The development of thought of the socialism was witnessed in western school of thought in 19th and 20th centuries. Later, its expansion took place in the entire world. Its purpose was to set up a society of equality without exploitation. Many democratic countries including India provided it constitutional validity. As it follows a democratic path, it can also be called as ‘Democatic socialism’.
Many have defined socialism in the following forms:
Pt Jawahar Lai Nehru : “Democratic socialism is not that one which is set up by the Judiciary arrangement, but it is based on the decentralisation of political and economic powers along with the means of public accents.”
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia : “Socialism has adopted the economic aim of communism and general aims of capitalism, In this way, democratic socialism sets up a relationship or adjustment between both these doctrines”.
Justice Gajendra Godkar : “Democratic socialism is an arrangement to act as a public welfare state. Its basis is philosophy of social liberalism related to improve the social responsibility of a human being.”
Characteristics of Socialism :
The following characteristics of socialism has made it the most popular thought in the world.
1. It takes equal care of the interests of a person and a society.
2. It is quite aware of defects of capitalism and communism and hence keeps itself aloof from them.
3. Socialism believes in developing overall development of people’s personality. Thus, it tries to provide possible moral, political and economic freedom to the common man.
4. Socialism does not focus on abolishing private property, but wants it to be limited for social interests.
5. It accepts the importance of religious and moral values in arranging the human life. It depends on moral beliefs, which is the essence of all religious doctrines.
6. It adopts the path of decentralisation of economic and political regimes.
7. Ruling party must be responsible to the parliament elected by the people.
8. It is helpful in setting up social arrangement on the basis of equality.
Defects of Socialism :
According to certain critics, there are following defects in the doctrine of socialism.
1. The doctrine of socialism is unclear and non-definite. For example, some socialists emphasise on nationalisation whereas others stress on socialism. Socialists have differences in respect of quantum of control on private property.
2. Democracy is the supporter of freedom whereas socialism calls for controls. As such, socialists have conflicting doctrines.
3. Socialism is basically based on the conviction of equality but no man is equal in the view of nature. As such the efforts of setting up the system of equality becomes impractical.
4. In socialism, the powers of a state increase a lot. And in practice, these powers are used by the bureaucrats and hence, there is a strong probability of corruption in the system.
5. In socialism, the state has full powers of control on productions, and as such, customers are disadvantaged. Despite the above stated defects, if cannot be denied that there in no alternative to socialism like democracy.
