Understanding Socialsim

Description

A blend of history, analysis, and theory, "Understanding Socialism" is an honest and approachable text that knocks down false narratives, confronts failures and challenges of various socialist experiments throughout history, and offers a path to a new socialism based on workplace democracy. "Richard Wolff's book is the best accessible and reliable treatment we have of what socialism is, was, and should be.” - Cornel West “In the same accessible style that has made his programs and lectures such a hit, he explains his subject in a way that's not only smart, but makes the rest of us feel smart. It's actionable intelligence for the every person.” - Laura Flanders “Lucid, brilliant and uncompromising in his dissection of the capitalist system he also provides a sane and just socialist alternative to capitalist exploitation, one we must all fight to achieve.” - Chris Hedges Contents I ntroduction Chapter I A Brief History: How Socialism Got to its Here and Now 9 Chapter II What ls Socialism? 27 Chapter 111 Capitalism and Socialism: Struggles and Transitions 41 Chapter IV Russia and China: Major Experiments in Constructing Socialism 55 ChapterV Two Anti-socialist Purges: Fascism and Anti-communism 87 ChapterVI Socialism's Future and Worker Co-ops 109 Conclusion 127 About the Cover The Red Rose as a Symbol of Socialism 131 About the Author 133 About Democracy at Work 135 Further Reading 137