What is the difference between Liberalism and Socialism ? I'd appreciate general rather than party political answers.
Glenn Oliver, Düsseldorf Germany
- Originally, Conservatism's aim was to conserve the existing order and protect the economy from foreigners, Liberalism's was to loosen restrictions and advance free trade. Socialism differed in advocating a classless society in which all had an equal stake. Conservatism and Liberalism represented shades of ruling-class opinion in the 19th century and both sought to exclude the workers from any undue influence. Socialism appealed to the workers because it promised to dispossess the rulers and owners and share wealth and power equally.
Phil Ashmore, London
- Liberals believe in individual action; socialists believe in collective action.
Alan Mills, Alne
- There's a great cod-political analysis in terms of cows, part of which goes: Conservatism: you have two cows. And you're bloody well keeping them away from those poor people, because they enjoy being poor. Socialism: you have two cows. The government takes one and gives it your neighbour. Liberalism: you have two cows. But they both wander round freely and you can't ever manage to milk both together. The better parts of the rest of it include: Capitalism: you have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and then starve in order to feed the calves. Communism: you have two cows. The government takes both and gives you some of the milk. Facism: you have two cows. The government takes both and sells you the milk. Federalism: you have two cows. You milk both, but then both cows assert their sub-federal autonomy and veto your central authority to drink the milk. The alternatives to this are almost endless, of course.
M B Drennan, Oxford UK
- Liberalism is the political Man United - dominating, dull and self-indulgent - whereas Socialism is more of a Man City type - trendy, always got something to aim for, never stand a chance.
Jay Illing,
- How does Elisabeth from New York come to the distinction being one of ballots or bullets? Liberals in general have supported their countries in war. Socialists have in large numbers have largely opposed such wars. Liberals have consistently supported violence in order to maintain private property, from the Paris Commune to Chile in 1973 (and that was an elected socialist government). The key distinction is that liberalism supports private property and capitalism and is prepared to support the use violence to maintain it. Socialism wishes to establish collective property relations in the major sectors of the economy. When faced with a ruling class (liberal or otherwise) who will resort to violence it would be foolish to eschew bullets of our own.
Fez, Leeds UK
- Fez is spot-on. Liberalism always supports general notions of private property and individual liberty over the general concepts of equality and collective needs. In the context of a capitalist society based on the exploitation of one class by another, liberal reformism stumbles into the contradictory position of handwringing condemnations of poverty whilst also supporting the rights of corporations and the political state to crush the active dissent of the exploited. It occupies a half-way house which cannot stand.
Mitch, Sheffield UK
- Imagine the traditonal left/right graph of politics. On the left you have communists on the right fascists and in between conservatism and socialism to ever decreasing levels towards the middle. Now add the y axis, which represents, at the top liberalism, and at the bottom authoritarianism. Liberals believe people are intelligent and able enough to look after themselves and their collective interest and need only a minimum of guidance from institutions. Authoritarians believe people need almost big brother like control. On this graph it is possible for your own views to appear anywhere, ie you can be socialist and liberal, or socialist and authoritarian. It is possible, though perhaps less plauisble to be a liberal fascist.
David, Warwic UK
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