Socialism: The Failed Idea That Never Dies

Socialism has failed over the past hundred years, but its adherents claim that it is not real socialism because it was only made after the event. This book documents the history of this response, showing how socialist projects were enthusiastically praised by Western intellectuals until their failures became too obvious to deny.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 400 pages
\n Publication date: 25 January 2019
\n Publisher: Institute of Economic Affairs
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Socialism, it seems, possesses an enigmatic resilience that defies direct refutation through real-world experience. Throughout the past century, a remarkable array of over two dozen attempts to establish socialist societies has emerged, spanning from the Soviet Union to Maoist China to Venezuela. Each of these endeavors has met with varying degrees of failure. However, according to the ardent supporters of socialism, these failures can be attributed to the fact that they were merely "fake socialism." This book serves as a comprehensive chronicle of this oft-repeated defense mechanism. It reveals the tendency for the claim of fake socialism to emerge only after the fact, often retrospectively applied to socialist projects that were once enthusiastically praised by prominent Western intellectuals during their formative stages. During the honeymoon period, socialist initiatives were widely celebrated and hailed as groundbreaking alternatives to the prevailing capitalist systems. It was only when the inevitable failures of these projects became starkly evident that they were retroactively reclassified as "not real socialism." This book explores the intricate dynamics behind this phenomenon, shedding light on the ways in which ideological beliefs and political motivations shape the perception and interpretation of socialist movements. It challenges the notion that socialism is inherently flawed or destined to failure, instead suggesting that its outcomes are influenced by a complex interplay of historical, social, and economic factors. By examining the historical record of socialist experiments, this book offers valuable insights into the challenges and complexities of building a society that aims to distribute resources and power more equitably. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of critical thinking, empirical evidence, and a nuanced understanding of social systems to navigate the treacherous waters of political and economic transformation.

\n Weight: 434g\n
Dimension: 132 x 199 x 33 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780255367707\n \n