10 General Rules of Thumb:

1. “Crony Capitalism” or “Corporatism” is just Capitalism.
2. “Social Democracy” is welfare-state Capitalism.
3. “Neoliberalism” is Liberalism in the sense that it seeks to maintain Capitalism.
4. “Neoconservatism” is Conservatism in the sense that it seeks to maintain Capitalism.
5. Liberalism and Conservatism both embrace Capitalism (two sides of the same ideological coin, both technically representing traditional “Liberal” values).
6. Liberalism is not Leftism (Liberals are not Leftists).
7. “Liberal vs. Conservative” is a false dichotomy; there are other schools of sociopolitical thought.
8. “Democrat vs. Republican” is a false dichotomy (two sides of the sa
9. ame “business party” coin); there are not only other options in terms of political parties, but other routes outside of electoral politics that must also be explored in order for us to see radical socioeconomic change for the better.
10. Socialism and Communism are not the same thing (think of Socialism as the period between Capitalism and Communism).
11. If you are a Socialist, you are most likely a Communist as well; think of Communism as the “end goal,” and Socialism as the (r)evolutionary stage(s) or pathway that gets us there.

12. WHO
    WE
    ARE

    THE BSA GLOSSARY OF

    So•cial•ist
    Terms

    SECTIONS

    10 General Rules

    Mumbo Jumbo

    Sects

    SOURCES

    Principles of Communism

    Crash Course Socialism

    3 Sources and 3 Component Parts of Marxism

    /r/Socialism_101

    /r/Communism101

    Wikipedia (for introductory primers; Wikipedia is not a primary source)

    "What are all of these uppity, fancy-ass people talking about, though?"

    
    

    We feel you, fam.

    
    

    Here are all of the "isms and skisms" that y'all need to be familiar with in order to jump into the Socialist convos we have about this messed up world we're living in.

    10 General Rules of Thumb:

    1. “Crony Capitalism” or “Corporatism” is just Capitalism.
    2. “Social Democracy” is welfare-state Capitalism.
    3. “Neoliberalism” is Liberalism in the sense that it seeks to maintain Capitalism.
    4. “Neoconservatism” is Conservatism in the sense that it seeks to maintain Capitalism.
    5. Liberalism and Conservatism both embrace Capitalism (two sides of the same ideological coin, both technically representing traditional “Liberal” values).
    6. Liberalism is not Leftism (Liberals are not Leftists).
    7. “Liberal vs. Conservative” is a false dichotomy; there are other schools of sociopolitical thought.
    8. “Democrat vs. Republican” is a false dichotomy (two sides of the same “business party” coin); there are not only other options in terms of political parties, but other routes outside of electoral politics that must also be explored in order for us to see radical socioeconomic change for the better.
    9. Socialism and Communism are not the same thing (think of Socialism as the period between Capitalism and Communism).
    10. If you are a Socialist, you are most likely a Communist as well; think of Communism as the “end goal,” and Socialism as the (r)evolutionary stage(s) or pathway that gets us there.

    Mumbo Jumbo

    NOTE: Don't just take our word for it; each term listed below doubles as a link to a Wikipedia primer. Dig into the historical context!

    
    

    Capitalism

    A system that allows private individuals to own the means of production, with the goal of extracting a profit from the sale of commodities produced by wage workers.

    
    

    Profit / Surplus Value

    The difference between the value a worker adds, and the value that they receive (such as a wage) and are able to use for themselves. This surplus value goes to another leeching party that controls production (Capitalists, slave masters, etc.). Surplus Value = Worker Value Added - Wage Paid. Synonymous with unpaid labor, profit, exploitation, and wage theft.

    
    

    Socialism

    A range of social and economic systems characterized by social ownership of the means of production. It can also mean the transitional stage between Capitalism and Communism, sometimes referred to as the "dictatorship of the proletariat."

    
    

    Communism

    A stateless, moneyless, and classless system where the means of production are democratically owned and controlled by the community, for the benefit of all. Wage labor is non-existent, and production is planned for human needs, rather than private profit.

    
    

    Anarchism

    A political philosophy that critiques hierarchical organization, and emphasizes free association.

