Is Socialism Still a Dirty Word?

John B. Judis makes the case for reviving the defunct doctrine

The Socialist Awakening: What's Different Now About the Left

By Judis, John B.

Not long ago, the word “socialism” was something of a taboo. Following the failed Soviet experiment in hardcore socialism, most Americans of a certain age still shudder at the prospect. Libertarians schooled in Friedrich Hayek’s writings have learned to instinctively resist even the smallest encroachments of government ownership into the means of production. But have we perhaps learned a lesson too well?

Revisiting Socialism

Every so often, I like to re-assess my fundamental beliefs by inviting highly intelligent people to make the case for ideas like socialism on my program. A glance through my show archives reveals that I'm long overdue for a challenge, and John B. Judis is the perfect man for the job.

TRANSCRIPT

John is Editor-At-Large at Talking Points Memo and author of eight books, including most recently The Socialist Awakening – the last in his trilogy of books on the revival of the doctrines of nationalism, populism, and now, the "S" word.

Venezuela or Sweden – Which Way for the New Socialist Man?

Judis observed how Trump used populism to promote a nationalist agenda, and calls on today's progressives to use these same populist forces to advance a rebranded socialist program.

For Judis, Bernie Sanders is the poster-child of the evolution of socialism, from orthodox Marxist ideology calling for imminent revolution to an incremental approach of expanding the power of labor over capital in a modern "mixed economy." Where I see a flashing red DANGER sign in Sanders' appeal to young people, Judis sees a sign of hope.

Is Judis’s vision compatible with a robust economy, free markets, and individual autonomy, or will a single step toward Scandinavian-style socialism set us down the "Road to Serfdom"? Can socialists learn from the mistakes of the past, or are they doomed to be relegated to the dustbin of history?

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Related Shows:

Questioning Biden's Inequality Narrative with Ed Conard, January 31, 2021

Close Enough to Socialism: Amity Schlaes on The Great Society, December 29, 2019

Socialism… Still Not Cool with Ben Powell, July 28, 2019

Hugo Chavez: Failed Messiah with Clif Ross, May 6, 2019

Socialism Reincarnated with Joshua Muravchik, April 12, 2019

Here Comes the Storm with John O. McGinnis, February 22, 2019

Utopia Unmasked with Clif Ross, February 2, 2019

Elizabeth Warren's Socialist Dogwhistle with Richard Epstein, August 25, 2018

Venezuela on the Brink with Fergus Hodgson, April 23, 2017

Ian Vasquez on the Prospects for a Free Cuba with Ian Vasquez, April 3, 2016

Inclusive Capitalism: Economic Savior or Socialism in Disguise? with Sean McElwee, February 14, 2015

Have Professional Sports Made Us More Socialist Than Europe?, May 18, 2014

Atlas Shrugged and Creeping Socialism with Ed Hudgins, April 19, 2009

Links:

AMAZON: The Socialist Awakening: What's Different Now About the Left, September 29, 2020

John B. Judis (@JohnBJudis) / Twitter

The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek

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