Capitalism and Social Democracy (Studies in Marxism and Social Theory) - Softcover

Przeworski, Adam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521336562 ISBN 13: 9780521336567

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1986

Synopsis

This is a study of the choices faced by socialist movements as they developed within capitalist societies. Professor Przeworski examines the three principal choices confronted by socialism: whether to work through elections; whether to rely exclusively on the working class; and whether to try to reform or abolish capitalism. He brings to his analysis a number of abstract models of political and economic structure, and illustrates the issues in the context of historical events, tracing the development of socialist strategies since the mid-nineteenth century. Several of the conclusions are novel and provocative. Professor Przeworski argues that economic issues cannot justify a socialist programme, and that the workers had good reasons to struggle for the improvement of capitalism. Therefore, the project of a socialist transformation, and the fight for economic advancement, were separate historical phenomena.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Not to repeat past mistakes: the sudden resurgence of a sympathetic interest in social democracy is a response to the urgent need to draw lessons from the history of the socialist movement. After several decades of analyses worthy of an ostrich, some rudimentary facts are being finally admitted. Social democracy has been the prevalent manner of organization of workers under democratic capitalism. Reformist parties have enjoyed the support of workers.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0521336562
• ISBN 13: 9780521336567
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 280