"Socialism" and how it is defined.

I would like to know what your definition of socialism is. My reasons for this are because the media have corrupted various words such as socialism or Communism and I would like amass enough information to make a decision.

Socialism is far too broad a tradition to offer a concise definition of. In other words, it depends entirely on which specific current of socialism you follow. For example, I adhere to revolutionary syndicalism, which is simply workers' direct control of the means of production and distribution. Other currents include state socialism, free access communism, mutualism, etc.

It is a rather vague question, but what I think the biggest defining characteristic is the sharing of the ownership of the means of production. There are many ways that can be interpreted, and several I would agree with. There are also other facets that are usually attributed to Socialism, but they vary depending on whom you ask.

Celtiberian wrote:Socialism is far too broad a tradition to offer a concise definition of. In other words, it depends entirely on which specific current of socialism you follow. For example, I adhere to revolutionary syndicalism, which is simply workers' direct control of the means of production and distribution. Other currents include state socialism, free access communism, mutualism, etc.

Isn't Revolutionary Syndicalism another term for Anarcho-Syndicalism? If that is so, what is the difference between Anarcho-Communism and Syndicalism?

Red Aegis wrote:It is a rather vague question, but what I think the biggest defining characteristic is the sharing of the ownership of the means of production. There are many ways that can be interpreted, and several I would agree with. There are also other facets that are usually attributed to Socialism, but they vary depending on whom you ask.

So how do you interpret socialism? Also, how does it link to left wing nationalism?

Left Adherent wrote:Isn't Revolutionary Syndicalism another term for Anarcho-Syndicalism?

Revolutionary syndicalism precedes anarcho-syndicalism, and it can roughly be divided into two currents: Sorelian and DeLeonist—both of which advocated economic syndicalism (i.e., workers' direct control of the means of production and distribution). Initially, revolutionary syndicalism was simply a theory of industrial unionism, whereby workers who dismissed the potential of achieving socialism by way of participation in parliament instead sought to advance the revolution via direct action. Several members of the established European socialist parties who had also became disillusioned with reformism eventually joined these workers, thereafter becoming instrumental in syndicalism's theoretical development. (Georges Sorel and Stanisław Brzozowski, for example, were well known exponents of this current of revolutionary syndicalism.)

The other current is best typified by James Connolly and Daniel DeLeon, who developed the theory further and suggested more of a dual approach, whereby both industrial unionism and participation in politics would be utilized to abolish the dictatorship of capital and to construct a syndicalist mode of production. (I identify with this tradition.)

Anarchists became involved in syndicalism quite early in the movement's history, but anarchism is distinct from revolutionary syndicalism insofar as the latter abstained from taking a definitive stance on issues pertaining to national territories, and so forth.

If that is so, what is the difference between Anarcho-Communism and Syndicalism?

Anarcho-communism is generally associated with Peter Kropotkin's theory of free access communism—which I consider untenable at this point in history, incidentally. Anarcho-syndicalists, on the other hand, were/are more willing to experiment with different methods of remuneration (e.g., labor vouchers), and also stressed the importance of industrial unionism somewhat more than did the anarcho-communists.

Also, how does it link to left wing nationalism?

Left-wing nationalism is basically a theory of how the working class will organize international relations following the revolution. I recommend reading this thread if you're interested in a thorough explanation of it.