Socialism in the United States: Idealism or Pragmatism?
In the face of unchecked capitalist expansion in the United States, the income gap has been persistently widening and intensifying social conflicts. This trend has prompted various social movements in the US, with notable examples being the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, the "Me Too" movement, and the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
In 2016, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders participated in the Democratic Party's presidential primaries, prominently embracing the banner of democratic socialism and garnering substantial support, particularly among Generation Z. This demographic places special emphasis on issues such as feminism, LGBTQ rights, rights for ethnic minorities, and climate change.
According to a Pew Research survey in 2021, younger individuals tend to have a more favourable view of socialism and a less favourable view of capitalism, indicating a shift in preferences among different age groups.
Indeed, Gen Z’s disillusionment with mainstream political parties; stemming from their inability to address current issues, makes the demographic more attracted to the vision of a socialist utopian state.
But is democratic socialism realistic in the US? I list out some points below to consider:
Although the American public supports left-wing policies, long-standing anti-communist propaganda in the U.S. has led to the populace being unable to embrace the concept of socialism. According to a 2021 Axios Momentive Poll, when asked if the government should adopt policies to reduce wealth inequality, the majority strongly believes they should, indicating support for left-leaning socialist policies. However, when asked about their attitude toward the concept of socialism, over half chose a negative stance.
2. In the realm of electoral politics, to secure more votes, democratic socialist parties often find themselves compelled to compromise, mirroring the approach taken by parties in Europe. This lack of strategic resilience hinders their ability to fully realise their socialist proposals. Sanders himself has affirmed, "Nothing I am saying is radical."
3. Sanders's policies can be characterised as complementary measures within the existing capitalist system to garner broader acceptance within the current electoral system. They concentrate on universal concepts such as welfare, public services, and bolstering equality, leaning more left than socialist.
4. While these left-leaning policies may attract people, they don't necessarily ensure an attraction to the true tenets of socialism. In the long run, this poses an unstable factor for the party, with the grassroots foundation being relatively weak.
5. The American education system emphasises liberal ideas, coupled with a disdain for socialist theories, making it challenging to provide an objective and fair portrayal of socialist concepts. Most party members lack a clear understanding of socialist theory and its intended objectives, hindering the genuine promotion of ideas.
6. Mainstream parties, like the Obama administration, can incorporate left-wing policies to alleviate the problems brought about by capitalism. However, when these problems are temporarily mitigated, there is a lack of reflection on the capitalist system itself. According to socialist theory, this approach fails to address the fundamental problem.
7. In the U.S., socialism may not necessarily take its traditional form. It might manifest differently but achieve the same or similar outcomes. People are ultimately not swayed by the ideology of socialism; that is merely superficial. Instead, they are moved by the ideals advocated by socialism, which include freedom, equality, and the vision of a harmonious world where people of all colours, genders, ethnicities, nations, and classes can coexist peacefully. This yearning goes beyond ideology—it's a vision shared by all; the direction that all of humanity is working towards.