Posted February 25, 2020
Kit Wainer and Mel Belfield’s article “Problems with an Electoral Road to Socialism in the United States” (New Politics, Winter 2020) prompted much discussion among Solidarity members. Donna Cartwright clarified the discussion by pointing out that the question of an electoral road could better be understood as two different questions:
1. Is there an electoral road to Social Democracy (meaning reforms of the kind proposed by Bernie Sanders) in the United States?
2. Is there an electoral road to Socialism (meaning the replacement of the capitalist system by a democratically controlled, egalitarian economic system) in the U.S. or elsewhere?
She argues that the answer to the first question is a cautious and qualified “yes,” and to the second question is uncertain, but very dubious.
Kit Wainer and Peter Solenberger each responded to Donna’s contribution.
Kit addressed primarily Donna’s second question, arguing that an electoral road to the replacement of the capitalist system is nearly, if not completely, impossible. Peter addressed primarily her first question, arguing that yes, there could be an electoral road to a new New Deal, with a much higher level of class struggle.
We welcome readers’ comments on this important exchange of views.
Problems with an Electoral Road to Socialism in the United States by Kit Wainer and Mel Bienenfeld
Problems with an Electoral Road to Socialism in the United States by Donna Cartwright
Response to Donna Cartwright by Kit Wainer
Is There an Electoral Road to Social Democracy? by Peter Solenberger