Problems in American Democracy Part 20

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

1. Define socialism.

2. What is the relation between the terms "communism" and "socialism."?

3. How are anarchism and socialism related?

4. Who was Karl Marx, and what has been his influence upon socialism?

5. Outline the socialist indictment.

6. What is meant by the "economic interpretation of history"?

7. Explain clearly Marx's theory of surplus value.

8. Just what is meant by the cla.s.s struggle?

9. Discuss the character of the socialist program.

10. Explain the att.i.tude of Marx toward violence.

11. Distinguish between political and militant socialism.

12. Name the two chief groups of militant socialists.

13. In what respect do all socialist teachings tend to result in violence?

REQUIRED READINGS

1. Williamson, _Readings in American Democracy_, chapter xiii.

Or all of the following:

2. _International Encyclopedia_, vol. 21, article on "Socialism."

3. Le Rossignol, _Orthodox Socialism_, chapter i.

4. Marx and Engels, _The Communist Manifesto_, all.

5. Skelton, _Socialism, a Critical a.n.a.lysis_, chapter ii.

QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRED READINGS

1. Explain why increasing social discontent among certain groups may be due to improvement in their social and economic condition.

(Skelton, page 17.)

2. What, according to socialists, has been the effect upon the workers of the introduction of machinery into industry? (Le Rossignol, page 9.)

3. What, according to Marx, has been the effect of the factory system upon the laborer? (Skelton, pages 33-34.)

4. What is meant by "wage slavery"? (Skelton, pages 30-32.)

5. What is meant by the "iron law of wages"? (Le Rossignol, page 9.)

6. What, according to socialism, has been the effect of capitalism upon the moral tone of the workers? (Skelton, pages 37-40.)

7. Who are the bourgeoisie? (_Communist Manifesto._)

8. Who are the proletariat? (_Communist Manifesto._)

9. What, according to Marx and Engels, are the aims of socialism?

(_Communist Manifesto._)

10. What does Marx mean by "cla.s.s consciousness"? (_International Encyclopedia,_ vol. 21, page 235.)

11. What changes would occur in human character, in the opinion of the socialists, if socialism were to supplant capitalism? (Le Rossignol, page 10.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Ask each of a number of prominent citizens in your community to define socialism. Compare the definitions secured with that given in section 122. What do you conclude as to the indefiniteness of the term "socialism"?

2. Make a brief study of the social cla.s.ses in your community. Does it appear that all of the community's citizens may be grouped into either a wealthy employing cla.s.s or into an impoverished laboring cla.s.s?

Compare your conclusion with Marx's statement. (Section 128.)

3. Select for study a shop, factory or mill in your locality.

(a) Does it appear that the interests of the laborers and the employers are identical or in opposition?

(b) Carefully observe the actual conduct of the business. Does it appear to you that the laborers alone create the product? Give your reasons.

(c) Do the laborers under observation appear to be getting barely enough wages to enable them to keep alive? Check up your conclusion by visiting the homes of some of the laborers in question.

4. Write to the Department of Justice, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., for information regarding the activities of American socialists during the World War.

II

5. Robert Owen and his work. (Consult an encyclopedia.)

6. Utopian socialism. (Skelton, _Socialism, a Critical a.n.a.lysis_, chapter iv; Carver, _Elementary Economics_, chapter xliii.)

7. Examples of Utopian communities in the United States. (Hinds, _American Communities_. See also an encyclopedia under "Communism.")