Socialism

Exploring the role of socialism over the last two hundred years, Michael Newman explains its major theories, and the key challenges facing it today. Drawing on case studies such as Bolivia and Cuba, he considers recent attempts to put socialism into practice, and argues that it remains ultimately relevant in today's world.

What is socialism? Does it have a future, or has it become an outdated ideology in the 21st century? This Very Short Introduction considers the major theories in socialism, and explores its historical evolution from the French Revolution to the present day. Michael Newman argues that socialism has always been a diverse doctrine, while nevertheless containing a central core of interconnected values and goals: a critique of capitalism; an optimistic view of human beings; and the belief that it is possible to establish societies based on egalitarianism, social solidarity, and co-operation. In this new edition, he draws on case studies such as Cuba, Sweden, and Bolivia, to consider attempts to implement socialism in practice, before discussing New Left challenges to conventional notions of socialism on such questions as feminism, climate change, and direct action. Rejecting the widespread view that socialism is an out-dated doctrine, Newman argues that it remains ultimately relevant in today's world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books ar the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

This edition of Socialism: A Very Short Introduction is informative and accessible. It will benefit both graduate and undergraduate students in all disciplines, and it would be useful for the Core programs and the general reader.

Autorentext
Michael Newman is an Emeritus Professor at London Metropolitan University, where he was a Professor of Politics and held a Jean Monnet Personal Chair in European Studies. He currently teaches at New York University, London. Newman has published many works on socialism, Europe, peace and conflict. His most recent book is Transitional Justice: Contending with the Past (Polity Press, 2019).

Inhalt

• Acknowledgements

• List of Illustrations

• Introduction

• 1: Socialist traditions

• 2: Cuban communism and Swedish social democracy

• 3: New Lefts - enrichment and fragmentation

• 4: Beyond the Dominant Orthodoxies

• 5: Socialism today and tomorrow

• References

• Further reading

• Index