This article is about the form of democratic socialism associated with Nicos Poulantzas. For the incrementalism associated with Eduard Bernstein, see
Evolutionary socialism. For the strategy of Salvador Allende often associated with the democratic road to socialism, see
The Chilean Way to Socialism. For the broad range of socialist ideologies emphasizing democracy, see
Democratic socialism.
Nicos Poulantzas is often considered the first to formalize the term, democratic road to socialism.[1]:74-8 For Poulantzas, the democratic road to socialism refers to a form of democratic socialism that commits to
pluralistrepresentative democracy alongside an extension of
participatory democracy. Poulantzas viewed
political liberties in
liberal democracies as "the result of popular struggles," but also believed that liberal democracy "helps reproduce the capitalist state regime."[1]:23 He therefore advocated for a
Marxist and
socialist democracy with strong labor unions, territorial
popular assemblies, and
socialist communitarianism that would enable a radical transformation of the
state.[1]:24 Yet, institutions of representative democracy would be "an essential condition of democratic socialism" to regulate decentralized models like
workers' councils in order for the working class to collectively wield the political power and technical expertise necessary to direct a complex socialist society.[2]
The democratic road to socialism is distinguished from
evolutionary socialism as espoused by
Eduard Bernstein, which fully advocates for incremental reform, centered around parliamentary means rather than broader
social movements.[2]
^
abcdeDucange, Jean-Numa; Keucheyan, Razmig, eds. (2019). The end of the democratic state: Nicos Poulantzas, a marxism for the 21st century. Marx, Engels, and Marxisms. Translated by Broder, David (1st edition 2019 ed.). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
ISBN978-3-319-90889-2.
^Oppenheim, Lois Hecht (1989). Bitar, Sergio; Chavkin, Samuel; Davis, Nathaniel; Farrell, Joseph P.; Fleet, Michael; Fermandois, Joaquin; Garreton, Manuel Antonio; Moulian, Tomas; Department, National Education (eds.).
"The Chilean Road to Socialism Revisited". Latin American Research Review. 24 (1): 155–183.
ISSN0023-8791.
^Allende, Ben B. , Marianela D'Aprile, and Salvador (September 11, 2018).
"Allende and Democratic Socialism". The Call. Retrieved February 1, 2024.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)