Political Economy

Ideology and Politics There are no pure practical forms of capitalism, socialism, fascism, anarchism, and communism. All of these political ideologies compromise and mix in practice (i.e., capitalist regimes often incorporate socialist elements; communist regimes often incorporate capitalist elements).

Social Democracy The ultimate compromise of conservative and liberal elements. A soft version of socialism. Retains large capitalist elements but seeks to improve the lot of those who can’t help themselves. Some social services (government provided education, health care, infrastructure, basic social welfare services) along with private enterprise. Examples: The United States during the New Deal Era ( ), France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, from 1945 to 2000, Venezuela since the 1990s.

THE RADICAL RIGHT: CAPITALISM AND FASCISM Domination of politics and the economy by an elite of wealthy often with the collaboration of media, police forces, and the military.

Fascism Overthrow of the democracy by a dictatorial government. Private ownership of means of production. High inequality. Repressive government. Police states. High military spending. Imperialism. Denial of basic liberties (freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, etc.) Examples: Nazi Germany (1930s-1945), Fascist Italy (1920s-1940s), Imperial Japan ( s).

Capitalism Democracy still exists, but in a limited form. Ideological and Political system based on the individual and private accumulation of wealth. Domination of politics and the economy by an elite of wealthy individuals and corporations often with the collaboration of media, police forces, and the military. Capitalism differs from fascism in that it allows but still limits basic civil liberties (freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, etc.) Characterized by: Corporate ownership of means of production. Major inequality and massive accumulation of wealth. Social pathology: Two societies; not one. The haves and the have nots. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Examples: The United States after 1970; Brazil, Russia after 1990.

THE RADICAL LEFT: ANARCHISM, SOCIALISM, AND COMMUNISM Ranges from reformist movements and social democracies (soft versions) to totalitarian communist regimes (hard versions.) Leftist reform movements. Seek to improve the establishment from the inside. Bread and butter issues. Leftist revolutionary movements. Seek to completely overturn the system. Can be violent or non-violent.

Anarchism Ideological and economic system based on the self-sufficiency of local communities without major influence of corporations. Local ownership of means of production. Minor inequality. Examples: Community Gardens, Cooperatives, Credit Unions, The Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico.

Socialism Ideological and political system where private and government ownership of means of production co- exist. Basic idea that society is supposed to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves. Allows for elections and multiple political parties. Allows for private entrepreneurship. Relatively high taxation at the highest brackets. Examples: Venezuela since the mid 1990s.

Communism Ideological and political system. The dictatorship of the proletariat (industrial workers). Popular participation in politics, but only one party system. Government ownership of the means of production. Minor equality. Government takes care of those who can’t take care of themselves. Examples: The Soviet Union from the 1920s to 1990; China from the mid 1940s to the late 1970s.

Socialism. Ranges from reformist movement and social democracies to totalitarian communist regimes. Reform Movements. Seek to improve the establishment from the inside. Bread and butter issues. Revolutionary movements. Seek to completely overturn the system. Can be violent or non- violent. Anarchism. Ideological and economic system based on the self-sufficiency of local communities without major influence of corporations. Local ownership of means of production. Minor inequality. Examples: Community Gardens, Cooperatives, Credit Unions, The Zapatista communities in Chiapas, Mexico. Socialism. Ideological and political system where private and government ownership of means of production co-exist. Basic idea that society is supposed to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves. Allows for elections and multiple political parties. Allows for private entrepreneurship. Relatively high taxation at the highest brackets. Examples: Venezuela since the mid 1990s. Communism. Ideological and political system. The dictatorship of the proletariat. Popular participation in politics, but only one party system. Government ownership of the means of production. Minor equality. Government takes care of those who can’t take care of themselves. Examples: The Soviet Union from the 1920s to 1990; China from the mid 1940s to the late 1970s.