Democratic Democratic Socialism, Fascism, Socialism, Fascism,

and Communismand CommunismBy Nat MurphyBy Nat Murphy

OverviewOverview

These three things all have to do These three things all have to do with how a nation is ruled and with how a nation is ruled and controlled.controlled.

All three deal with the concept of All three deal with the concept of private property and the private property and the redistribution of wealth for the redistribution of wealth for the betterment of society.betterment of society.

Democratic SocialismDemocratic Socialism

Democratic- relating to, appealing Democratic- relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses to, or available to the broad masses of the people of the people

Socialism- any of various economic Socialism- any of various economic and political theories advocating and political theories advocating collective or governmental collective or governmental ownership and administration of the ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution means of production and distribution of goodsof goods

Democratic Socialism Democratic Socialism cont.cont.

Socialism does not advocate the Socialism does not advocate the complete alleviation of private complete alleviation of private property from society. property from society.

It does advocate a degree of wealth It does advocate a degree of wealth distribution to prevent abject distribution to prevent abject poverty.poverty.

The government collects money, in The government collects money, in the form of taxes, to, among other the form of taxes, to, among other things, help the citizens of its nation. things, help the citizens of its nation.

Democratic Socialism Democratic Socialism Cont.Cont.

Common applications of Socialism- Common applications of Socialism- Socialized Medicine, Medicare, Social Socialized Medicine, Medicare, Social Security, and Unemployment Benefits.Security, and Unemployment Benefits.

The United States has Socialistic The United States has Socialistic policies in place, but tends to lean policies in place, but tends to lean away from complete Socialism.away from complete Socialism.

Current Nations with heavy Socialistic Current Nations with heavy Socialistic policies- The United Kingdom, policies- The United Kingdom, Canada, and France.Canada, and France.

FascismFascism

Definition-a political philosophy, Definition-a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition suppression of opposition

Fascism cont.Fascism cont.

A Fascist government depends on A Fascist government depends on its citizens’ complete devotion to the its citizens’ complete devotion to the state.state.

Private property is allowed, as long Private property is allowed, as long as the citizens completely follow the as the citizens completely follow the laws of the nation.laws of the nation.

““It doesn’t matter who owns the It doesn’t matter who owns the business, as long as they do more for business, as long as they do more for the nation than themselves with it.”the nation than themselves with it.”

Fascism Cont.Fascism Cont. The most obvious example of a Fascist regime The most obvious example of a Fascist regime

is Hitler’s Third Reich during the early is Hitler’s Third Reich during the early twentieth century, but Mussolini’s Italy and twentieth century, but Mussolini’s Italy and Franco’s Spain are other examples.Franco’s Spain are other examples.

Hitler’s rule is famous for the genocide of the Hitler’s rule is famous for the genocide of the Jewish people and many other atrocities. Jewish people and many other atrocities.

Fascism and Nazism are often confused for Fascism and Nazism are often confused for the same ideology. the same ideology.

War time governments often become War time governments often become somewhat fascist to better their performance. somewhat fascist to better their performance.

Fascism Cont.Fascism Cont.

This fact is noted in the Foreword by This fact is noted in the Foreword by Pynchon.Pynchon.

He says that during World War II the He says that during World War II the British government was just as British government was just as fascist as the Third Reich. fascist as the Third Reich.

They controlled prices of goods, took They controlled prices of goods, took control of factories, and played a control of factories, and played a larger role in the economy than they larger role in the economy than they otherwise would.otherwise would.

CommunismCommunism

Definition -Definition - a theory advocating a theory advocating elimination of private property belimination of private property b:: a a system in which goods are owned in system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as common and are available to all as needed needed

Notice the difference between Notice the difference between Communism as a view of Economic Communism as a view of Economic policy, while Fascism leans toward a policy, while Fascism leans toward a form of rule.form of rule.

Communism Cont.Communism Cont.

The most obvious examples of a The most obvious examples of a communist nation are The Soviet Union, communist nation are The Soviet Union, China, and North Korea. China, and North Korea.

In truth there is no true communist run In truth there is no true communist run government. government.

These are all totalitarian governements. These are all totalitarian governements. They use the lack of private property to They use the lack of private property to

prevent the economic expansion of prevent the economic expansion of anyone, as opposed to stemming the anyone, as opposed to stemming the unjust economic expansion of some. unjust economic expansion of some.

Communism cont.Communism cont. The theory of communism in its roots is The theory of communism in its roots is

that everyone is equal. that everyone is equal. This mind set is championed by Karl Marx This mind set is championed by Karl Marx

in his “Communist Manifesto.” in his “Communist Manifesto.” Marx advocated an uprising of the lowest Marx advocated an uprising of the lowest

class or the “Proletariat.”class or the “Proletariat.” This class is represented by the Proles in This class is represented by the Proles in

19841984 Note that an uprising occurred to fix the Note that an uprising occurred to fix the

problems of the world, but instead a class problems of the world, but instead a class just like the proletariat was created.just like the proletariat was created.

Communism cont.Communism cont.

Communism only works in theory Communism only works in theory not in actuality. not in actuality.

If someone were to rule over a If someone were to rule over a communist nation there would be a communist nation there would be a mass violation of the theory of mass violation of the theory of communism.communism.

The tenet that everyone is equal The tenet that everyone is equal would be violated. would be violated.

In In 19841984

It is obvious, as well as stated in the It is obvious, as well as stated in the foreword, that Goldstein represents foreword, that Goldstein represents Trotsky, while Big Brother is Stalin.Trotsky, while Big Brother is Stalin.

Youtube Video Youtube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxXhqxtmHjoXhqxtmHjo First Two Minutes First Two Minutes

The progression of governments The progression of governments described in the video is the Polybius described in the video is the Polybius Circle.Circle.

This process is illustrated in 1984.This process is illustrated in 1984. The government of Oceania is one just The government of Oceania is one just

like the one illustrated in the video.like the one illustrated in the video.

Video cont.Video cont.

The Polybius Circle describes an The Polybius Circle describes an evolution of governments, as seen by a evolution of governments, as seen by a Greek philosopher. Greek philosopher.

1. Monarchy, 2. Kingship, 3. Tyranny, 4. 1. Monarchy, 2. Kingship, 3. Tyranny, 4. Aristocracy, 5. Oligarchy, 6. Democracy, Aristocracy, 5. Oligarchy, 6. Democracy, and 7. Ochlocracy. and 7. Ochlocracy.

Ochlocracy could be translated as Ochlocracy could be translated as anarchy.anarchy.

This type of progression is seen in 1984.This type of progression is seen in 1984.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Merriam Webster's Dictionary Merriam Webster's Dictionary OnlineOnline

Western Civilization by Spielvogel Western Civilization by Spielvogel Sixth EditionSixth Edition

The John Birch SocietyThe John Birch Society British Broadcasting CompanyBritish Broadcasting Company

Works ConsultedWorks Consulted

British Broadcasting CorporationBritish Broadcasting Corporation. British . British Broadcasting Broadcasting

Company. 11 Jan. 2009 Company. 11 Jan. 2009 <http://www.bbc.com>.<http://www.bbc.com>.

Merriam Webster'sMerriam Webster's. Merriam Webster's. 11 Jan. . Merriam Webster's. 11 Jan. 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.

Spielvogel, Jackson. Spielvogel, Jackson. Western CivilizationWestern Civilization. New . New York: Wadsworth, 2005.York: Wadsworth, 2005.

"The John Birch Society". John Birch Society. "The John Birch Society". John Birch Society. 1/11/09 <http://www.jbs.org/>.1/11/09 <http://www.jbs.org/>.