democratic socialism
Welfare-state capitalism alternative
Democratic socialism is a political philosophy advocating for socialist economic principles—such as public ownership of major industries and wealth redistribution—achieved through democratic processes rather than revolution.
Unlike authoritarian socialism, it emphasizes civil liberties, free elections, and gradual reform: The candidate ran on a democratic socialist platform of universal healthcare and worker-owned cooperatives.
The term overlaps with but is distinct from social democracy, which accepts a capitalist framework with strong welfare programs.
Government acquisition of industry
- redistributionSharing out again differently
- anti-monopolyOpposing concentrated market power
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- subsidiesFinancial aid from government
Direct effort for reform
- solidarityUnity among allies
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rallyGathering for a cause
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
march · organizing · unionize · strike · collectivism · reform · advocacy · progressivism
National legislative assembly
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- votingFormally registering a choice
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- multipartyInvolving several groups
coalition · referendum · representation · platform · policy · governance · constituency · campaign
Same status for all
- civil-libertiesPersonal rights limiting government
- egalitarianismPhilosophy of universal equality
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
reparations · anti-discrimination · equal-opportunity · inclusivity · accessibility · intersectionality
Unpaid willing workers
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- door-to-doorDirectly between residences
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
neighborhood · outreach · coalition-building · bottom-up · consciousness-raising
Retiree's ongoing benefit
- childcareSupervision of young ones
- cradle-to-graveSpanning entire lifetime
- single-payerOne funder for healthcare
nationalization
Government acquisition of industry
- redistributionSharing out again differently
- anti-monopolyOpposing concentrated market power
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
activism
Direct effort for reform
- solidarityUnity among allies
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rallyGathering for a cause
demonstration · march · organizing · unionize · strike · collectivism · reform · advocacy · progressivism · petition
parliament
National legislative assembly
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- votingFormally registering a choice
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
multiparty · coalition · referendum · representation · platform · policy · governance · constituency · campaign · partisanship
equality
Same status for all
- civil-libertiesPersonal rights limiting government
- egalitarianismPhilosophy of universal equality
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
fairness · reparations · anti-discrimination · equal-opportunity · inclusivity · accessibility · intersectionality
volunteers
Unpaid willing workers
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- door-to-doorDirectly between residences
canvassing · neighborhood · outreach · coalition-building · bottom-up · consciousness-raising
pension
Retiree's ongoing benefit
- childcareSupervision of young ones
- cradle-to-graveSpanning entire lifetime
- single-payerOne funder for healthcare
- political ideologiesconservatism, conservative, anarchism, liberalism, liberal
- socialismMarxism, communism, proletariat, bourgeoisie, communal ownership
- American SocialismBernie Sanders, Sanders, Emma Goldman, Goldman, Wobblies
- Bernie SandersVermont, Burlington, white hair, glasses, finger wagging
- economic systemscapitalism, mercantilism, communism, feudalism, agrarian economy
- ideologiescapitalism, communism, conservatism, liberalism, anarchism
democratic socialismneoliberalism
Pro-market, anti-regulation ideology
anarcho-capitalism · plutocracy · Reaganomics · classical liberalism · Thatcherism
democratic socialismMarxism-Leninism
State-led revolutionary socialism
Bolshevism · Maoism · Trotskyism · Leninism · violent overthrow
democratic socialismfascism
Ultranationalist dictatorial political system
totalitarianism · authoritarianism · Stalinism · Nazism · autocracy
democracy, socialism, democratic, socialist, socialize, socializing, undemocratic, socialized, socialists