Socialist ideas were substantiated in their works by T. Mor and T. Companella back in the 16th century, but socialism as an ideological and political trend took shape in the West only by the beginning of the 19th century and was later adapted for Russia. The founders of this trend in Europe were C. Saint-Simon, F. Fourier, R. Owen, in Russia socialist political views were promoted by M. V. Butashevich–Petrashevsky, V. G. Belinsky, A. Herzen, N. Chernyshevsky and others. A significant contribution to this doctrine was made by K. Marx, F. Engels and V. Lenin.
The development of socialist ideas in Russia and Europe was determined by various social preconditions. Western countries had the experience of capitalism and faced the unpleasant consequences of liberalism, which were planned to be eliminated through the implementation of a new concept of development. In Russia, socialist views arose as an opposition to the monarchical order and the unjustified economic superiority of the landlords. But, despite these differences, socialist political views have a single semantic core, which is characterized by the following features:
- Deliverancefrom the exploitation of man by man.
- Power is in the hands of the working class.
- Means of production must be transferred to public ownership.
- The distribution of material we alth is the responsibility of society or the state.
- Ideals: equality, justice, progress, cooperation, the desire to ensure freedom and the necessary material conditions for each individual.
The socialist political views of Marxists are inextricably linked with the doctrine of communism. The formation of a socialist society acts as the first stage in the process of the formation of communism. At this stage, the distribution of material goods was to be carried out on the basis of the principle "to each according to his work." In turn, each member of communist society would be able to receive certain material benefits in accordance with his needs. According to the communists, the implementation of these principles could be ensured by the forces of the ruling workers' party.
Theorists believed that socialism is a political regime in which everyone, regardless of their class and origin, can get all the desired benefits. Initially, it was supposed to convey this idea to the minds of the Russian landowners, to convince them of the ultimate benefit of this enterprise. But it soon became clear that revolution was a necessary condition for the transition to socialism and communism. However, by the end of his days, F. Engels was inclined to the possibility of the peaceful formation of socialism.
Todaysocialist political views and ways of translating this concept into reality are assessed by historians ambiguously. Some see the communist experience as a significant precondition for modernization and better conditions for workers. The right to free education, recreation, the emergence of social benefits - all these public goods, according to some theorists, owe their appearance to the socialist movement. Opponents of this trend see no benefit in economic degradation and harsh methods of leadership, in violence against human freedom for the sake of realizing socialist ideals.
