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Why Not Socialism? (2009)

by G.A. Cohen(Favorite Author)

3.54 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0691143617 (ISBN13: 9780691143613)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Princeton University Press

review 1: I was not aware when I ordered this book, that it was in fact not a book. Sure it has a hardback cover, but it's really a journal article or essay, with book binding. It can be read in one sitting. This has an upside and a downside.The upside is, in few words, and clear writing, Cohen gives a stellar defense of socialist values over capitalist values and practice. He does this by opening with an example of a camping trip. In general campers experience a sense of community and equality, and work towards the success of the trip on the old Marxian notion of "from each according to her ability to each according to her need." If one were to say "since I built the fire, I deserve the largest marshmallow" or "because I stumbled across these berries by happenstance I get half," th... moree campers would probably rebuke that person and/or not invite them along next time. At the very least none of us would tolerate one camper privatizing all the gear and equipment, letting us borrow it for work, and hoarding the surplus for himself. But how comes once we leave the camping trip those socialist values of equality and community are seen as nasty, ideological, and not worth consideration? Why do capitalist values flourish when we go back to work? This leads Cohen to defend the values developed on the camping trip in the face of capitalist values, and then wrestle with the questions of: is socialism still desirable (yes), and is it feasible. To the later question he claims to be an agnostic. It's clear that state socialism according to the old USSR and China models were a nightmare. It's not clear that that's the only form socialism can take. And unfortunately the primary socialist models being developed are really just strong welfare state versions of capitalism that still rely upon private interest (anti socialist), and heavy taxation.And this is where the book's size is a serious problem. Much of what Cohen explores and leaves out is degrading to his overall argument. For instance, all forms of socialism that he considers retain money as the universal equivalent of exchange. Why? If socialism was actually enacted, how is money still functioning? What good is money on a camping trip or in a campers society, and how does it function when socially necessary labor time no longer exist (a deeper Marxian question outside the scope of the essay)? And what about the other models for socialist society he either doesn't know about, or doesn't reflect upon (I'm think specifically Richard Wolff's model - Cohen was dead before this came out - but other models exist that Cohen could/should have read about e.g., anarcho-syndicalism). Finally, although he says the human nature critique of socialism needs to be addressed, he doesn't actually address it. And it can be addressed and has been, so to neglect this primary criticism of socialism is certainly devastating for his argument. And the fact the human nature critique can be refuted ought to be included in his book, to make socialist feasibility more fortified.Overall this is a great book. Cohen is clear, logical, humorous, and honest. Socialist cannot go around handing out The Communist Manifesto anymore, expecting people to take it seriously and read it in earnest (not because there's anything wrong with the book, but only because ideologically people have been brought up to consider it to be pure evil). They can however hand out Cohen's book, and probably expect a more sympathetic response. After reading this, I look forward to reading more works by Cohen.
review 2: Clearly a short synoptic on whether or not socialism is desirable or feasible, in which Mr. Cohen concisely and decisively argues that while a form of socialism is desirable to us, it's unsure if it's feasible, especially at this point in our socio-cultural development. It is not meant to be an exhaustive discussion, but it does establish well that socialism is desirable. In the fourth chapter he briefly introduces some forms of socialism and touches on reasons why they fail to fully realize the socialist ideal.**********spoiler**********Though he does not insist that the desirable form of socialism, which would satisfy the requirements of both "socialist equality of opportunity," and "the communal principle," is currently feasible, instead agnostically withholding assent, he ends the book as follows:"I agree with Albert Einstein that socialism is humanity's attempt 'to overcome and advance beyond the predatory phase of human development.' Every market, even a socialist market, is a system of predation. Our attempt to get beyond predation has thus far failed. I do no think the right conclusion is to give up." less

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