Ideology
Revolutionary SocialismFar left
Argues that existing institutions are too bound to the owning class to be reformed, so the working class must overthrow the current order by force or mass action to establish a socialist system.
Core ideas
- Social revolution is a necessary precondition for moving from capitalism to socialism.
- Revolution means workers' mass movements taking political power, not always violent insurrection.
- The existing state is controlled by the capitalist class and cannot be reformed into socialism.
- Covers many currents that define revolution differently.
Where it sits on the 12 axes
On the Economy axis it leans strongly toward Collectivize (80). On Diplomacy it leans toward Nationalism (20, so 80% Nationalism), the Government axis sits at the midpoint (50), and Society leans toward Progressive (70). Revolution as a method is not scored by this test; only the four values are compared. You are matched when your four scores are closest to these values.
The bar shows the position on each of the four axes an ideology is matched on; the middle mark is the centre.
Sample result
History
Revolutionary socialism is a tradition within socialism that holds a social revolution is needed to bring about structural change. It includes orthodox Marxist movements such as De Leonism, impossibilism and Luxemburgism, and movements based on Leninism and vanguard-led revolution, such as Trotskyism. Rosa Luxemburg's Reform or Revolution (1900) is a well-known statement of the case against gradual reform. Revolutionary socialist ideas also appear in other Marxist and non-Marxist movements, and they were contested in the Second International over the question of reform.
Associated thinkers
- Rosa Luxemburg
- Vladimir Lenin
Common misunderstandings
- It does not always mean violence: the term covers mass movements that seize political power, and some define revolution without armed insurrection.
- It is not the same as communism: revolution is the method, and communism one of the possible goals.
Related ideologies
Is Revolutionary Socialism your closest ideology?
Take the test and see which of the ideologies your answers sit closest to.
Questions
What is revolutionary socialism?
A tradition within socialism stressing that a social revolution is necessary to move from capitalism to socialism, meaning a seizure of political power by mass working-class movements, whether or not violent.
Is revolutionary socialism left or right?
Far left. It seeks to replace capitalism rather than reform it. The left-right line says nothing about its method, which is the main thing that sets it apart from reformist socialism.
Revolutionary socialism vs democratic socialism?
Both want socialism. Revolutionary socialists hold that the existing state cannot be reformed and must be overthrown. Democratic socialists mostly seek change through elections and existing institutions while keeping civil liberties.
How does the 12 Axes test decide I am a revolutionary socialist?
The test compares your Collectivize–Privatize, Security–Freedom, Internationalism–Nationalism and Progressive–Traditional scores with each ideology's four values. The ideology with the smallest total distance is your closest match. The other eight axes are not used.