POL 315
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM
5.0 SUMMARY
Socialism before Marx remained largely a vision; Utopians criticised
capitalist society as unjust. Utopians had vision of a better order of
society and gave it form, color and proclaimed it far and wide. For
utopians socialism was based on reason and justice and they appealed
first to the rulers to embrace the truth of socialism and put it into
practice. They were the first to expose and condemn capitalism and had
vision of socialism as the alternative to capitalism but could not show
concrete ways to achieve socialism; because they had no conception of
the laws of social change and could not point to the real force capable of
creating a new society.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
i. Identify the basic characteristics of utopian socialism.
ii. Utopian socialism is dead. Discuss.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Identify the basic differences between utopian and scientific
socialism.
2. Discuss factors that account for the failure of all utopian
experiments.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Asirvatham, E. & Misra, K. (2005). Political Theory. New Delhi : S.
Chand and Co. Ltd.
Glenst, J. B. (1971). Revolutions of our Time: 20 th Century Nationalism.
Gutersloh: Mondruc Reinhard Mohn.
Haralambos & Holborn. (2004). Sociology: Themes and Perspectives.
London: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.
Olson, M. (1982). The Rise and Decline of Nations. New Haven.
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