Liberal Socialism

Liberal Socialism (Liberalsoc) is a political theory and ideology that believes that Socialism is an extension and an evolution of Liberalism. Liberal Socialists generally favour an economic system based around workplace democracy (which may or may not be complemented with a socialist market economy) and Democratic and/or Republican governmental system. Liberal Socialists generally favour a view of history as going from Feudalism to liberalism to socialism; liberal socialists which favour Marxist 'scientific socialism' are generally called 'Bernsteinists' or 'Marxist Social Democrats'.

[[File:Cball-Germany.png]] Germany
In Germany, liberal socialist ideals can be said to originate with the development of revisionist Marxism of Eduard Bernstein who defined the term 'socialism' as 'Organised Liberalism '.

The American Conservative political commentator Steven Crowder used the term 'Liberal Socialist' to describe Adolf Hitler who was the Führer of Germany from 1934 to 1945 who is known for his brutal regime, genocidal policy against non-Germanics and starting the Second World War.

[[File:Cball-UK.png]] United Kingdom
In Great Britain, the development of Liberal Socialism can be traced back to a number of sources of liberal and socialist origin. Liberal socialism of liberal origin can be found in the theories of the political economist John Stuart Mill, who greatly influenced the political ideology of Social Liberalism which is a type of liberalism which believes that economic freedom can be only achieved through an extensive social state; Although Mill is noted as going a step further favouring collectivised workplaces.

Liberal socialism of socialist origin in Britain can be found in the theories of the Christian Socialist historian and activist Richard Henry Tawney, who developed a theory of ' Ethical Socialism '. Ethical socialism as a movement saw to justify socialism on ethical and moral grounds as opposed to material grounds.

Tawney later joined, influenced and became an executive of the socialist think tank of the Fabian Society which was a group which wanted to achieve Socialism through Democratic means (Democratic Socialism). The ideology of the Fabian Society (Fabianism) may in turn be characterised as a form of liberal socialism.

The term 'Liberal Socialism' was later used by the British economist John Maynard Keynes to describe his political ideology:

[[File:Cball-Italy.png]] Italy
The term 'Liberal Socialism' was popularised by the Jewish-Italian political leader Carlo Rosselli who was influenced both by Eduard Bernstein and by the British labour movement. Carlo Rosselli rejected the political theories of Marx and favoured non-Marxist socialism. Carlo Rosseli founded Justice and Liberty (Italian: Giustizia e Libertà) which was a resistance movement against the Fascist government of Italy.

[[File:Cball-US.png]] United States
In the United States the term 'Liberal Socialism' was used by the political theorist John Rawls to describe his political ideology.

The American left-wing Youtuber VaushV, a self-described Market Socialist and an Anarcho-Syndicalist as well a reformist in support of the U.S. Democratic party is very commonly called a liberal by opponents and a socialist by supporters. Therefore some people on the Polcompball community have taken to call Vaush a liberal socialist with Vaush's specific brand of liberal socialism being called Vaushism.

[[File:Cball-South Africa.png]] South Africa
Anti-Apartheid revolutionary and South Africa's first black leader, Nelson Mandela ideologically self-identified as a Socialist and ultimately believed in a classless society, having been influenced by Marxism. But when in power he supported the country's liberal democratic model, while still taking strong measures to combat poverty, encourage land reform and expanding healthcare services.

Beliefs
Liberal Socialist ideology tends to support a mixed economy that consists of both private property and social ownership. Liberal socialism also believes socialism is the extension of liberalism.

How to Draw
Liberal socialism's symbol is a crossed hammer and quill, the symbol of the Czech National Social Party and of the Radical Civic Union which were historically regarded as liberal socialist parties. The symbol of the hammer and quill represent solidarity between workers and clerks.


 * 1) Draw a ball
 * 2) Draw a red (#D00505) hammer and a feather crossed
 * 3) Add the eyes and you're done!

Friends

 * [[File: Dsa.png]] Democratic Socialism - We're lowkey the same.
 * [[File: Marketsoc.png]] Market Socialism - We are very similar with some minor differences.
 * [[File: Socdem.png]] Social Democracy - You are so close, just move a little further away from capitalism.

Frenemies

 * [[File: Soclib.png]] Social Liberalism - I like your liberal principles and focus on welfare but you focus too much on preserving capitalism.
 * [[File: Soc.png]] Socialism - I wish you would realize socialism needs liberalism.
 * [[File: Libsoc.png]] Libertarian Socialism - We are similar, you just take things a bit too far.
 * [[File: Consocf.png]] Conservative Socialism - I like the socialism, the conservatism, not so much.

Enemies

 * [[File: ML.png]] Marxism–Leninism - REEEEE, out of here illiberal authoritarian!
 * [[File: Nazi.png]] National Socialism - You are not a socialist at all, you are just an illiberal authoritarian who's also racist!
 * [[File: Conserv.png]] Conservatism - Almost my complete opposite!

Further Information
For overlapping ideologies see: Socialism, Social Liberalism, Liberalism, Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Bernsteinism, Market Socialism, Radicalism, Jacobinism, Keynesianism

Literature

 * Equality by [[File:Christsoc.png]]Henry Richard Tawney
 * Fabian Essays in Socialism by The Fabian Society
 * Evolutionary Socialism by [[File:Bernst.png]]Eduard Bernstein
 * On Liberty and Principles of Political Economy by [[File:Soclib.png]]John Stuart Mill
 * A Theory of Justice by John Rawls
 * The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by [[File:Keynes.png]]John Maynard Keynes
 * Keynes Against Capitalism: His Economic Case for Liberal Socialism by James Crotty

Articles

 * Socialists Don't Want to Destroy Liberalism. We Want to Go Beyond It. by Matt McManus
 * What is a "Liberal Socialist"? by Wendy Cockcroft
 * How to be a Conservative-Liberal-Socialist by Leszek Kołakowski

Wikipedia

 * Liberal Socialism
 * Ethical Socialism
 * Fabian Society
 * Italian Action Party
 * Carlo Rosselli
 * Czech National Social Party
 * Left Together (Poland)
 * Ratz (Israel)
 * Bertrand Russell
 * John Rawls
 * Nelson Mandela
 * R.H. Tawney

YouTube

 * Vaush