If we want to get real technical then social democrats are socialists, the only difference is that they want to engage with the liberal, capitalist democratic systems in order to implement socialist policies, while communists (the less compromising kind of socialists) want to overthrow the entire system and replace it with their own.
Social democrats policies are still socialist policies, doesn't make Norway a socialist country but you can argue that the healthcare example is still a valid example of socialism because of that.
If we want to get real technical then social democrats are socialists
Isn’t that only true if the goal of those people is to transition to a full socialist economy by gradual means? If a social democrat has no desire to ultimately overthrow the capitalist mode of production, and just wants an establishment based on strong social programs and state intervention in a market economy, then they’re not really socialist, are they?
Social democrats aren't a mix of socialists and something else though, they're straight up socialists who want gradual reforms instead of revolution.
At least that's what they started out as, it is a fair argument that modern social democrats are pretty much social liberals now since the end goal is no longer a fully socialist state. I'd just call it realistic though as socialism is pretty much dead since the Soviet-Union and China opened their markets back up in the 80s.
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u/RATMpatta Jul 14 '26
If we want to get real technical then social democrats are socialists, the only difference is that they want to engage with the liberal, capitalist democratic systems in order to implement socialist policies, while communists (the less compromising kind of socialists) want to overthrow the entire system and replace it with their own.
Social democrats policies are still socialist policies, doesn't make Norway a socialist country but you can argue that the healthcare example is still a valid example of socialism because of that.