by Serwan Zangana
As the politics and economy are two components of the society, some philosophers were, and still are, trying to find a way to solve the social and economic issues and pave a smooth path for people, especially, the poor and low income. The existence of social stratification has become the main subject of the reformers, radicals, and the politicians throughout history, and each one believed that his or her ideology is, or was, the solution of the issue.
Socialism is one of the bright looking ideologies that appear to end the class stratification and the social and economic injustice in the society. Through the collective means of production, Karl Marx believed that the workers would be free from the alienation that they experience on the job under the capitalism system.
The relationship of the capitalist to the workers is exploitation, Marx predicted that this exploitation would drive the workers to rise up and overthrow capitalism. But when his ideology became a system and implemented its rules, it did not fulfill the needs of the workers and drove those countries backward economically and socially. Socialism was not the solution to fill the gap between the two classes, the workers and the capitalists, and the workers’ situation has worsened under socialism. The controlling of the market under the socialism system has caused the growth of the economy to shrink, and on the other hand, it created undemocratic government ruled by the elite power.
Socialism created an economic crisis because it prohibited free market, restricted trades, and expected an equal outcome in every field of job, and hence, it resulted in deprecating the economy. Marx has failed in his prediction regarding the world that would be ruled by the proletarian and own the means. Now, the workers are more supported by the unions than they were by socialism, and, practically, they own assets and means under capitalism. Furthermore, the postindustrial and information revolution were not in Marx’s prediction. As the technology is advancing, the position and the lifestyle of the workers are changing. For example, there will not be the same kinds of factories and factory workers in 20 to 30 years as today because of the change in the production system.
However, there were socialist countries that shifted to the free market in order to put their economy on its feet. For example, India, U.K, and Israel after World War II have adopted the socialist system. Ideologically, the system seemed to work and the economy grew, but after decades, the system could not survive and push the economy forward. In India the income tax rate hiked to 97.75 percent. India’s economy was the worst from 1965 to 1981 because of the government’s left agenda.
It was the same situation in Israel and the U.K as the socialism system has put a burden on their economy. In 1973 the Israeli labor party could not face the economic challenges, and therefore, the party was defeated in the election. However, India, Israel, and U.K have embraced the free market system to boost their economy, lift up the country, and reduce the burden on the people.
Moreover, China and Hungary, practically, have shifted away from the actual communism and socialism system regarding trade; they have embraced the free market and joined capitalism.
However, based on the experience, it must be realized that socialism is not the bridge to connect the roads and eradicate the social stratification in the world.
