Why you should be a socialist / Nathan J. Robinson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Robinson, Nathan J., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Socialism--United States.

Socialism.

United States.

Physical Description:

viii, 326 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : All Points Books, 2019.

Summary:

"A primer on Democratic Socialism for those who are extremely skeptical of it. America is witnessing the rise of a new generation of socialist activists. More young people support socialism now than at any time since the labor movement of the 1920s. The Democratic Socialists of America, a big-tent leftist organization, has just surpassed 50,000 members nationwide. In the fall of 2018, one of the most influential congressmen in the Democratic Party lost a primary to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old socialist who had never held office before. But what does all this mean? Should we be worried about our country, or should we join the march toward our bright socialist future? In Why You Should Be A Socialist, Nathan J. Robinson will give readers a primer on twenty-first century socialism: what it is, what it isn't, and why everyone should want to be a part of this exciting new chapter of American politics. From the heyday of Occupy Wall Street through Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign and beyond, young progressives have been increasingly drawn to socialist ideas. However, the movement's goals need to be defined more sharply before it can effect real change on a national scale. Likewise, liberals and conservatives will benefit from a deeper understanding of the true nature of this ideology, whether they agree with it or not. Robinson's charming, accessible, and well-argued book will convince even the most skeptical readers of the merits of socialist thought"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part I What Is The Left So Mad About?

1 Revulsion, Curiosity, Moral Instinct: Orienting Ourselves in the World p. 27

2 Neoliberal Nightmares: Our Depressing and Unacceptable Present p. 46

3 The Army of Psychopathic Androids: How Capitalism Works p. 78

Part II What is Socialism and Why Is It Good?

4 Solidarity Forever: A Set of Principles p. 103

5 A Better World: Envisioning Utopias p. 115

6 Socialism, Democracy, Social Democracy: Sorting Out Words & Terms p. 133

7 One Long Struggle: The Grand Libertarian Left Tradition p. 143

8 Making Our Plans: Sensible Agendas p. 164

9 Getting It Done: Effective Strategies p. 190

Part III What are the Other Political Ideologies and Why Are They Bad?

10 Mean, False, and Hopeless: The Ugliness of Conservatism p. 205

11 Polishing Turds: The Inadequacy of Liberalism p. 215

12 Response to Criticisms: Why Opponents of Socialism Are All Wrong p. 233.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-316) and index.

ISBN:

9781250200860

1250200865

OCLC:

1123182246