The Socialist Program with Brian Becker What Is Socialism? Puncturing Anti-Communist Myths w/ Prof. Wolff
Oct 15, 2025
Professor Richard Wolff, an economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work, dives deep into the essence of socialism. He clarifies historical misconceptions fueled by anti-socialist propaganda, offering insight into the varied interpretations globally. The conversation spans socialism's evolution, the complexities of revolutions in agrarian societies, and critiques of socialist outcomes in Cuba, Venezuela, and China. Wolff emphasizes China's mixed economy's unique blend of state planning and private enterprise while addressing ongoing challenges in workplace democracy and inequality.
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Socialism Is Not One Single Doctrine
- Socialism is a broad, diverse global tradition with many competing interpretations.
- Treating socialism as a single definition ignores its 150+ year, worldwide evolution.
Core Socialist Claim: Capitalism Can Be Improved
- Socialism starts from the view that capitalism has systematic problems and we can do better.
- Debates follow about what 'better' means and what alternative social relations should replace employer-employee structures.
Lenin On Developmental Stages
- Lenin emphasized that communism develops out of capitalism and should be analyzed as stages.
- This influenced revolutionary strategy in countries far different from Marx and Engels' Europe.
