A Journalistic Look at the History of Socialism: From Its Origins to Its Global Influence [By Hallan de Oliveira]

Socialism, a socioeconomic system that advocates social or collective ownership of the means of production and distribution, has a rich and complex history. Its roots can be traced back to Enlightenment thinkers who questioned the prevailing social order, but its formulation as a theory was consolidated in the 19th century by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Marx and Engels, influenced by English political economy and French socialism, developed a critical analysis of capitalism, arguing that this system, based on the exploitation of the working class, would lead to internal contradictions and its eventual overcoming by socialism.

The Communist Manifesto, published in 1848, became one of the most influential texts of the socialist movement, calling on workers around the world to unite against capitalist oppression.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, socialism spread throughout the world, with the formation of socialist parties and the organization of the workers' movement. The rise of the Second International marked a period of intense debates about the strategy of the socialist movement, with disagreements between reformists and revolutionaries. The Russian Revolution of 1917, led by Lenin and the Bolshevik Party, marked a turning point in the history of socialism. For the first time, a revolution inspired by Marxist ideas overthrew a capitalist government and established a socialist state. The Soviet experience, with its successes and failures, profoundly influenced the global socialist movement, generating debates about the construction of socialism, the role of the state and the challenges of the transition to a communist society. From the 1930s onwards, Stalinism consolidated itself in the Soviet Union, characterized by an authoritarian regime, political repression and state control over the economy. This experience generated criticism both within and outside the socialist movement, with many questioning the nature of the Soviet regime and its methods. The debate over Stalinism and its legacies continued to influence socialist thought until the end of the 20th century. In addition to the influence of the Soviet Union, socialism also manifested itself in different forms in other countries, such as China, Cuba and several countries in Africa. National liberation movements, anti-colonial struggles and the search for social justice drove the spread of socialist ideas in different parts of the world. Throughout the 20th century, socialism became one of the main global political and ideological movements, influencing debates on social justice, equality, labor rights and the organization of society. The history of socialism is marked by debates, ruptures and different interpretations, reflecting the complexity of social struggles and the search for alternatives to the capitalist system. Timeline: The History of Socialism Enlightenment (18th Century): The roots of socialism can be found in the Enlightenment, with thinkers questioning the prevailing social order. [Information beyond the sources provided.]
19th century: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels develop a critique of capitalism, predicting its overthrow by socialism, based on English political economy and French socialism. The Communist Manifesto, published in 1848, calls for the unity of the working class against capitalist oppression. [Information beyond the sources provided.]
Late 19th and early 20th centuries: Socialism spreads globally, with the formation of socialist parties and the organization of the workers' movement. The Second International witnesses debates over the movement's strategy, dividing reformists and revolutionaries. [Information beyond the sources provided.]
1917: The Russian Revolution, led by Lenin and the Bolshevik Party, overthrows the Tsarist government and establishes the first socialist state. [Information beyond the sources provided.]
1920s: The Soviet Union faces foreign intervention and begins the first Five-Year Plan, consolidating its socialist base with the collectivization of agriculture and accelerated industrialization.
1930s: Stalinism consolidates in the Soviet Union, with an authoritarian regime and state control over the economy. [Information beyond the sources provided.]
1931-1945: The Great Depression drives political radicalization in capitalist countries, with the expansion of left-wing parties. The Soviet Union becomes an industrial powerhouse as capitalism faces crisis.
1960s: The Chinese Revolution and the peasant question mark a new epicenter of socialism, including North Korea.
1970s: Decolonization and Third World nationalism drive socialist revolutions in Cuba, Vietnam, and Africa. 1960s: In Brazil, the sociopolitical conceptions and interventions of left-wing forces (communists, socialists,  Labour and Christian leftists) are shaped by interpretations of the past, including the defeat of 1964.

The Soviet Revolution represented a rupture with the existing system, threatening the capitalist world with its durability, economic and military effectiveness and power of attraction. Moscow-led socialism influenced Western societies and governments, challenging the established order.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War at the end of the 20th century marked a new chapter in the history of socialism. [Information beyond the sources provided.]

The sources provided address socialism in different historical and geographical contexts, with a focus on the Russian Revolution, Stalinism and the influence of socialism in the world. The sources also discuss socialism in Brazil, particularly the conceptions and interventions of leftist forces during the 1960s.