Socialist democracy

For other uses, see Socialist Democracy (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Democratic socialism or Social democracy.
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Socialist democracy is a political system that aligns with principles of both socialism and democracy. It includes ideologies such as council communism, democratic socialism, social democracy, and soviet democracy, as well as Marxist democracy like the dictatorship of the proletariat. It was embodied in the Soviet system (1922–1991).[1] It can also denote a system of political party organization like democratic centralism, or a form of democracy espoused by Marxist–Leninist political parties or groups that support one-party states. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1992) styled itself a socialist democracy,[2] as did the People's Republic of Bulgaria (1946–1990) and the Socialist Republic of Romania (1947–1989).[3][4]

On the other hand, Trotskyist groups have interpreted socialist democracy to be synonymous with multi-party socialist representation, autonomous union organizations, worker's control of production,[5] internal party democracy and the mass participation of the working masses.[6][7] Several parties or groups that tend to have a connection to the reunified Fourth International use this label.

In the modern world, parties include Socialist Democracy in Australia, Socialist Democracy in Brazil, Socialist Democracy in Ireland, the Socialist Democracy Group in England, Parti de la Democratie Socialiste in Canada, and the Socialist Democracy Party in Turkey. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims to maintain principles of socialist democracy. CCP Chairman Mao Zedong advocated the people's democratic dictatorship, which emphasizes the importance of dictatorship of the proletariat in the democratic process.[8] In the reform and opening-up period, Deng Xiaoping said that that democracy is the essential element of socialism, as there will be no socialism and modernization without democracy.[9] Under CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping, the CCP continues labeling itself a socialist democracy, under which the National People's Congress selects state leaders.[10]

  1. ^ Medvedev, Roy Aleksandrovich (1977). On Socialist Democracy. Spokesman Books. ISBN 9780851241616.
  2. ^ Kardelj, Edvard (1954). The Practice of Socialist Democracy in Yugoslavia. Yugoslav Information Center.
  3. ^ Spasov, Boris P. (1977). Socialist Democracy in the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Sofia-Press.
  4. ^ Ceterchi, Ioan (1975). Socialist Democracy: Principles and Political Action in Romania. Meridiane Publishing House.
  5. ^ Wiles, Peter (14 June 2023). The Soviet Economy on the Brink of Reform: Essays in Honor of Alec Nove. Taylor & Francis. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-000-88190-5.
  6. ^ Mandel, Ernest (5 May 2020). Trotsky as Alternative. Verso Books. pp. 84–86. ISBN 978-1-78960-701-7.
  7. ^ Trotsky, Leon (1977). The Transitional Program for Socialist Revolution: Including The Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International. Pathfinder Press. pp. 145–146. ISBN 978-0-87348-524-1.
  8. ^ Chan, Anita; Rosen, Stanley; Unger, Jonathan (2015). On Socialist Democracy and the Chinese Legal System: The Li Yizhe Debates. Routledge. ISBN 9781317272571.
  9. ^ Peng, Zongchao; Ma, Ben; Liu, Taoxiong (2016). Chinese Cooperative-Harmonious Democracy: Research on Chinese Cooperative-Harmonious Democracy. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317479840.
  10. ^ Mardell, Mark (5 June 2020). "The World at One". No. Interview with Chen Wen, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the UK. BBC Radio Four. Event occurs at 34:40–35:30. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)