Democratic Socialism Theory And Practice Mode Research

Democratic socialism, the theoretical systems of social democrats, is produced in the late19th century. It has the same theory origin with scientific socialism. In the early19th century,Bernstein, the representative of democratic socialism, broke away form scientific socialismgradually, and put forward the theories deviating from the Marxist standpoint and viewpoint,which formed the theory of democratic socialism. Democratic socialism has experienced theprocess from theory to practice, from movement to mode, and from Europe to the whole world,so it has extensive influence in the world political stage.Democratic socialism originated in Western Europe. Then, it spread and evolved constantlyeastward. There first appeared in the communist parties of the Eastern European countries thephenomenon of "socialist party" and "new Marxism"; Socialist parties in Western Europe,Southern Europe and other countries believed in democratic socialism in common; Khrushchev,Brezhnev’s "a party" and "national state" were produced in Soviet Union, and finally evolvedinto Gorbachev’s "humanitarian, democratic socialism". At the same time, democratic socialismextended to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America with increasing influence, where a batchof social democratic countries believing in democratic socialism was founded. However, after theupheaval of the former Soviet Union, and the break of cold war pattern, the world socialistmovement suffered huge challenges. Democratic socialism forms unprecedented challenge totraditional scientific socialism, and socialist party occupies the position of communist partycontinuously.In recent years, the theoretical circle in China launched a fierce debate about the essence ofdemocratic socialism, the relationship between domestic socialism and socialism with Chinesecharacteristics, and the choice between them. This discussion on democratic socialism is notpurely academic; instead, it is an argument of ideology with the hint of political and realisticmeaning. Its direct political value points to China’s development path: adhering to the road ofsocialism with Chinese characteristics unswervingly and improve the theoretical system ofsocialism with Chinese characteristics or changing over to totally new ways. To comprehend andevaluate democratic socialism fully, scientifically and accurately, this paper, in combination withthe practice of democratic socialism, tries to carry on a thorough research of democraticsocialism, aiming to deepen the understanding of democratic socialism and socialism withChinese characteristics on the basis of classic literature of democratic socialism. Basing on “the concept of improvement” of democratic socialism, adhering to the guidanceof Marxism, integrating with relevant knowledge of history, political science, sociology,economics, etc, using the research method of historical materialism and dialectical materialismsuch as comparison research method, case law, this thesis makes a systematic study of the theoryand practice mode of democratic socialism. By combing the basic theory of democratic socialism,the essence of its ideological roots, its characteristics and developing course, it explores differentmodes of social practice of democratic socialism in different countries and regions, tries to revealthe experience and social limitations of democratic socialism practice mode and helps to find outits meaning of reference on China’s socialist construction. This thesis tends to have someinnovation on the research of democratic socialism from the aspects of theory and practice.Theoretically, summarizing and combing the basic theory of democratic socialism system,its ideological origin and essential feature, my paper points out that democratic socialism has thecharacteristics of diversity in the basic values. It advocates neutral outlook on the world anddiverse guiding ideology and opposes taking the unique ideological and theoretical system as theguiding ideology; in terms of economic theory, it advocates economic democracy, abandons theappeal to the public ownership, carries out the economy of mixed ownership, and adoptsdistribution system of high welfare and democratic economic pattern with workers participationin making decision; in terms of political theory, it advocates political democracy, admits andsupports that the modern capitalist countries have the property of neutrality and transcendingclasses, thinks that the premise for realization of socialism is the acknowledgment of thelegitimacy of the state system, claims the multi-party system and the political system ofparliamentary republic, and the gradual development from a modern capitalist country into asocialist country in a democratic way and improved method; in terms of political theory oninternational issues and global affairs, it advocates international democracy, thinking that thefundamental value pursued by the social democratic party is the same with international scopeand its basic goal is to pursue peace and prosperity in the world, to establish world peace andfreedom. Basing on the above arguments, a conclusion has been made that the essence ofdemocratic socialism is a kind of capitalist improving ideological system, and it is essentiallydifferent from the scientific socialism advocated by Marxism.Based on this, my paper makes a comparison between socialism with Chinese characteristicsand democratic socialism, and arrives at the conclusion that democratic socialism is not suitablefor the contemporary socialist China. If China chooses democratic socialism, gives up Marxisttheoretical system of scientific socialism, does not adhere to the "four cardinal principles", it willfinally result in China’s wholesale westernization, and break the communist ideal of eliminatingexploitation and polarization and achieving common prosperity. Furthermore, it assessesdemocratic socialism about its historical contributions and limitations. The historicalcontributions of democratic socialism mainly lie in promoting the rights of citizens and thedevelopment of social democracy, safeguarding the stability of the capitalist society, and drivinginternational peace and development, etc; its historical limitations are mainly shown on the twist of basic