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To revive the fortunes of socialism we must articulate a credible and attractive alternative. The Constitution of Socialism takes a decisive step in this direction.Offering an original synthesis of socialism and republicanism, the book discusses how society can move beyond capitalism. It outlines an institutional and political framework for a socialist future, in which collective decision-making about the use and allocation of resources directly responds to social interests. Through institutional design, this study explores the feasibility criteria of post-capitalism and sketches the contours and features of a viable model of socialism.
List of contents
PrefaceAcknowledgementsGlossary1
Introduction1 The Crisis of Socialism – Goodbye Lenin!
2 Overview
Part 1 Diagnosis2
Socialism in Theory – Promise and Possibilities1 The Communist Mode of Production and Distribution
2 Economic Calculation under Socialism
3
Socialism in Practice – The Soviet Model1 The Experience of War Communism
2 General Features of Soviet Planning
3 Material Balances
4 The System of Norms
5 Reforming the System – From Optimism to Cynicism
Addendum: Sharing in the Illusion – On the Question of State-Capitalism
4
Socialism in Practice – The Yugoslav Model1 Laying the Groundwork
2 Toward Self-Governing Socialism
3 Bottom-Up Planning and Collapse
5
Socialism in Theory, Again1 Back to the Drawing Board
2 The Community of Citizens
3 Contradictions of Market and Plan – The Menu of Options
4 Negotiated Co-ordination and Allocation
5 Participatory Planning of Production and Consumption
6 Big Computer and Labour Time
7 Multilevel Programming
Part 2 Remedy6
Governance in the Socialist Republic1 Socialist Constitutionalism and the Social Contract
2 Political Institutions and Practices of Self-Government
3 The Role of Central Planning
Addendum 1: A Note on Public Safety, Crime, and National Defence
Addendum 2: A Note on Organised Political Activity Under Socialism
7
Production in the Socialist Republic1 Public Property and Public Domination
2 Three Public Sectors
3 Self-Government in Industry – Workers’ Councils
8
General Planning and Parametric Control1 Cost Accounting – ‘
khozraschet’
2 Planning, Prices, Allocation
3 Co-ordination, Investment, Uncertainty
4 Labour Incentives
5 The Dynamics of Growth
Addendum: On the Possibilities for Progressive Socialisation
Part 3 Conclusions9
Postscript1 Closing Remarks
2 What I Hope to Have Imparted to the Reader
3 Moving Forward Along the Long and Winding Road
ReferencesIndex
About the author
Tim Platenkamp obtained his master’s degree from the University of Amsterdam in 2020, specializing in political theory. He is currently employed as a trade unionist.
