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'''Authoritarian Socialism''' or '''State Socialism''' refers to an effort to build a socialist society that differs from libertarian socialists on four main areas:
'''Authoritarian Socialism''', on which the USSR is based, is one of the three major socialist ideologies, alongside [[Democratic Socialism|democratic socialism]] and [[Anarchism|anarchism]]. Of the three, it has been by far the most historically influential, even becoming one of the two major forces of the [[Cold War]] and being largely responsible for winning [[World War II]]. It refers to an effort to build a socialist society that differs from anarchists on four main areas:
* The [[State (Polity)|state's]] role in history is viewed completely differently. For authoritarian socialists, the state was a product of [[Class|class divisions]] which emerged alongside the development of [[agriculture]] and cannot be gotten rid of in the short run without having huge side effects which would destroy socialism. Whereas libertarian socialists view the state as an independent entity that accumulates power on its own will and predates class.
* The [[State (Polity)|state's]] role in history is viewed completely differently. For authoritarian socialists, the state was a product of [[Class|class divisions]] which emerged alongside the development of [[agriculture]] and cannot be gotten rid of in the short run without having huge side effects which would destroy socialism. Whereas anarchists view the state as an independent entity that accumulates power on its own will and predates class.
* Decisions are not to be made via popular assemblies and regional confederations, but instead through a one-party dictatorship with little to no input from the general public. According to authoritarian socialists, this is necessary to maintain the organizational efficiency necessary to defend socialism from [[Counter-Revolution|counter-revolutionaries]] and warmongering capitalists.
* Decisions are not to be made via popular assemblies and regional confederations, but instead through a one-party dictatorship with little to no input from the general public. According to authoritarian socialists, this is necessary to maintain the organizational efficiency necessary to defend socialism from [[Counter-Revolution|counter-revolutionaries]] and warmongering capitalists.
* Industry is to be [[Nationalization|nationalized]] and operated according to the will of the state. Industry may have some degree of [[Workers' Self-Management|workers' self-management]], as in [[Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. This is done in order to ensure the most effective use of resources towards building socialism.
* Industry is to be [[Nationalization|nationalized]] and operated according to the will of the state. Industry may have some degree of [[Workers' Self-Management|workers' self-management]], as in [[Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. This is done in order to ensure the most effective use of resources towards building socialism.
* Dissent is to be harshly punished in order to create a stable and harmonious society and to protect the gains made for workers.
* Dissent is to be harshly punished in order to create a stable and harmonious society and to protect the gains made for workers.


== History ==
== Historical Examples ==
During the [[Revolutions of 1986 - 1995]], most authoritarian socialist governments and groups collapsed.
* [[Socialist Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] (1978 - 1992)
* [[Socialist Albania|Albania]]
* [[Socialist Algeria|Algeria]]
* [[Socialist Angola|Angola]]
* [[Socialist Bangladesh|Bangladesh]]
* [[Socialist Benin|Benin]] (1974 - 1991)
* [[Socialist Burkina Faso|Burkina Faso]] (1983 - 1987)
* [[Socialist Bulgaria|Bulgaria]]
* [[Socialist Cambodia|Cambodia]]
* [[Socialist Cape Verde|Cape Verde]]
* [[China]] (1949 - 1978, or Present)
* [[Socialist Congo|Congo]]
* [[Cuba]] (1959 - Present)
* [[Socialist Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakia]]
* [[East Germany]]
* [[Socialist Egypt|Egypt]]
* [[Socialist Ethiopia|Ethiopia]]
* [[Socialist Grenada|Grenada]]
* [[Socialist Guinea|Guinea]]
* [[Socialist Guyana|Guyana]]
* [[Socialist Hungary|Hungary]]
* [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] (1968 - 2003)
* [[Laos]]
* [[Socialist Libya|Libya]] (1969 - 2011)
* [[Socialist Madagascar|Madagascar]]
* [[Socialist Mali|Mali]]
* [[Socialist Mongolia|Mongolia]] (1924 - 1991)
* [[Socialist Mozambique|Mozambique]] (1975 - 1991)
* [[Socialist Myanmar|Myanmar]]
* [[North Korea]]
* [[Socialist Peru|Peru]]
* [[Socialist Poland|Poland]] (1947 - 1989)
* [[Socialist Romania|Romania]]
* [[Socialist Seychelles|Seychelles]]
* [[Socialist Somalia|Somalia]]
* [[South Yemen]] (1969 - 1991)
* [[Socialist Sudan|Sudan]]
* [[Socialist Tanzania|Tanzania]]
* [[USSR]] (1917 - 1991)
* [[Vietnam]] (1975 - Present)
* [[Socialist Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (1945 - 1990)
* [[Socialist Zambia|Zambia]]
* [[Socialist Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]]


