Socialist Experience


Figure 1.--.

Socialist parties have helped enact wide spread social reforms in Europe. The countries of Europe which have developed social welfare systems are many of the most prosperous societies on the world where the people enjoy secure, affluent lives. One important point here is assessing the socialist reforms not only in equitably distributing wealth, but also in creating wealth. As a result, welfare states only proved feasible in developed countries that had already developed modern, productive economies. The social reforms appear to have had an impoprtant generally positive impact on people's loves. The economic impact of socialism in terms of creating wealth is much more mixed. Many countries which attempted state ownership and central planning have in recent years generally instituted policies to reintroduce private enterprise. The Soviet Union, the Eastern European countries after the imposition of Communism following World War II, China, and several other countries (Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea) adopted command economies and virtually did away with individual economic activity. Many other countries adopted a range of state involvement resulting in mixed economies. This occurred in much of Western Europe and many developing countries. The experiment with socialism was so widespread around the world that it permits an assessment of how effective socialist economics were in creating wealth, both in developed industrial economies and in developing countries.

Social Reforms

Socialist parties have helped enact wide spread social reforms in Europe. The countries of Europe which have developed social welfare systems are many of the most prosperous societies on the world where the people enjoy secure, affluent lives. One important point here is assessing the socialist reforms not only in equitably distributing wealth, but also in creating wealth. As a result, welfare states only proved feasible in developed countries that had already developed modern, productive economies. The social reforms appear to have had an impoprtant generally positive impact on people's loves.

Economic Impact

The economic impact of socialism in terms of creating wealth is much more mixed. Many countries which attempted state ownership and central planning have in recent years generally instituted policies to reintroduce private enterprise. The Soviet Union, the Eastern European countries after the imposition of Communism following World War II, China, and several other countries (Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea) adopted command economies and virtually did away with individual economic activity. Many other countries adopted a range of state involvement resulting in mixed economies. This occurred in much of Western Europe as well as many developing countries. Socialism as conceived by Marx was a stage of ineconomic development that followed industrialization. The Revolution occurred, however, in Russia a largely agrarian society. The apprent success of the Soviets in modernizing the Soviet Union caused many Third World countries after World War II when they became independent to turn to state controlled central planning. The experiment with socialism was so widespread around the world that it permits an assessment of how effective socialist economics were in creating wealth, both in developed industrial economies and in developing countries.








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Created: 8:30 PM 1/9/2007
Last updated: 11:59 PM 1/9/2007