Author Description

One-third of the world's population now lives under a regime that describes itself as socialist. But what precisely is socialism? Why is it that socialists themselves cannot reach agreement on the definition of a "socialist" society? This stimulating study argues that, despite Marxist attempts to claim the title of "true" socialism, there is no single socialist tradition. Rather, it is important to recognize and accept the extraordinary diversity within the movement. Developing this theme through a wide-ranging analysis of socialist ideas and movements, Wright reveals how socialists have fundamentally differed about both the nature of socialism and the way it can be best achieved. The book concludes with a challenging discussion of the prospects for contemporary socialist traditions.