== Schools of Thought ==
== Applications ==
It is no secrete that authoritarian socialism has been tried many more times and on much larger scales than [[Libertarian Socialism|libertarian socialism]], by continent, these are the results of their efforts:
* In Africa, authoritarian socialists took control of 16 states, none of them have survived until today.
* In Asia, authoritarian socialists took control of 16 states, 4 of them have survived until today.
* In Eastern Europe, authoritarian socialists took control of 9 states, none of them have survived until today.
* In Latin America authoritarian socialists took control of 4 states, 1 of them has survived until today.
=== Afghanistan ===
Following the [[Saur Revolution]] in 1978 to 1992, [[Afghanistan]] began to lean in an authoritarian socialist direction. It was embroiled in a [[Afghani Civil War|civil war]] that acted as a [[Cold War]] proxy between the [[United States of America|USA]] and [[USSR]]. Although nominally democratic, the government was dominated by [[Marxist-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] and political parties were only legal if they opposed [[colonialism]], [[Apartheid (South Africa)|apartheid]] and [[zionism]]. The economy largely collapsed as a result of the war despite the governments efforts to build a private sector and encourage foreign investment into the country. In 1978, the government did manage to organise a highly successful education program, women's rights were expanded but land reform was a failure and repression of dissidents began to reach high levels.<ref>[[Wikipedia]] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Afghanistan</ref>
=== Albania ===
=== Algeria ===
=== Angola ===
=== Bangladesh ===
=== Benin ===
=== Burkina Faso ===
From 1983 to 1987, [[Burkina Faso]] was led by the authoritarian socialist government of [[Thomas Sankara]]. The government had highly successful land reform, rail and road development, construction of hundreds of new medical clinics, mass reforestation, vaccinating millions, ending neo-colonial influence over the country, expanding women's rights massively and increasing agricultural production by 250%. However, his failures came from his repression of unions, failure to raise literacy and his murder in a military coup backed mainly by [[France]] and the [[United States of America|USA]].<ref>[[Wikipedia]] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara</ref>
=== Bulgaria ===
=== Burma ===
=== Cambodia ===
=== Cape Verde ===
=== China ===
[[China]] became the largest experiment in authoritarian socialism after their revolution in 1949.
=== Congo ===
=== Cuba ===
[[Cuba]] became one of the most famous and successful examples of authoritarian socialism in 1959, after the [[Cuban Revolution]] against [[Timeline of US Imperialism|US]] and [[Organised Crime|Mafia]]-backed dictator [[Fulgencio Batista]].
Cuba's socialism is ongoing, and has since implemented a degree of direct democracy and is beginning to see the creation of [[Worker Cooperative|worker cooperatives]] across the country.
=== Czechoslovakia ===
=== East Germany ===
=== Egypt ===
=== Ethiopia ===
=== Grenada ===
=== Guyana ===
=== Hungary ===
=== Iraq ===
''See Also: [[Ba'athist Iraq]]''
=== Laos ===
=== Libya ===
=== Madagascar ===
=== Mongolia ===
=== Mozambique ===
=== Nicaragua ===
=== North Korea ===
=== Poland ===
=== Romania ===
=== Seychelles ===
=== Somalia ===
=== South Yemen ===
=== Sri Lanka ===
=== Sudan ===
=== Syria ===
=== Tanzania ===
=== USSR ===
''See Also: [[USSR]]''
=== Vietnam ===
=== Yugoslavia ===
During [[World War II]], various groups resisting [[Nazi Germany]] in the Balkans formed a united front and created the socialist state of [[Yugoslavia]] which existed from 1945 to 1992. It broke with the USSR in 1948 and transitioned to a unique form of [[Market Socialism|market socialism]] and began a foreign policy that tried to play off both sides of the Cold War. Yugoslavia enjoyed a smaller degree of repression compared to the USSR and a much greater degree of economic prosperity. In 1980, economic crisis broke out as inflation and unemployment soared, eventually leading massive ethnic tensions leading to a massive series of horrific civil wars.<ref>[[Wikipedia]] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia</ref>
=== Zambia ===
