in essence, synonymous concepts, the latter is only a derivative of the former. It denotes a social system on a state scale, the hallmark of which is the power in the hands of society over revenues and their distribution.
A characteristic feature is also the complete absence of private property - public property acts as a substitute for it. The erection of this system is possible only if a successful socialist revolution is carried out and all power is transferred to the hands of the proletariat — ordinary workers who are forced to sell their labor for pennies.
The first socialist states
Paradoxical as it may sound, they were the first states that arose on Earth. Of course, it cannot be said that socialism was fully built on their territory, but similar principles could indeed be observed. For example, in Mesopotamia, a state that appeared as much as six thousand years ago, already in the second millennium BC, industrial relations, as well as between the state and the people, were built in accordance with the socialist model.
It is important to note here two principles characteristic of Mesopotamia of that period and socialism in general. This is, firstly, the obligation of labor for all citizens. Secondly, for the amount of labor provided, a person receives an equivalent amount of labor results. In other words, how much has accumulated, so much has received.
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his work”
Both the first and second principle could be observed in Mesopotamia already in the second millennium BC. The rural population divided into groups worked all year round and was transferred from place to place. There was also the principle of the division of labor results in accordance with the strength of the workers: from full to 1/6 strength.
In which countries could the socialist system, but rather its beginnings, be observed? In addition to Mesopotamia, fragments of socialist doctrine can be seen in the Inca Empire, which existed from the XI to the XVI century. It was characterized by the absence of the concept of private property: a simple citizen often did not possess personal savings and property at all. There was also no concept of money, and the level of development of trade relations was minimal. The entire rural population was also obliged to work, they were constantly monitored. Each resident of the state, including officials, had the norms of luxury and wealth established by the state, for which they did not have the right to cross.
The history of socialism
The socialist doctrines fixed in the theory appeared in antiquity. More than two thousand years ago, the birth of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato entailed the birth of Platonism, saturated with socialist ideas. In his works, in particular in the dialogue “The State”, one can see how the philosopher imagines an ideal state. It has no private property, no class struggle. The state is ruled by philosophers, its guardians protect, and provide breadwinners: peasants, artisans. Power controls all spheres of society.
The principles of the socialist system in the future can be traced to heretical movements of the times of the Middle Ages: among the Cathars, apostolic brothers and others. First of all, they denied any form of ownership, except public, as well as marriage unions. Propagating the ideas of free love, heterogeneous heretical movements advocated not only community of property, but also partners. Later, during the Reformation, many philosophical works broadcast the idea of common property, as well as the obligation of labor.
During the years of the French Revolution, the first attempt to implement the doctrine of socialism came into being. In the French capital in 1796, the socialist system became the ideal of a secret society preparing a coup. It built the concept of a new French state and society, which in many ways resembled a socialist one. Private property was still denied, the principle of compulsory labor was introduced. Priority was given to collective rather than individual development — personal life was controlled by the authorities.
The influence of Marx and Engels
The ideology of communism is traditionally associated with the names of the German philosophers of the 19th century, Marx and Engels. It is incorrect, however, to believe that this ideology was created by them - it existed in theory long before their birth. Their main merit lies in the fact that they managed to combine the conflicting ideas of communism and socialism with each other. Thanks to the works of Marx and Engels, the understanding came that communism, being the final stage in the development of production and social relations, presupposes the presence of the first stages of its development. The reason for this is that mankind is unable to cut off capitalism at the root and come to communism in one day.
The achievements of communism are a long and laborious process, the first stage of which is precisely socialism. It should also be understood that socialism and communism in the understanding of Marx and Engels are one and the same thing, only the first is the first step of the second. One of the important achievements of these German philosophers was the fact that they were able to point to the driving force that communism can build. In their understanding, the proletariat becomes this force.
Socialist system in Russia
The doctrine of socialism settled in the minds of the Russian intelligentsia in the first half of the 19th century. The trends coming from the West were increasingly interested in the minds of enlightened Russians. The ideas of the utopian communists - Mora, Campanella - became popular. In 1845, a circle of Petrashevists was created, which was almost immediately closed by the police for the promotion of socialism.
