Make this world ours

The definition of socialism is fairly wide and open for interpretation. Part of the problem is a distorted conception of socialism, which remains the popular view of what we believe. The most common definition of socialism is a form of government that owns, regulates, and administrates the production, distribution and exchange of goods and services. Another common definition of socialism is a form of government that attempts to reduce social, economic, medical, and political inequalities among its people. Neither are what the Socialist Party means by socialism. What then do we mean by socialism? Socialism means a global system of social organisation based on common ownership, democratic control by all, production for use, and free access. With the natural and technical resources of the world held in common and controlled democratically, the sole object of production would be to meet human needs. This would entail an end to buying, selling and the use of money.

Socialists believe that humanity is basically good but is shaped by the society it lives in. A socialist society is run by the people for their own benefit so it will in our interests to make sure it works. We want to be all that we can be and we want this not only for ourselves but also for our families and friends and neighbours. We want to be able to develop all of our potential. Socialism is something we ought to want to have.  And if we ought to want to have it, then we ought to try to find some way of making it work for us once we get it. We can imagine a world in which hunger and poverty cease to exist.

Defining socialism also requires defining what it was not. It does not mean the tyrannical rule of a bureaucratic class which once existed in in the Soviet Union (or China or Cuba). Nor does it equate with nationalization or a centralized command economy. Socialist are unequivocal. It is the people of the world who should exercise control by means of a more advanced democracy in all aspects of life: political, social, and economic. Political democracy, for socialists, is the necessary framework and precondition for other rights and liberties. All the people of the world should be involved in the process of transforming our societies and promoting new hope for humankind. Real socialism is, by definition, democratic. It is economic as well as political democracy.

Under capitalism, working people are forced to work, we literally have no choice but to, otherwise we’d go without the means to survive. We are compelled by the logic of capitalism to sell our labour and, as such, capitalists command, not the people who produce the wealth in society. Huge amounts of products are created under capitalism but it is in the hands of a tiny minority, which is why are in a state of poverty. We have the side of capitalists and the side of workers. For the capitalists, all that matters for them is the growth of their capital. Capitalism requires people who must sell their ability to work (labour power) in order to get the money to buy the things they need. The class division and profit motive of capitalism is at the root of most of the world's problems today. This includes everything from starvation and war, to alienation and crime. Every aspect of our lives is subordinated to the worst excesses of the drive to make profit. In capitalist society, our real needs only ever come a poor second to money.

Capitalism will not change its inhuman drive for profits at the expense of our existence as a species. The rights of the capitalists to make a profit are in direct conflict with our basic rights. In this sense, the capitalist system has become a threat to humanity. Since environmental destruction is a global concern, it requires all of humanity to act collectively, in our overall interests for our survival as a species, to correct the problem and to remove the obstacle of capitalism. It requires a society where humanity has social, economic, and political control over the entire environment. Such a society, a socialist society, is needed to ensure that all decisions affecting the environment are under the democratic control of humankind so that the production of goods will be done for the needs and survival of humanity instead of the production and the destruction of humanity and other species for profit. Only socialism can save mankind from barbarism. With common ownership of the means of production, and common control and protection of all property and wealth, science and society will be in harmony with the ecosystem and humanity’s future. It is true that some people are gravitate toward a radical critique of society during times of heightened insecurity and inequality, but economic crisis alone, however, is not the sole cause of revolutionary change.  The idea of economic breakdown followed by "the revolution" should be retired. It should be replaced by an understanding of a more protracted and complicated process of class consciousness.

Socialism is, as correctly said, must be the product of an engaged, united, and politically aware majority and it doesn't follow automatically that such a majority will simply emerge out of everyday struggles. Nor can it be brought about by the will of a determined and radical enlightened minority. There is no way to win social democracy without a broad labour movement with clear-cut aspirations of what it wishes to achieve for itself. “Revolutionary” formulas, simplistic-sounding slogans are of little help. Practical engagement in everyday struggles is an absolute necessary. But at the same time, that is not enough, and never will be. Socialism distinguish itself at the level of ideas as well as practice. It has to fight an ideological battle too. People do not live by bread alone; they also need ideas, understanding and inspiration – socialist theory.

The Socialist Party does not offer brilliant insights to become guides to action. That responsibility falls upon the working class as a whole to determine. For the sake of humanity, the future is socialism.

       …Together,

       We can take everything:

       Factories, arsenals, houses, ships,

       Railroads, forests, fields, orchards…

       And turn 'em over to the people who work.

       Rule 'em and run 'em for us people who work.

           "Good Morning, Revolution"

               by Langston Hughes