We the People: New Socialism for a Modern World

Society is a complex organism that cannot function effectively without a shared social structure, such as public schools offering quality education, public transportation, quality healthcare, social assistance to those in need, and a vision of the future that makes allowances for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Although political change takes time, the intended direction the country is moving should be clear. Neither extreme right nor extreme left viewpoints should be excluded in political debates; however, when all is said and done the ordinary citizen should have something of value to strive toward, and in the moment of decision his or her wishes should be heard. To this end, the masses must be active participants in the formation of the future and receive fair representation in all areas of concern. 

Because of the dynamism of civilization, politics is a living entity with the aim of reaching a better future guided by the wishes of the people. Democratic socialism is a branch of politics that is built on certain core values, the first of which is the development of a society that openly embraces equality and social justice through powerful action. In this brief analysis, we will define our understanding of democratic socialism and also discuss what it means to the ordinary citizen when we say that we want to be free of government interference. To reach our objectives, we will build on the ideology of former prime minister of Sweden, Olof Palme, who many view as the epitome of social justice, and question the extent to which his ideas have merit and can be implemented in modern American society. 

Who was Olof Palme? Olof Palme was the speaker of the Social Democratic Workers' Party in Sweden from 1969 to 1986. He was the prime minister of Sweden on two separate occasions, from 1969 to 1976 and from 1982 to 1986. Social justice, gainful employment for all, gender equality, and disarmament for peace were the major issues that dominated his political career. What made him such a remarkable political figure, however, was not his position in favor of a democratic socialist country, but his simultaneous anti-communist and anti-imperialist views. By challenging these dominant ideologies, he managed to upset both the far left and the far right on the political spectrum. 

In the early 1970s, Palme worked primarily with developing labor laws related to the hiring and firing of employees, collective bargaining agreements, employee rights to a hazard free work environment, and employee rights to maternity, education, and sick leave. He argued that gainful employment was necessary for women, if they were to achieve social equality with men. Women could only reach financial and social independence, he argued, if they no longer had to choose between staying at home with the children and working outside the home. 

Although Palme worked incessantly toward the elimination of a class structured society by decreasing the wage gap between rich and poor, providing care for the sick and elderly, and fully accepting and integrating immigrants and minority populations, he simultaneously believed that the individual should have the right to determine his or her own road to happiness. A decent home and access to education, a decent job and the right to a pollutant free environment, lay at the base of his definition of individual freedom and were rights that every human being should enjoy. 

Outspoken, committed, energetic, and accomplished, Palme often stirred controversy on the international circuit and became an important political figure worldwide. He was against war in any form and argued that the United Nation's statute pertaining to war in self-defense was often used to justify military action where none was needed. He accepted large numbers of political refugees, worked tirelessly to liberate Third World countries from oppression, and presented a constant challenge to the Western world, not the least the United States, on issues that obstructed international action to a peaceful resolution to conflict. 

In light of the fiery political debates since President Barack Obama took executive office in the United States, particularly with respect to social issues such as universal healthcare, affordable education, and the rights of workers to organize, this brief analysis sheds light on a subject that many Americans do not understand and even fear, or at least have failed to examine in depth. We the People: New Socialism for a Modern World is of interest to scholars of political ideologies and popular social movements; people with left-leaning views; and lay persons wishing to learn about the forces that stir politics in America today. 

Olof Palme took a gigantic step when he left his upper middle class background and dedicated his life to the promotion of democratic socialism and human rights. Even those who disagreed with him often developed a love-hate relationship with him. On the international scene, his strife against war and oppression of the poor and underprivileged earned him the moniker, Citizen of the World. To what extent were his ideals sound and how might they impact twenty-first century politics in America, as we move toward yet another presidential election and the hope for a more inclusive and modern society?

 

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