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Utopian socialism refers to the forms of socialism that often pre-dated scientific socialism, and otherwise included elements of idealism, class collaborationism, and an utter lack of any sort of material analysis. Utopian socialism first developed in the early part of capitalism's existence, and was greatly inspired by the works of Thomas More, as well as religious socialism. More described a utopian socialist society in which everyone works in agriculture and handicrafts and the work day was four to six hours.[1]
Utopian socialism lacked any analysis of economic and social relations, and was created before the proletariat had sufficiently developed from the feudal serfdom, and was further motivated by ideas of "convincing" the landed and wealthy to give up their economic power, and join into communes. Because of this, utopian socialism never was particularly successful at creating its idealistic society, and was replaced by Marxism; however, it still survives in the form of anarchism or democratic socialism.[2]
Utopian socialists often collaborated with settler colonialism. Some followers of Fourier and Saint-Simon wanted to build utopian communes in land taken from Arabs in Algeria.[3]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Economics Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R (1954). Political Economy: 'The Feudal Mode of Production; Economic Views of the Feudal Period'. [PDF] London: Lawrence & Wishart. [MIA]
- ↑ "Definition of "Utopian socialism" in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia". Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-7-13.
- ↑ Domenico Losurdo (2011). Liberalism: A Counter-History: 'Crisis of the English and American Models' (p. 180). [PDF] Verso. ISBN 9781844676934 [LG]