Both the social democratic and communist wings of the socialist movement attempted to change society by working to save the oppressed from a capitalist state. The reason for the failure of socialism was that it was being used to gain power, a capitalist stance. Yet, capitalism is also falling prey to the very thing Marx said would happen -- the need for power by the few would drive a wedge between the people and government. The theory behind this wedge is neoliberalism. Marx predicted this wedge would lead to failure of the system because the social infrastructure would be destroyed, and he is not far off his mark. Outline and References. Bibliography lists 6 sources. jvNeoSoc.rtf
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to Feudalism rings in Capitalism, resulting in oppression B. Communism and Socialism as a purported cure, and failure of the cure C. The ringing in of Neoliberalism as the final
cure III. Neoliberalism A. Bio of founders North and Fogel, intent to redefine social structures in economic and quantitative terms B. Macroeconomic view and illustration of application C. Microeconomic view
and illustration of application IV. Disagreement and Contrasting Views V. Prediction of Use in Future
Both the social democratic and communist wings of the socialist movement attempted to change society by working to save the oppressed from a capitalist state. Socialism failed because those who
implemented it used it to gain power rather than correct societal ills, which Marx viewed as the problem of capitalism. Capitalism is also falling prey to the very thing Marx
said would happen -- the need for power by the few would drive a wedge between the people and government. The theory behind this wedge is neoliberalism. Marx predicted this
wedge would lead to failure of the system because the social infrastructure would be destroyed, and he is not far off his mark.
The student may want to state that the roots of democratic socialism and communism were foreshadowed as early as 1789 when France broke with medievalism and legislated the formal abolition
of feudalism, bringing economic entities into play. These capitalist states suffered from an unequal distribution of wealth and became the targets of revolution. Such an uprising occurred in 1871 when
reformers set up their own community known as the "Commune of Paris"1. The Commune offered something novel, socialism, a concept based in the egalitarian economic and social principals of a
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