Marxism theory, the abandonment of the dominance of public ownership and inability ofsolving the disadvantages of capitalism, etc.At a practical level, my thesis sums up the achievements of the democratic socialism inwestern society, explores the actual influence of the practice mode of democratic socialism onthe development of the society, and meanwhile points out the limitations of democratic socialism.In aspects of systematic summarizing practice modes of democratic socialism, from a globalperspective, this article concludes the democratic socialism practice patterns into three types:typical democratic socialism practice mode of Western Europe, the utility socialist democracypractice mode of the former Soviet Union, and the native democratic socialism practice mode ofAsia, Africa and Latin America countries and regions. It makes a detailed analysis on the surveyof the formation of democratic socialism practice mode, its developing course, concrete practicepatterns, characteristics, and limitations, etc. Due to historical reasons and different nationalconditions, the development of democratic socialism as a movement and practice mode indifferent countries and regions is not balanced. In Western Europe, many countries, as thebirthplace of democratic socialism, are traditional European capitalist countries. They are deeplyinfluenced by democratic socialism, have formed a typical practice mode of democraticsocialism, where many Social Democratic Party (SPD) becomes the ruling party, and activelyexplore practice patterns of democratic socialism in their own country. Therefore, the mode ofdemocratic socialism formed there is typical; in the original region of the former Soviet Union,after the upheaval of Eastern Europe and the collapse of Soviet Union, central and east Europeancountries head for the road of the democratic socialism. Influenced by the past socialist mode,the Social Democratic Party (SPD) particularly focuses on seizing the power as their main target.The utility of political practice is increased and thus a unique utility type of democratic socialismpractice mode is created in central and east Europe; in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with theformation of capitalism, such regions slump into deep national crisis, and become a victim thatthe capitalist countries compete for. The soil of developing democratic socialism in Asia, Africaand Latin America is thin. In very few cases, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) becomes theruling party or participating party. Combining with the practical situation of their nation andregion, they form a native type of democratic socialism practice mode. This paper summarizessome inspirations of democratic socialism practice mode to the socialist construction in ourcountry. It enlightens us that in the construction of socialist economy, we should make use ofmarket mechanism and national macroeconomic regulation, improve the income distributionsystem, strengthen legacy tax, and narrow the gap between the rich and the poor; in socialdemocratic political construction, we should pay attention to the development of socialistdemocracy, adhere to the strategy of governing the country according to law, safeguard citizens’rights, strengthen the cultivation of clean government, and improve the party’s governingcapacity; in the construction of a harmonious society, we should take a pragmatic approach,continue to explore the road of reform, and constantly enrich and develop Marxist theory.According to the needs of times, this paper makes a deep analysis of the democraticsocialism theory and its practice mode. It has certain theoretical value and practice value and academic value. First of all, through the study of democratic socialism theory and its practicemode, it can help us correctly know and understand the democratic socialism theory system, itsvalue, and practice mode, and help us see clearly the guidelines, and policies of social democratsin the practice of socialist democracy theory and know its experience and lessons to make us lessdetours; it can help us hold a correct view towards our party’s theoretical innovation and practicalinnovation in recent years, guard the replay of the development tendency of communist partytowards socialist party, and re-examine the positive and negative effects of the democraticsocialism in the practice with scientific and pragmatic attitude; it can help us innovate our party’sruling idea and strengthen the ability of our party’s ruling construction under the new historicalconditions. Second, through the study of democratic socialism theory and its practice mode, itcan help us focus on the political situation of countries all over the world that have undergonedemocratic socialist practice, learn from experiences and lessons of democratic socialism, graspthe achievement and deficiency of democratic socialism theory comprehensively and profoundly,understand and grasp the developing trend of the contemporary international politics, andexplore the prospect and destiny of socialism. Thirdly, through the comparative study of thedemocratic socialism and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the analysis of the guidingideology, the demands of the social system, practice pattern of political system, and the natureof the political parties, etc., it can help make up some weakness of research, of academiccomparison, deepen the understanding of the theoretical essence of democratic socialism,scientific socialism and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and clarify the dispute andconfusion between democratic socialism and socialism with Chinese characteristics in currentacademic and ideological circle. Finally, the research of the democratic socialism practice modeis helpful for us to focus on the political situation of countries all over the world undergoingdemocratic socialist practice, to understand and grasp the development trend of the contemporaryinternational politics, to understand the great influence of democratic socialism and its challengeto scientific socialism, and to make the correct policy. This paper has certain academic value: itis of strategic significance to the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ofreference value for scholars to study democratic socialism.