Political Ideas Discussion project on Socialism

Discuss and try to agree on answers to the following questions:

1. What do you take to be the central principles of socialism?

2. What, if anything, do you find attractive in the ideals of socialism?

3. The model of socialism represented by the Soviet Union and its satellites seems to be in utter disrepute. Contemporary socialists seem willing to tolerate some role for private ownership and markets. But, then what makes such a society socialist? What features must a society have if it is going to count as a socialist society?

4. What do you think are the most important criticisms that can be made of socialist ideas? Focus especially on those you think are relevant to the more recent and more democratic models of socialism.

5. How do you think a socialist might respond to those criticisms?