provdsa-polied-fseries/markdown/module-2-socialism-101.md

---
title: 'Socialism 101 :: ProvDSA PoliEd'
...

# Socialism 101

**Objective:** To define the parameters of socialism--what is socialism, and what is not socialism?--and define some commonly-heard and commonly-misused terms new socialists will encounter. To distinguish between neoliberal progressivism, social democracy, “compassionate capitalism” and socialism. 

**Please complete / read / listen to the following before this class:**

* Group A: [Last Week Tonight: Evictions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R652nwUcJRA&t=279s) (19 min)

* Group B: [Last Week Tonight: Meatpacking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhO1FcjDMV4) (19 min)

* ["Democratic Socialism Isn't Social Democracy"](https://jacobinmag.com/2018/08/democratic-socialism-social-democracy-nordic-countries) by Michael A. McCarthy, Jacobin (7 min)

* ["How Capitalism Exploits You"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mI_RMQEulw) by Richard Wolff, Gravel Institute (5 min)

* ["The Difference Between Socialism, Communism, and Marxism Explained by a Marxist"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyl2DeKT-Vs) by AzureScapegoat (12 min)

* ["Workshop Talks"](https://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/1909/talks/shoptlks.htm) by James Connolly (29 min)

**Agenda:**

* Intros and icebreaker

* Breakout Groups:

  * Surprises from the terms/definitions

  * Last Week Tonight discussion

* Share the Last Week Tonight takeaways

* Discussion on questions related to specific readings

## Study Materials

* ["Democratic Socialism Isn't Social Democracy" by Michael A. McCarthy](https://jacobinmag.com/2018/08/democratic-socialism-social-democracy-nordic-countries), *Jacobin*

* ["How Capitalism Exploits You" by Richard Wolff](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mI_RMQEulw), Gravel Institute

* ["The Difference Between Socialism, Communism, and Marxism Explained by a Marxist"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyl2DeKT-Vs) by AzureScapegoat

* ["Workshop Talks"](https://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/1909/talks/shoptlks.htm) by James Connolly

## Breakouts

Discuss how the issue presented in your group’s LWT video could look different in a Socialist society and where this progressive liberal analysis falls short.

## Questions

* How do we make the transition from capitalism to socialism? What would it require? Are there pit stops along the way?

* What are the dangers of capitalism to a socialist society, both externally and internally? Can socialism be maintained when Capitalism still exists elsewhere?

* Can you think of an example of material conditions bringing about change, from history or modern times?

* In what ways does John Oliver correctly depict the issue in the video and potential causes and solutions? In what ways does he (and progressivism) fall short?