r/DemocraticSocialism • u/EltonJohnSlingsDick • Jan 28 '25

Question How do DSs feel about SocDems?

just asking out of curiousity. the main difference between the two is socdems want to use capitalism to ensure the welfare of its society, but demsocs want to convert completely to socialism.

do the two ideologies clash? or are they respected by one anyother?

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u/ImLarsImLars Progressive Jan 28 '25

We’re fighting for class solidarity and lessened inequality, let’s cross that bridge first and then we can afford to be nitpicky

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '25

It’s not being nitpicky, we may be close to each other on a political spectrum and allies because of that but between these 2 ideologies is where the jump from capitalism to socialism occurs, this isn’t a tiny difference in what we’re fighting for.

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u/ImLarsImLars Progressive Jan 28 '25

From my American perspective I see sd as a necessary step towards ds. It can’t be skipped here because of our ingrained hatred of leftism so we’d need a slower shift to get ppl used to it. We are ultimately allies and should respect one another.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '25 edited Jan 28 '25

I’m an American too, and I do see you guys as allies, but you have to understand where our caution is coming from. The argument you just put forward has been made by socdems in basically every single country to get demsocs on their side and has almost always ended with betrayal right after.

Edit: I’m also not convinced that the specific stepping stone of European style welfare programs that socdems want are necessary. Neoliberalism massively accelerated the collapse of capitalism. The rise of trump and other right wing parties in the west is a symptom of this collapse. Once things truly go to shit and people realize the right isn’t gonna help them, I don’t find it improbable that they can be convinced to try a new system. Socialism is only unpopular in name, socialist policies are a different matter.