Democratic Socialism Vs National Socialism: Things You Need To Know

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Democratic Socialism Vs National Socialism

At any point in a country, democratic socialism or national socialism is practiced. Countries can practice the two types of socialism simultaneously, but one will likely practice one more than the other in most cases.

While democratic socialism favors the people more, national socialism favors those in power more, and it usually leads to strives and political upheavals. Both socialism and Nationalism claim to emphasize creating an equal society and removing class privileges, but the mode of operation of the main actors is different.

So, what is the Main Difference Between Democratic Socialism and National Socialism?

The main difference between democratic socialism and national socialism is that democratic socialism is characterized by true democracy and liberty. National socialism is about creating an equal society but through an authoritarian state. This fact means the National socialism may restrict certain privileges, but democratic socialism will not.

What Are The Broad Differences Between Democratic And National Socialism?

Governments that practice democratic socialism and National socialism will claim to promote an equal society, but how policies are carried out are different.

Democratic socialism involves the use of democratic instruments to reduce injustice and inequality in society. It often involved public and private entities’ participation in creating a stable and long-term inequality reduction in the community.

National socialism is an ideology, and it is closely associated with communism practiced by the Nazi government, the Chinese government, and the current Russian government system. This system aims at state control of the economy to achieve an equal society but at the expense of individual people’s liberties.

National socialism often involves the use of brutal military forces to achieve its aims, to the detriment of most people.

What Are The Main Features Of A Democratic Socialism?

Democratic socialism is more people-oriented than national socialism, and many of the government’s programs and policies that practice this type of socialism always seek collective welfare for the citizens. To implement such policies, the government imposes higher income taxes on higher-income earners. It means the more you earn, the higher your taxes.

For higher income taxes, the government makes healthcare free for all its citizens, and this is funded by the high taxes imposed. The government also nationalizes critical industries, especially those in Agriculture and mineral resources. The nationalization of industries means the country’s people are in complete control of running, establishing, and hiring their fellow countrymen and women to work in such sectors.

Democratic socialism also guarantees welfare creation in which minimum income is guaranteed for the employed, and an unemployment allowance is guaranteed for the unemployed. This system also provides more significant labor market reforms, including the autonomy and power given to trade unions.

Free education at all levels is a very critical component of democratic socialism. The free education provided is funded through the collective taxes from personal incomes among the working population. In many cases, free education is extended to citizens of other countries within a region.

Democratic socialism emphasizes equality of all opportunities. The state re-distributes resources, primarily from higher and medium earners, to ensure that even the most vulnerable, unemployed have access to essential services and infrastructures.  The structure does not insist on equality butt strives to achieve equal benefits and rights for every member of the society.

Democratic socialism will combine public sector intervention with significant private sector input to achieve a better and more formidable society. Most traditional socialist parties endeavor to nationalize the community’s critical sectors while private organizations can still operate in a free market.

These public companies are regarded as national assets or natural monopolies; rather than the government having complete control over individual organizations, the government implements rules that protect workers and consumers from exploitation. This does not mean that socialism does not encourage private partnership.

What Are The Main Features Of National Socialism?

Karl Marx first defined communist governance and political ideology. From his description or definition, National socialism is about using dictatorial capabilities while ignoring democratic norms. Still, leading players must target the result in the overall interest of the people.

While both national socialism and democratic socialism agree that the people’s interest should be the primary aim of governance, the ideology behind achieving this aim is quite different.

Karl Marx also advocated for the overthrow of capitalism through revolution and then creating a new economy where industries and critical sectors of the economy will be owned and manage by the government, rather than the private individuals.

From Karl Marx’s definition and ideology, it seems the government is given more power to control all sectors of the economy. This is entirely different from the doctrines of democratic socialism that empower private individuals to run all the economic sectors.

Karl Marx’s ideology on communism worked in countries like the Soviet Union in the early 20th century to create a vibrant new economy, even though it was repressive. The removal of individual liberty and freedom completely overrides all gains made by the government. This system of governance is autocratic in every way.

Today, several governments in many countries practice a mix of national socialism and democratic socialism. A country like the United States of America practices National socialism but without the autocratic components of imposing undemocratic laws. In the United States, where axes are still high, you still have to pay out of pocket for specific health treatments, and you still have to pay for insurance.

Summary Of The Main Differences Between Democratic Socialism And National Socialism?

In democratic socialism, parliamentary democracy is practiced, but in National socialism, a revolution type of system is practiced. In democratic socialism, individual liberty is important, and there is a mix of public and private sector participation in the economy, but in National socialism, the state control all industry and an authoritarian rule exists.

Most prices of goods are determined by the free-market under the democratic socialism, but in National socialism, prices are only determined by the government. The redistribution of resources through taxes and benefits are important in democratic socialism while wages are set by the government in a National socialism to give equality according to ranks of the people.

While equality of opportunity is the main goal of democratic socialism, the equality of outcome is the main goal of national socialism. There are decentralized initiatives in democratic socialism, but in national socialism, a centralized economy with final decision from the top , is practiced.

Despite the equal opportunities offered under the democratic socialism system, there is still a high tendency for private organizations to exploit loopholes that will make them pay much less in taxes.

Minimum wage increase can be determined by union workers under a democratic socialism, but in National socialism, trade unions are disallowed, and minimum wages are set by the government. Though the minimum wage or wage increases can be set by unions in a democratic socialism, there is still a cap to what organizations can pay as wages, hence there is higher tendencies of job losses under the democratic socialism system.

Keynesian economic policies are practiced in democratic socialism, and his helps in countering the effects of recession, but direct intervention from government is practiced under the government in National socialism. This means that there are no unemployment benefit claims under a National socialism government.

There is a progressive tax system in democratic socialism, wages are the same, and there is no need for a progressive tax system under National socialism. Similarly, there is subsidized home building with public and private partnership in democratic socialism, but in National socialism, there is mostly public housing. The progressive tax system practiced under the democratic socialism system does no favor the rich and more productive organizations, hence they may find ways of exploring loopholes in the tax system to save more.

The democratic socialism government makes use of an existing financial system and here are attempts to reform. In national socialism system, the control of finance and state resources are handled by the government.

Conclusion

From the main differences between democratic socialism and National socialism, it is clear or evident that democratic socialism seem to have the upper hand, especially for the middle-class and lower class poor people. Since the system allows a collective distribution of wealth and access to all amenities like social welfare, free health and education, it is only logical to opt for such.

Governments and people of national socialism believe that the democratic socialism system only favors smaller countries where social welfare can be easily distributed without issues. Larger countries believe that democratic socialism may put serious strains on the government and the people; hence it may not be practical in such countries.

A number of countries have switched between these two forms of socialism in the past especially hose wih los of economic unrests that last for decades. Economists believe that both types of socialism has the positive and downsides and until governments practice both they may never know which one best suits the people. The most important thing here is ha the welfare and liberty of the people must be respected.

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