A socialist is of necessity social. We seek\u00a0to be social,\u00a0that is, to live in a society formed of social beings like ourselves. Socialism means a reconstruction of society. It is a product of social evolution. We have had slavery, feudalism, capitalism and \u2013 socialism will be\u00a0the next stage. Our triumph is not\u00a0inevitable. As the Communist Manifesto speculates the conflict between the capitalist and working classes could be\u00a0“the common ruin of the contending classes.” \u00a0Socialism\u00a0in the view of the World Socialist Movement may\u00a0not be inevitable but definitely very possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humanity is a\u00a0gregarious and\u00a0social species. We\u2019re communicative\u00a0having\u00a0developed intricate languages to express our thoughts and feelings to each other. We\u2019re compassionate; our capacity to empathise with others is nothing short of amazing and is surely the key to our unity and society. Across cultures, people follow what is called the \u201cgolden rule\u201d, that we don\u2019t wish to do things to others that we wouldn\u2019t want to be done to us. \u00a0Whenever politicians are asked \u201cwhy don\u2019t we just ship our food surpluses to hungry people who need it?\u201d, they always seem to reply \u201cit\u2019s not that simple\u201d? It is that simple\u2014people are dying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is no exaggeration to say that most objections to the case of the WSM\u00a0are various forms of asserting \u201cit\u2019s against human nature.\u201d\u00a0We are confidently informed that with human nature being what it is, a truly socialist society is quite impossible. Even at school, such beliefs are reinforced with William Goldings \u201cLord of the Flies\u201d and George Orwell\u2019s \u201cAnimal Farm\u201d being on the standard curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These\u00a0objections merely beg the following question: What is human nature?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A glance at history will show that the activities of man have changed with every alteration in the form of society, for, just as there have been evolution changes within the domain of the biological world, so there has been social changes in the forms of society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many cultures in the world throughout history have a very strong welfare ethos and based their daily lives on working together for the benefit of all. Most of these people although they have little they share what they have (even with strangers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, subsistence farmers and small rural communities already cooperate in family and neighbourhood groups to provide basic needs, not buying and selling but simply producing for their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people express generosity, compassion and charity, willingly donating their money\u00a0and time\u00a0on a regular basis in the hope of easing other people\u2019s difficulties.\u00a0\u00a0Unpaid volunteers work to help and improve the\u00a0lives\u00a0of those less fortunate such as the elderly, the infirm. Adults offer themselves as role models and mentors in youth\u00a0in clubs and sports associations. Parents\u00a0participate in school forums for better education and facilities\u00a0and rarely a day passes by when a charity event doesn’t take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When in the event of a \u00a0disaster\u00a0or a natural catastrophe rarely are\u00a0volunteers are\u00a0lacking\u00a0to offer assistance. Altruism appears to be the order of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n