There seems to be a lot of confusion, especially among American leftist millenials, what the term "socialism" means. Particularly, there seems to be a rather widespread misconception among them that most western-European countries are socialist.
The confusion might stem from the fact that the word "social" has so many different meanings and uses when it comes to how a country is run. For example, that word is used in terms like "social security", "social services", "social safety net", and so on. Thus, they think, that if a country has a very prominent social safety net, eg. in the form of free public healthcare and free social services for those in need, that makes the country "socialist".
But that's not what "socialism" means. Socialism is, in fact, very closely related to communism. One could say that "socialism is a slightly lighter version of communism." Like with communism, the main aspect of socialism is who owns the means of production of the country: Is it privately-owned, or is it state-owned?
In socialist countries, all economy, and all means of production, is owned by the state. In capitalist countries the government can own means of production (eg. corporations and factories), but the majority of it is privately owned (by private companies and private citizens, as personal property).
There are no socialist countries in western Europe. There are only free-market capitalist countries. The means of production is privately-owner, and economic transactions are performed between private entities, with only minimal oversight from the government (mainly in the form of enforcing the law in order to deter abuse, and collecting taxes.)
The confusion might stem from the fact that the word "social" has so many different meanings and uses when it comes to how a country is run. For example, that word is used in terms like "social security", "social services", "social safety net", and so on. Thus, they think, that if a country has a very prominent social safety net, eg. in the form of free public healthcare and free social services for those in need, that makes the country "socialist".
But that's not what "socialism" means. Socialism is, in fact, very closely related to communism. One could say that "socialism is a slightly lighter version of communism." Like with communism, the main aspect of socialism is who owns the means of production of the country: Is it privately-owned, or is it state-owned?
In socialist countries, all economy, and all means of production, is owned by the state. In capitalist countries the government can own means of production (eg. corporations and factories), but the majority of it is privately owned (by private companies and private citizens, as personal property).
There are no socialist countries in western Europe. There are only free-market capitalist countries. The means of production is privately-owner, and economic transactions are performed between private entities, with only minimal oversight from the government (mainly in the form of enforcing the law in order to deter abuse, and collecting taxes.)
Comments
Post a Comment