In the middle of the 19th century, Alexander Herzen became the main theorist of Russian socialism. He was sure that Russia would become the first country of the socialist system. According to his point of view, this will be promoted by such a specific public institution as a community. By that time he had disappeared in the West, still existed in Russia. Herzen considered life in the conditions of the community monotonous, faded, which could simplify the process of equalization distribution in the new socialist Russia.
Later, on the basis of Herzen's ideas, a powerful movement of populism arose in the country, within the framework of which such organizations as “Earth and Freedom”, “Black Limit” and others were formed. They also had hopes for a community institution. By the 80s of the 19th century, the separation of the Marxist wing had taken place in Russia, and the RSDLP was born. Marxists are divided into two large groups: the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks. The second advocated a swift struggle on two fronts - against capitalism and autocracy. As a result, the country followed the path proposed by the Bolsheviks.
USSR and socialism
As suggested by Alexander Herzen, Russia really became the first state in the world in which the doctrine of socialism was put into practice. And quite successfully - the state was really built in accordance with the provisions of socialism. However, it was presented in its original form, which is also sometimes called deformed socialism. Despite this, urgent state tasks were successfully carried out, as a result of which the pace of industrial production was actively increasing.
Although the socialist system in the USSR was erected in a deformed form, it largely contradicted Marx's understanding of socialism. Firstly, the fact that the Soviet Union was not able to ensure public ownership - the means of production continued to belong to the state.
It also continued to play a decisive and key role for society, while true socialism implies the gradual withering away of the state. In the USSR capitalist elements continued to exist - profit and the concept of value. Moreover, they eventually returned to normal, despite the fact that, in the understanding of Marx, income, profit, value are categories that should outlive themselves under socialism.
Criticism of socialism
As history shows, countries that once proclaimed adherence to socialist ideas and ideals will inevitably return to the mainstream of capitalism. There are a number of reasons for this, which critics of the socialist system unite under one word - utopia. They consider the goals and objectives put forward by the state within the framework of this system to be unattainable, and the doctrine of socialism itself utopian.
As an argument for their position, critics cite the three pillars on which socialist theory rests and destroy them:
- Public property. The key provision in accordance with which this system should be built is the need to transfer from private to public property. In no country in the world has the transition to this type of property been made, all the same, everything was in the hands of the state, or rather, in the hands of officials. In such circumstances, wastefulness and bureaucracy, inhibiting progress, are inevitable.
- Regularity. The main characteristic of a planned economy is called the manufacture of goods for production, which does not take into account the needs and desires of the individual. In this case, inevitably there is a shortage of some necessary goods.
- To each - according to work. This is another principle of socialism that cannot be put into practice. The reason for this is that, in theory, the concept of universal labor contrasts with the phenomenon of labor contribution, since the latter implies the contribution of each individual person. According to it, payment should be calculated, which contradicts the very essence of socialism and universal labor.
Socialist countries in the 21st century
Back in the 1980s, there were 15 uniquely socialist countries on Earth, there were also about two dozen states that adhered to a socialist orientation. Gradually, socialist ideas and sentiments came to naught, many countries began to switch to capitalist rails. Therefore, today countries with a socialist system can be counted on the fingers of one hand, if we take the Marxist concept as a guide.
These are North Korea and Cuba. The latter for a long time received financial and material support from the USSR, but with its collapse the country's economy sank drastically, which forced it to seek foreign investment, open the island's doors for tourists.
Also, many include the socialist states of China and Laos, which is a rather controversial statement. They say that China is building socialism, only with its own special Chinese characteristics. Moreover, the communist parties are still in power, as in Laos. However, there is one important detail that does not allow us to rank either China or Laos as a socialist country. This is a fact of the predominance of private property in the economy, in the economies of these countries the means of production are in the hands of private owners.