Socialism Versus the State (1919)

Socialism Versus The State is a book written by Emile Vandervelde in 1919. Vandervelde was a prominent Belgian socialist and a member of the Second International, a global organization of socialist and labor parties. In this book, Vandervelde argues that socialism is incompatible with the state, and that the state must eventually be abolished in order to achieve true socialism.Vandervelde begins by examining the origins of the state, arguing that it arose as a result of class conflict and the need for one class to dominate another. He then goes on to examine the role of the state in capitalist society, arguing that it serves primarily to protect the interests of the ruling class.Vandervelde then turns to the question of socialism, arguing that socialism is fundamentally opposed to the state. He argues that socialism is a movement of the working class, and that the state is an instrument of the ruling class. He also argues that socialism requires the abolition of private property, which is incompatible with the existence of the state.In the final part of the book, Vandervelde examines the practical implications of his argument. He argues that the socialist movement must work to build alternative institutions that can replace the state, such as workers’ councils and cooperative organizations. He also argues that the socialist movement must work to build a new culture that is based on cooperation and solidarity, rather than competition and individualism.Overall, Socialism Versus The State is a powerful critique of the state and a call to action for the socialist movement. It remains an important work in the history of socialist theory and practice.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.