    
    

    Social Democracy

    Social Democracy is an ideology that supports economic interventionism to promote "social justice" whilst retaining a capitalist economy. It is often seen by Socialists as supporting "welfare-state" band-aids to Capitalism.

    
    

    Welfare State

    A state that provides social services on behalf of the well-being of its citizens, while retaining Capitalism. It often refers to Germany, the UK, and the Nordic countries, but can refer to any state with social services.

    
    

    State Capitalism

    An economic system where some means of production are owned by the state, surplus labor is still extracted, and wage labor still exists. Here, the state decides how to distribute the surplus. Engels argued that the state form would be the final stage of Capitalism.

    
    

    Liberalism

    Formalized around the 19th century (Classical Liberalism), but with roots that extend further back into history, Liberalism justifies free markets, representative democracy, freedom of the press, free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to own property.

    
    

    Modern Liberalism is closer to Social Democracy to some, and Classical Liberalism to others.

    
    

    Conservatism

    Characterized in America by respect for traditions, republicanism, support for Judeo-Christian values, moral absolutism, free markets and free trade, anti-Communism, individualism, American exceptionalism, and a defense of Western culture from outside threats. Conservative philosophy has deep ties to Classical Liberalism (18th and 19th centuries), which advocated for economic freedom and deregulation.

    
    

    Modern Conservatism is closer to Classical Liberalism to some, and Fascism to others.

    
    

    Fascism

    A multi-definition term generally characterized by hyper-nationalism, racial supremacy, a cult of personality around a "strong" leader as superior to democracy, and an alliance between big and small Capitalists.

    
    

    Slavery

    A system that allows individuals to own other human beings in order to extract a surplus from their labor.

    
    

    Feudalism

    An arrangement predominating in the middle ages where a local lord would allow serfs to live and sustain themselves on their land, as long as they provided them labor and military support.

    
    

    Means of Production

    Physical, non-human inputs used for the production of economic value, such as workplaces, factories, machinery, or tools. Synonymous with "capital."

    
    

    Private Property

    Means of production, when owned by private individuals, whose ownership is claimed through title, and not use, with the aim of extracting rent from the actual users or workers. Synonymous with absentee property.

    
    

    Personal Property

    Property for personal use and consumption. Put simply, this is your house, and everything in it; neither Socialism nor Communism intend to do away with personal property.

    
    

    Socialized Property

    Means of production, when democratically and socially owned and controlled, put to use to benefit people. Surplus value may still exist, but how this is used is determined through democratic means.

    
    

    Proletariat

    The wage-earning class which lives entirely from the sale of its labor and does not draw profit from any kind of capital; whose weal and woe, whose life and death, whose sole existence depends on the demand for their labor power (their ability to work).

    
    

    Bourgeoisie

    The social class that came to own the means of production during modern industrialization and whose societal concerns are the value of property and the preservation of capital, to ensure the perpetuation of their economic supremacy in society.

    
    

    Class Struggle

    A tension that exists between competing classes, caused by contradictory interests, that can only be resolved through confrontation. The competing classes are determined by the economic mode of society. In Slavery, the master and slave. In Feudalism, the lord and serf. In Capitalism, the Capitalist and wage worker.

    
    

    Class Consciousness

    A state of awareness of the class system and membership to a class, as well as understanding the true collective interests of each class.

    
    

    Petite Bourgeoisie

    The lower subset of the bourgeoisie made up of small-scale Capitalists such as shop-keepers and workers who manage the production, distribution, and/or exchange of commodities and/or services owned by their bourgeois employers. It often refers to "small business owners," and is contrasted with the haute bourgeoisie, or the "big" Capitalists.

    
    

    Bourgeois Democracy

    The name that Socialists use to refer to modern representative liberal "democracies," criticized as being democracies for the rich only, since representatives and the media in capitalist countries are often the puppets of the Capitalists themselves.

    
    

    Reformism

    A position advocating for the "reform" of an existing system instead of its abolition or replacement.

    
    

    Revisionism

    A pejorative term used by Marxists to refer to ideas, principles, and theories that are based on a major revision of fundamental Marxist premises.