Socialism Without the USSR

It has been said that socialism's appeal in the West (or perhaps just the USA), democratic or otherwise, was spoiled for the majority by the existence of the USSR, and by extension China, Vietnam, and the other Communist countries the West has had problems with.

Would socialism be better received if Russia had never turned Communist? What paths would socialism and other, similar policies take without having to distance themselves from the USSR? Is there any chance we could see a socialist POTUS?
 
Interesting question. I personally think the west would be quite a bit more left wing. No doubt socialist parties in democratic countries would be able to get into power, and it would still be seen as a valid, if competing, economic theory by conservatives/capitalists. When I say that of course, I mean more so than it is now, more nationalisation etc. Probably many things would not have been privatised, such as here in the UK the mining industries and public transport. USA would likely have universal healthcare. I think the threat of a revolution would still be enough of an influence to make the more conservative governments push through social reforms, as it was in OTL.
 

bard32

Banned
It has been said that socialism's appeal in the West (or perhaps just the USA), democratic or otherwise, was spoiled for the majority by the existence of the USSR, and by extension China, Vietnam, and the other Communist countries the West has had problems with.

Would socialism be better received if Russia had never turned Communist? What paths would socialism and other, similar policies take without having to distance themselves from the USSR? Is there any chance we could see a socialist POTUS?

Probably yes. The USSR tended to confuse "socialism" with "communism."
 
It has been said that socialism's appeal in the West (or perhaps just the USA), democratic or otherwise, was spoiled for the majority by the existence of the USSR, and by extension China, Vietnam, and the other Communist countries the West has had problems with.

Would socialism be better received if Russia had never turned Communist? What paths would socialism and other, similar policies take without having to distance themselves from the USSR? Is there any chance we could see a socialist POTUS?
Clem Attlee,Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Tony Benn, Francois Mitterrand, not to mention almost every Swedish Prime Minister since before the war would disagree with you over the popularity of Socialism in the west.

Unless of course you mean Communism?
 
Clem Attlee,Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Tony Benn, Francois Mitterrand, not to mention almost every Swedish Prime Minister since before the war would disagree with you over the popularity of Socialism in the west.

Unless of course you mean Communism?
I don't think he's confusing them, socialism was tarred with the image of the USSR. It hasn't died out, it's still quite popular, but it probably would have been more so...
 
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