bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 3 (1990), p. 42
Socialisms: Why Socialists Disagree —
And What They Disagree About, by
Anthony Wright, Oxford University Press,
1987, 146 pp., paperback, $14.95.
According to Anthony Wright, the history of socialism is the story of a broad diversity of competing and substantively differing theories and movement all claiming to be socialist. In his brief introduction to the world of socialism, Wright focuses on the differences that have arisen between socialist traditions ranging from Anarchist to Marxist to Social Democrat, all of which emphasize differing values and approaches to implementing goals.
Writing from the perspective of a pragmatic socialist as opposed to an ideologue, Wright promotes the recognition of a plurality of socialisms. However, he restricts his analysis to the European experience, including Russia and then the Soviet Union. The socialist traditions and regimes which have emerged outside the western cultural tradition are barely acknowledged, while no mention is made of the forms of socialism found in such places as Canada, New Zealand or Israel.
The first six chapters will be of interest primarily to readers looking for a concise overview of the origins and evolution of socialism in Europe. Since British socialism influenced the development of socialism within Canada, the analysis of the former will be of some benefit to the Canadian context.
The concluding chapter with its valuable insights into contemporary socialism should draw a wider audience to the book. Here, Wright analyzes the current condition of socialism and reflects on its future. The book shifts from a historical analysis of theory to an assessment of the contemporary scene from primarily a practical point of view. The transition is not smooth. The author, as a pragmatist, is quite prepared to discard much of past approaches and ideological purity to preserve some form of socialism into the future. It appears that the ultimate purpose for the historical analysis is to present a clear picture of socialism’s strengths and flaws in preparation for the creation of a new, more humanistic form of socialism.
Wright is clearly not pleased with the current state of affairs in the socialist world. He views socialism to be in crisis because it has come to be associated with excessive state control and bureaucracy. In the West, the electorate is not convinced of the value of moving from the socialist-inspired benefits under welfare capitalism, and its socialism of distribution, to increased government control of production.
300KS IN REVIEW/CRITIQUES DE LIVRES
The inherent weaknesses with the capitalistic system which produced socialism, Wright argues, such as the absence of a justifying moral philosophy and the creation of economic conditions and distributional consequences that are damaging and unequal, remain. Furthermore, major technological changes seem set to displace thousands of working people, and “the market” cannot be relied upon to protect their interests. Wright consequently sees a need for socialism in the modern context. However, he feels that the future of socialism in the West is still not assured unless socialists develop and present a new form of socialism that is attractive in principle and credible in practice.
He presents contemporary socialists with timely and practical advice on how to deal with what he sees as a credibility problem and resulting state of paralysis. Socialism must become more realistic and acceptable to the majority of people and genuinely enlarge freedom and autonomy for the individual while promoting community and fraternity. The author seems to blend quite well a market orientation — try to give the people what they want — with socialist concepts. It is interesting to note that the pragmatic type of socialism sought by Anthony Wright is most likely to arise out of a western democratic capitalistic nation rather than a nation that presently calls itself socialist.
Wright, to his credit, even offers valuable advice on how socialists should act and think at this critical point in their history. One of Wright’s suggestions is that “socialists need to look as though they know their way around the world, instead of looking as if they inhabit a world entirely of their own construction. A credible socialism would take people as they (more or less) recognizably are, even while hoping for some growth in their social feelings.” This is one of many points it would be good for socialists to ponder.
The material presented in the final chapter is applicable to the Canadian scene and will be of particular interest to those caught up in the political world, whether at a theoretical or practical level, as observers, opponents, or in particular, proponents of socialism.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 3 (1990), p. 42. Read the rest of this issue →
