Changes

[[Image:Backrdv12n2.jpg|right|400px|thumb|The caption reads, "Long live the great undefeatable flag of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin!"]]

[[Image:Backrdv12n2.jpg|right|400px|thumb|The caption reads, "Long live the great undefeatable flag of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin!"]]

'''Socialism''' uses government power to redistribute wealth.  

'''Socialism''' is an international political philosophy that emerged in the 19th century and, in close cooperation with labor unions, came to power in many countries of Europe.  The Socialists were well organized and after 1918 they bittly fought the breakaway faction that became the [[Communist]] movement. In recent years major Socialist parties have largely dropepd the long-standing demands for state ownership of the means of production and have mostly accepted capitalism. However they remain tied to labor unions and favor liberal policies regarding high taxes and public spending.

In [[totalitarian]] countries such as [[USSR]], [[China]], [[Cuba]], [[North Korea]], etc., it has caused widespread shortages of basic goods and services. These Communist countries used an "[[Iron Curtain]]" to keep their citizens from emigrating.

 

In countries such as [[Sweden]], a form of socialism has been much more successful, leading to high social equity and a burgeoning economy, as well as general content.  

Conservatives complain socialists use government power to redistribute wealth.  

 

Socialism in Communist countries such as the old [[Soviet Union]], [[China]] in the 1949-1980 period, [[Cuba]], [[North Korea]] and [[Vietnam]] socialist ownership of the means of production has caused widespread shortages of basic goods and services. These Communist countries used an "[[Iron Curtain]]" to keep their citizens from emigrating.

 

In countries such as [[Sweden]], a form of democratic socialism has been much more successful, leading to high social equity and a burgeoning economy, as well as general content.  

Although this acts as a drag on the economy, in democratic countries of the industrialized west, some socialist ideas have been put into practice with varying degrees of success.  

Although this acts as a drag on the economy, in democratic countries of the industrialized west, some socialist ideas have been put into practice with varying degrees of success.  

*[[Communism]]

*[[Communism]]

*[[Social democracy]]

*[[Social democracy]]

*[[Welfare state]]

*[[Welfare state]]

==References==

==References==

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