History of Socialism: A Comparative Survey Of Socialism, Communism, Trade Unionism, Cooperation, Utopianism, and Other Systems of Reform and Reconstruction

by Harry W. Laidler, Frank A. Warren (Introduction)

This celebrated history describes the principles, policies, achievements, of various types of socialism and the economic backgrounds from which they developed. One of the most comprehensive outlines ever published, this volume covers the main developments, the key issues, and the basic ideas for which socialists have struggled in society and over which they have struggled among themselves. Beginning with Platonic forms of Utopianism, it describes the Marxian or "scientific" school, coupled with a fascinating account of Karl Marx, its founder. Other descriptions include Fabianism, the German Revisionist school led by Eduard Bernstein, the newer Marxism of Karl Kautsky. A number of chapters are devoted to the Russian revolutionary movement and culminate with an account of the doctrines of communism as elaborated by Lenin, Trotsky, Bukharin, Stalin, and Zinoviev. The social-economic movements in other countries, recent Socialist thought, consumer cooperation and miscellaneous Socialist philosophies are all viewed in broad, historical perspective, including contemporary developments.

Genres: History, Politics

970 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Harry Wellington Laidler was an American socialist functionary, writer, magazine editor, and politician. He is best remembered as Executive Director of the League for Industrial Democracy, successor to the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, and for his close political association with perennial Socialist Party Presidential nominee Norman Thomas.