The Case for Socialism

by Alan Maass

Book Overview

A clear, bold case for a socialist alternative to democratically meet people's needs here and abroad. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1931859094
• ISBN13: 9781931859097
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Haymarket Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

The Case for Socialism

I've read quite a few books on socialism and the history thereof, but this one really stands out. The first three or four chapters go into all the problems with and inequalities which characterize modern American society. While this section of the book is PACKED full of useful and sometimes astounding facts, it's too strongly worded for my taste. The thing that has always turned me off of the "liberal" label is the bleeding-heart aspect of it. If you are the same way, you might want to just skim these chapters, or at least take them with a grain of salt. The author wears his emotions on his sleeve in this part of the book. I actually came close to putting the book down before I got through these chapters. Then, starting around chapter 5, he launches into the single best explanation of socialism I've ever come across--EVER. Group interests, not empathy; collective action, not top-down reforms; and so on. There's no confusing socialism with mere "extreme liberalism" as you read this part of the book. This little book (or big tract--however you like to think about it) is the best I've ever come across for (1) introducing the reader to socialism and (2) underscoring it's continued relevance to the modern (post-Soviet, post-labor movement, post-Fukuyama) world. In fact, I've long had a profound respect for socialists, but my perception of them as dogmatists and closet authoritarians kept me from actually beginning to identify myself as one. The Case for Socialism is the book that threw me over to the other side. Chapter 6--"If There is No Struggle, There is No Progress"--is, by itself, worth double the asking price of the book. It makes a strong case against the Democratic Party, a strong case FOR direct action/agitation, and persuasively argues the centrality of labor struggles among the long list of important social struggles. I anticipate photocopying this chapter for many people in the future. Thanks, Maass.

Excellent traditional pamphlet and introduction

This small and easily readable book is a good introduction. Some of the other criticisms are fair but I know of no more straightforward introduction. After this there are many documented books you can read -the author even starts the journey with "further reading " recommendations. Stop procrastinating, get it, enjoy a good weekend's reading and who knows you may even like some of the ideas.

Another world is possible

"The Case for Socialism" by Alan Maass is an excellent introduction to socialism for general interest readers. Both debunking popular misconceptions about socialism and connecting socialist theory with contemporary events, Mr. Maas makes a compelling case that socialism can offer a truly democratic system to emerge that can result in shared prosperity, peace and environmental sustainability for all. Mr. Maass begins by launching a blistering attack on capitalism that leaves little doubt that the current system cannot be tolerated indefinitely. The author presents statistical evidence describing a population that is severely divided between the haves and the have-nots, where for example 467 billionares own as much wealth as the world's 3 billion poorest people. Explaining that markets respond only to those who have money and that scarcity is necessary to protect profits, the world suffers from a surfeit of armaments and luxury goods while millions suffer from malnourishment, homelessness and disease. Mr. Maass correctly connects modern warfare with intra-capitalist rivalry over the need to control markets and resources. However, the working class is not always complacent. The author cites the Argentinian uprising of the late 1990s and the worldwide day of protest against the Iraq war as evidence of an increasing popular revulsion with an out-of-control capitalist and imperialist system that exploits the people for the benefit of the powerful few. Mr. Maass goes on to discuss socialism as a theory, including the contributions that the socialist movement has made in the U.S. Mr. Maass stresses the fact that history is driven by mass movements where people have successfully demanded and achieved positive change. The author believes that another world is possible; he encourages readers to be activists and to be guided by socialist principles in everything they do. Howard Zinn also contributes a short Afterword to the book about Eugene Debs, whose personal life and selfless pursuit of socialist goals provides an inspirational and positive example for all of us to emulate. I recommend this book for everyone.

A Valid Case In Significant Need

Capitalism in the U.S. consists of large Corps which outsource, leaving unemployed and struggling, while the owners and bankers become wealthier riding the stock market. And in foreign policy, exploiting the weaker nations for cheap labor and ownership of natural resources. Republican Bush II cut off almost 1 million families from unemployment insurance benefits, leaving 8 million in 2003 both unemployed and in debt, unable to find jobs, without health and child care. 43.6 billion without health care. In 2002, 34.6 million, 1 in 6, were earning below the poverty level with denial of welfare from bureaucracy, while Rep Bush spends over 30 million in program for "healthier marriage education." Dem Clinton abolished the federal main welfare program to help the poor, removing 54 billion in over 6 years for those who earn less than 7 dollars an hour. Under Clinton there was a back lash against gays in the military and affirmative action, regression of gay sexual relations as a crime and the 2 millionth prisoner incarceration of U.S. citizens, mostly minorities. In the U.S., the small super rich own 1 percent earned what 40 percent earn annually and exploitation in foreign policy, Bush's Iraq never turned back into "normal," with continual death, poverty and destruction, while the years of Clinton's sanctions and bombings have killed an untold number of innocent men, women and children, making not much of a difference between Democrats and Republicans, as the U.S. has had a hand in almost every foreign war and civil war, employing both military and economic imperialism, a system of exploitation, as in McDonalds and now Wall Mart, the IMF, WTO, controlling loans and aid, outsourcing cheap labor, misery and suffering, all for the profit of the wealthy and privileged few. And so the Socialistic solution is that for free universal education and health care, the end of the ownership of companies by the minority wealthy class to that of equalitarian of democratic (not limited representative) which are not run by elaborate bureaucracies and the means for profit driven motives. The end of over production, layoffs and wasteful spending to increase profit for the owners denying the underpaid proletariat, government run from the bottom-up. Each ordinary person having a democratic voice and partially held responsibility. "To each according to their ability, to each according to their need." The critics who claim no incentive, all refusing to work or take on the menial easy to do jobs, fail to recognize the human drive in passion to work in a field that truly interests them, while equalitarian economically, awarded with various honors and prestige. How can we create socialism within this capitalistic system, if our so-called democracy is based on electoral votes designed to keep third and leftist (all other) political parties out of the race? This along with the voting fraud of the 2000 presidential election. The entire process of both the Democrats and the Re

A great introduction to radical politics

Maass' book is the best short introduction to the idea of socialism outside of the Communist Manifesto. This slim volume (124 pages) uses modern examples--from the Iraq war to the lives of ordinary folks living in "middle America"--to demonstrate what's wrong with a system that puts corporate greed ahead of human need. Maas then takes up the case for an alternative to capitalism. He says "equality is at the heart of socialism" and that Stalin's Russia had nothing to do with genuine Marxism. He argues that in a democratic society concerned with people's need, we should take all the money wasted on weapons of war and instead wipe out forms of scarcity: poverty, homelessness, lack of healthcare. The afterward by radical historian Howard Zinn is both instructive and inspiring, recounting the life and times of Eugene V. Debs, who is America's best known socialist voice. Check out this book, pass it on to a friend and like the backcover plug by CounterPunch co-editor Jeffery St. Clair says: "History isn't over. In fact, it's hardly even begun for us. Read Maass. Then go out and make some."