Marks is taken from the grave in the style of Jesus Christ: Why did this happen?

What really is socialism? And where are you going? Stephen Bush, political editor at the New Stateman”, shares his position.

Next you have Periscop's translation of the BBC video [section: Ideas].

What is socialism A stab at a definition BBC Ideas

Socialism as an idea has existed since antiquity with some thinkers who claim that the teachings of Jesus Christ and the prophet Muhammad were also socialist.

Socialism at its core is the idea that when a business works well, workers and not owners should get the credit and fruit of this success. This applies whether the business in question is a farm, a bank, a social media company or anything else that generates profit.

But how can this be achieved?

This is where it gets messed up.

For some Socialists, the best way to achieve this goal is for workers to become owners. This would be done through cooperation, where workers collectively own the assigned company and share the profit.

Or the following: The government comes into play and nationalizes the designated business, as did Prime Minister Clement Attele by nationalizing certain services from post offices to railways.

For others, it does not matter who owns ownership of a business. Through the taxation of the rich and the use of that money to pay for schools, hospitals and transportation, and by setting a minimum rate for how much a worker should be paid, business benefits can be reseminated by owners to those who do great work to see it happen. Or, as French socialist Segolene Royal said: “in order for the property to be re-divided, it must be created first. ”

Socialism actually became a concrete theory only in the 19th century when economist Karl Marx's philosopher showed what was the driving force behind the ongoing revolutions in Europe. This helped inspire a large number of political parties across the continent, including Britain's Laborist Party.

After that, the Socialists were divided into two groups: the Social Democrats, who wanted the modeling of the global economic system, who would work in a similar way as capitalism but where workers would benefit, and not just their bosses, and the communists, who wanted to replace the global economic order with a completely new form.

Some say the problem with socialist ideals is human development based on the motive of profit we do things in order to benefit ourselves and our families, but not other people. By removing the profits of the companies from the bosses, we take everyone out of work and we all get poor, boss and worker together.

Some Socialists think this criticism is true. They thus demanded another form of socialism, where both bosses and workers would benefit. They called it “The Third Street/Forme” something between traditional socialism and completely free markets supported by right-wing parties in the 1980s.

“Socialism”, at least the way Carl Marx understood it, is dead and buried. At least until the global financial crisis hit, where workers suffered, while most of the bosses left without cutting their feet.

At the beginnings of the financial crisis, voters became very angry, and supporters of “Third Street” declined. Many voters, especially young people, began to think that perhaps a return to the socialism of the old form, rather than the social democracy, was the way ahead.

Socialism has returned and its political supporters have turned to its roots, avoting for four days of work a week, basic universal income, and government control over most of the country's economic space. Ten years after Marks' socialist version was declared dead, there is whisper on his resurrection. /Periscope