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- Not to be confused with Social democracy.
Democratic Socialism refers to the theory of achieving socialism within the confines of bourgeois democracy, usually through electoral means. Democratic Socialists reject the Marxist–Leninist theory of achieving socialism by utilising the state to oppress the bourgeoise with the goal of achieving communism, as they perceive it to be "authoritarian" and "undemocratic."
Origin
Democratic Socialism’s origins can be traced to multiple 19th century movements, including the Chartist movement in the United Kingdom, and, nominally, Marxism in Germany. The more distinct beliefs of Democratic Socialism, however, are more predicated in German Social Democrat Eduard Bernstein's belief in Evolutionary Socialism, that capitalisms demise would come from incremental legislation instead of through revolution. This ideology is an outright rejection of Marxism.
Criticism
Many Marxists argue that in a democratic socialist society, the bourgeoisie would still be the ruling class, and thus, have significant economic and political power, and will use that power to undermine the establishment of a socialist system, as they would not be willing to extinguish their own class.