Bernie Sanders: Marxist or Democratic Socialist?
The Truth is Quite Simple
The primary reason I believe Sanders has Democratic Socialist, rather than Marxist, political thinking is because of his emphasis on legal institutions, democracy, and civil society. Marxism instead stresses for revolution and drastic change.
I have written about Marxism and alienation, how Marx questions our reality, and what Marx thinks about political emancipation. Certainly, Bernie Sanders has benefited from the political philosophy of Marx. However, he is much more moderate and his insights rely on Democratic Socialism primarily.
Let me briefly show you how.
Sanders & Economic Productivity
Sanders argues that because of the economic productivity of the United States, each citizen should be given free health care, a free post-secondary education, and a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour.
These policies are not necessarily Marxist or Democratic Socialist.
In fact, many Reform Liberals could have similar inclinations. Nonetheless, Sanders has called himself a democratic socialist. The primary way democratic socialism differs from Marxism is that it rejects revolutions as a means of achieving an end for the proletariat.