In 1964, [[Zambia]] was granted independence from the [[British Empire]] as part of [[Decolonisation in Africa|decolonisation]]. The ideology of [[African Socialism]] was adopted, building an economy based around central planning and nationalisation modeled of [[Julius Nyerere|Julius Nyerere's]] policies in Tanzania as well as building relations with [[China]] and [[Yugoslavia]]. In 1972 Zambia became a dictatorship, banning all political parties and firing dissidents in the government. The policies of import substitution worked until 1975, where the economy contracted by 30% between 1975 and 1990. This was because copper prices fell due to the USSR flooding the market, leading Zambia to take on loans from the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] and World Bank, leading to the imposition of [[Structural Adjustment Program|Structural Adjustments]].
Zambia also allied itself with anti-colonial movements in Africa, allowing [[African National Congress|ANC]] members from South Africa to take shelter in the country, leading to occasional raids by South African special forces. The Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army had a military base in the country, and shot down two civilian airlines with USSR supplied heat-seeking missiles. This led to the closing of Zambia's borders, leading to electricity and food shortages as refugees poured into the country from [[Angolan Civil War|Angola]]. Zambia abandoned its leftist outlook following an economic crisis in the 1980s and democratised in 1990.<ref>[[Wikipedia]] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Zambia</ref>
== Criticism ==
== Criticism ==
The main criticism of authoritarian socialism advanced by [[Libertarian Socialism|libertarian socialists]] are:
The main criticism of authoritarian socialism advanced by [[Anarchism|anarchistss]] are:
* The authoritarian socialist conception of the state is based on outdated or misleading historical data. More recent evidence shows that the state emerged long before class divisions, and is usually based on factors such as [[Religion|religious]] worship.<ref>[[Pierre Clastres]] (1974) [[Society Against The State]]</ref><ref>[[David Graeber]] (2011) [[Debt: The First 5000 Years]]</ref><ref>[[Peter Gelderloos]] (2017) [[Worshiping Power: An Anarchist View of Early State Formation]]</ref>
* The authoritarian socialist conception of the state is based on outdated or misleading historical data. More recent evidence shows that the state emerged long before class divisions, and is usually based on factors such as [[Religion|religious]] worship.<ref>[[Pierre Clastres]] (1974) [[Society Against The State]]</ref><ref>[[Peter Gelderloos]] (2017) [[Worshiping Power: An Anarchist View of Early State Formation]]</ref>
* If decision-making power is not distributed among the population, it will create a small elite isolated from the consequences of their actions who will quickly become consumed by greed and paranoia, violently maintaining their control over the population and ultimately reinstating [[capitalism]] to ensure their own wealth and power.<ref>[[Mikhail Bakunin]] (1873) [[Statism and Anarchy]]</ref>
* If decision-making power is not distributed among the population, it will create a small elite isolated from the consequences of their actions who will quickly become consumed by greed and paranoia, violently maintaining their control over the population and ultimately reinstating [[capitalism]] to ensure their own wealth and power.<ref>[[Mikhail Bakunin]] (1873) [[Statism and Anarchy]]</ref>
* The belief that hierarchical organizations are more efficient that non-hierarchical ones is conflicting with existing evidence<ref>[[Kevin Carson]] (2008) [[Organization Theory: A Libertarian Perspective]]</ref>, especially within the military, where decentralized forces frequently defeat centralized ones despite having access to inferior equipment, knowledge and army size.<ref>[[Peter Gelderloos]] (2010) [[Anarchy Works]]</ref>
* The belief that hierarchical organizations are more efficient that non-hierarchical ones is conflicting with existing evidence<ref>[[Kevin Carson]] (2008) [[Organization Theory: A Libertarian Perspective]]</ref>, especially within the military, where decentralized forces frequently defeat centralized ones despite having access to inferior equipment, knowledge and army size.<ref>[[Peter Gelderloos]] (2010) [[Anarchy Works]]</ref>
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== References ==
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Ideologies]]
[[Category:Ideologies]]
[[Category:Libertarian Socialist Wiki]]
[[Category:AnarWiki]]
[[Category:Authoritarian Socialism]]
[[Category:Authoritarian Socialism]]

