Changes

The word "socialism" is, confusingly used to refer to different political ideologies. This includes [[communism]] (which itself varies, considerably), democratic socialism, which is found in many nontotalitarian societies<ref>See OED definition.</ref> (see for example the British [[Labour Party]], and Adolf Hitler’s far-right anti-commmenist [[National Socialist German Workers’ Party]]. Russia  used to be know as the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]].<ref>[< https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-between-communism-and-socialism-195448]</ref> [[Adolph Hitler]] included the word socialist into his far-right party’s name to “to convert German workers away from Marxist Socialism.”<ref>< [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nazi-party-1]> </ref>

The word "socialism" is, confusingly used to refer to different political ideologies. This includes [[communism]] (which itself varies, considerably), democratic socialism, which is found in many nontotalitarian societies<ref>See OED definition.</ref> (see for example the British [[Labour Party]], and Adolf Hitler’s far-right anti-commmenist [[National Socialist German Workers’ Party]]. Russia  used to be know as the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]].<ref>[< https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-between-communism-and-socialism-195448]</ref> [[Adolph Hitler]] included the word socialist into his far-right party’s name to “to convert German workers away from Marxist Socialism.”<ref>< [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nazi-party-1]> </ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Socialism traces its roots largely to the [[French Revolution]] and [[Paris Commune]], in visions of imaginary (often unrealistic) ideal societies, from thinkers who drew up elaborated designs and concepts for creating what they considered a more equal society, along collectivist lines or abolished [[private property]]; the primary ideas came from Jewish, British, and French thinkers like [[Karl Marx]], [[Henri de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simon]], [[Charles Fourier]], Louis Blanc, and [[Robert Owen]] preceded by [[Thomas More]], Tommaso Campanella, and Jean Meslier.

Socialists believed  in visions of imaginary (often unrealistic) ideal societies, from thinkers who drew up elaborated designs and concepts for creating what they considered a more equal society, along collectivist lines or abolished [[private property]]. The [[French Revolution]]’s principles of “liberty, fraternity and equality,” were important, as were “early[[Robert Owen| Owenite]] socialism” and [[John Wesley]]'s [[Methodist]] emphasis "on helping the poor”.<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”. ‘’Anvil,’’ Vol. 14, No 11997.</ref>.The primary ideas came from Jewish, British, and French thinkers like [[Karl Marx]], [[Henri de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simon]], [[Charles Fourier]], Louis Blanc, preceded by [[Thomas More]], Tommaso Campanella, and Jean Meslier. Other important early influences were "radicals such as [[William Cobbett]] (1736-1835), [[Tom Paine]] (1737-1809) and [[Francis Place]] (1771-1854) whose writings and campaigning produced a seedbed of democracy".<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”.</ref>

 

===As a political theory===

===As a political theory===