Why are "Democratic Socialists" attempting to establish a whole new definition of socialism?

[SkyDancer]

39. Let me try & answer your question

being a member of DSA myself.


Contemporary “Social democracy” is defined as a set of social policies and a political ideology that advocates said policies. Unlike Democratic Socialists, Social Democrats don’t advocate for a fundamentally different economic system from capitalism: their focus is on regulating the excesses of capitalism to protect workers, consumers and disadvantaged groups. This often goes alongside support for tax-funded and universally-accessible welfare provisions. It isn't to say that Democratic Socialists don't advocate for such things (we do) but we want it done in a way that isn't based on capitalism.

Social Democrats don’t view capitalism as fundamentally flawed and irrational, let alone question its fundamental elements (production for profit, the wage labor system, private property). In contrast, Democratic Socialists view capitalism as irrational, inefficient or unjust and hold the view that a superior form of economic organization based on social ownership and democratic management is possible. Therefore they aim to replace capitalism with a socialist economic system which benefits all members of society equally.

Definitions of Democratic Socialism

Democratic socialism is not a system per se, rather it is a range of political ideologies that share a commitment to the realization of socialism alongside political and/or economic democracy. As such there is no singular model of democratic socialism that can be analyzed in detail. “Democratic socialism” typically means one of four things:

*A political ideology that aims to realize socialism through existing liberal democratic political institutions;
*A political ideology that aims to realize socialism through spontaneous grassroots-level participatory activism;
*An economic system where socially-owned enterprises are managed directly by their workforce in a democratic rather than hierarchical manner


All Democratic Socialists favor a socialist economy which involves some form of social ownership of the means of production with self-management or democratic decision-making processes at the workplace level. There is however no common Democratic Socialist stance on the question of resource allocation - some Democratic Socialists favor market socialism while others favor planned economies.

Let me share with you something which was posted on my local DSA chapters page awhile back.


"Social Democrats want regulated capitalism, redistribution of wealth, fair taxation of the rich, democracy, and strong social safety net programs. The Scandinavian countries would be considered Social Democracies and to some degree so would democracies in Europe such as France, Germany and England. Social democracies recognize that not everyone wins the capitalist game, and it tends to produce undesired outcomes such as income inequality = massive wealth and poverty side by side. It seeks to provide government programs that support the poor and working class under a capitalistic democracy. It’s a kinder gentler form of capitalism.

Democratic socialists want to keep democracy, but have the citizens vote to move away from capitalism toward more citizen ownership of the means of productions. They see capitalism as a flawed system that tends to create massive wealth for a few and a struggling middle class and poor. Instead of looking to redistribution of wealth and a strong social safety net as a solution, they prefer to change the system to a more socialist system. This does NOT mean they support the state owning the means of production. The concept is that the citizens workers/labor would own a piece of the company or farm they work in. They ask, why should a few wealthy people own most of everything? Shouldn’t everyone have a share in the wealth of a country/economy? "

Hopefully this helps some.