Latest revision as of 14:54, 13 December 2024

Authoritarian Socialism, on which the USSR is based, is one of the three major socialist ideologies, alongside democratic socialism and anarchism. Of the three, it has been by far the most historically influential, even becoming one of the two major forces of the Cold War and being largely responsible for winning World War II. It refers to an effort to build a socialist society that differs from anarchists on four main areas:

  • The state's role in history is viewed completely differently. For authoritarian socialists, the state was a product of class divisions which emerged alongside the development of agriculture and cannot be gotten rid of in the short run without having huge side effects which would destroy socialism. Whereas anarchists view the state as an independent entity that accumulates power on its own will and predates class.
  • Decisions are not to be made via popular assemblies and regional confederations, but instead through a one-party dictatorship with little to no input from the general public. According to authoritarian socialists, this is necessary to maintain the organizational efficiency necessary to defend socialism from counter-revolutionaries and warmongering capitalists.
  • Industry is to be nationalized and operated according to the will of the state. Industry may have some degree of workers' self-management, as in Yugoslavia. This is done in order to ensure the most effective use of resources towards building socialism.
  • Dissent is to be harshly punished in order to create a stable and harmonious society and to protect the gains made for workers.

Historical Examples

Criticism

The main criticism of authoritarian socialism advanced by anarchistss are:

  • The authoritarian socialist conception of the state is based on outdated or misleading historical data. More recent evidence shows that the state emerged long before class divisions, and is usually based on factors such as religious worship.[1][2]
  • If decision-making power is not distributed among the population, it will create a small elite isolated from the consequences of their actions who will quickly become consumed by greed and paranoia, violently maintaining their control over the population and ultimately reinstating capitalism to ensure their own wealth and power.[3]
  • The belief that hierarchical organizations are more efficient that non-hierarchical ones is conflicting with existing evidence[4], especially within the military, where decentralized forces frequently defeat centralized ones despite having access to inferior equipment, knowledge and army size.[5]
  • Nationalization of industry or limited workers' self-management only creates a bitter and alienated workforce, who may begin to sympathize strongly with far-right anti-communist ideas.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Pierre Clastres (1974) Society Against The State
  2. ↑ Peter Gelderloos (2017) Worshiping Power: An Anarchist View of Early State Formation
  3. ↑ Mikhail Bakunin (1873) Statism and Anarchy
  4. ↑ Kevin Carson (2008) Organization Theory: A Libertarian Perspective
  5. ↑ Peter Gelderloos (2010) Anarchy Works
  6. ↑ Immanuel Ness (2010) Ours to Master and to Own: Workers' Control from the Commune to the Present - Part III: Goran Music - Yugoslavia: Workers’ Self-Management as State Paradigm
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