Foundations of Democratic Socialism

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

There has been a resurgence of interest in socialism and democratic socialism in particular in recent years. Even recent electoral victories in Congress have brought socialism back to the consciousness of political pundits and editorial columnists. The many strands of socialism that have spun out of this resurgence are various and not always coherent. This panel will explore the democratic and humanistic foundations of socialism and its relevance for contemporary political movements. In particular, the panel will examine a specific tradition in socialist theory that emphasizes its democratic and humanistic values and how they can be translated into a more coherent and viable form of politics that can speak to current movements and respond to the social and economic crises of the present.

Sub Unit

• DIVISION 42: New Political Science

Cosponsor

• DIVISION 2: Foundations of Political Theory

Individual Presentations

• Democratic Socialism & Radical Republicanism: The Continuity of a Political Idea - Michael J. Thompson, William Paterson University

• Prison Abolitionism as a Humanism - Wendy Wright, William Paterson University

• Democratic Socialism Contra Populism - Gregory Zucker, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

• Humanist Marxism: The Humanist Basis & Continuing Shape of Democratic Socialism - Kieran Durkin, University of York

Chair

• Wendy Wright William Paterson University

Discussant

• John Ehrenberg Long Island University, Brooklyn