Book review: Socialism – A Very Short Introduction

Author:	Michael Newman	Rating:	***** (4)
Date read:	January, 2010

Excellent overview of socialism as a concept, looking especially at the history of socialism. Starting with almost zero knowledge, I found it to be informative and not too difficult to understand. Cuba and Sweden are discussed as modern examples of attempts at socialism, with good and bad, advantages and disadvantages, advances and problems, etc. Also the effects of various other movements, such as feminism and environmentalism, on socialist thought is discussed.

Key quotes

(From the introduction, I like this definition of socialism) p. 2-3

“In my view, the most fundamental characteristic of socialism is its commitment to the creation of an egalitarian society. Socialists may not have agreed about the extent to which inequality can be eradicated or the means by which change can be effected, but no socialist would defend the current inequalities of wealth and power. In particular, socialists have maintained that, under capitalism, vast privileges and opportunities are derived from the hereditary ownership of capital and wealth at one end of the social scale, while a cycle of deprivation limits opportunities and influence at the other end. To varying extents, all socialists have therefore challenged the property relationships that are fundamental to capitalism, and have aspired to establish a society in which everyone has the possibility to seek fulfillment without facing barriers based on structural inequalities.” 

(From the section “The relevance of socialist ideas”, in a discussion of economic inequality and social mobility) p. 139 

“Such inequality is not fundamentally between individuals but is embedded in structures: the fact that some individuals, with particular talent or determination or luck, can rise from humble backgrounds does not affect the fact that the overwhelming majority cannot do so. Of course, the perception of the system as a meritocracy is functional to its legitimation, but this does not change its underlying basis. Similarly, the fact that poor people possess more than their grandparents had done in absolute terms helps sustain the belief that poverty and inequality are no longer fundamental problems in advanced capitalism; but poverty should be measured in relation to the wealth of contemporary society, rather than by historical standards.”