Being Against Capitalism Isn’t Enough
Socialists need more than a critique of capitalism. We need a concrete account of how a socialist economy could work — and make ordinary people’s lives better.
329 Article(s) by: Ben Burgis
Ben Burgis is a Jacobin columnist and coauthor of the forthcoming book The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World.
Economic Democracy Is at the Heart of Socialism
Democracy should not end when the workday begins. Workers deserve a say over how their workplaces are run — and a claim on the wealth they create.
The GOP’s Enemy #1 for the Midterms: Socialism
Donald Trump and the Republicans want you to be terrified of socialists. But they really don’t want to talk about our core economic policies, because the moment you spell those policies out, they sound pretty good.
With Anti-DSA Bill, Congress Is Red-Baiting Like It’s 1955
The House just passed a resolution condemning the Democratic Socialists of America and socialism broadly. While it rehearses opposition to Stalinist authoritarianism, the bill’s real preoccupation is with socialists’ advocacy for expanded democracy.
It’s Prime Time for Socialists. How We Make Our Case Matters.
Democratic socialists have a historic opportunity to make socialism a mass politics that wins over millions. We can’t take full advantage of that opportunity without carefully calibrating our rhetoric and demands.
Help Us Break the Two-Party Stranglehold, James Carville
James Carville is threatening to leave the Democrats if socialists keep advancing. James, if you can figure out how to launch a viable centrist third party and break the bipartisan stranglehold, we socialists would welcome it.
Mamdani Is Right. Netanyahu Belongs Behind Bars.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani charged Benjamin Nentayahu with genocide, said he is unwelcome in New York City, and called for his arrest. Two years ago, that would have been unimaginable. Going forward, it should be a litmus test.
Yes, We Really Should Abolish the Senate
The Right recently lost its mind over the socialist proposal to get rid of the US Senate. But socialists are right to call for the abolition of a deeply undemocratic political institution.
The Democratic Socialists of America Want to Expand Democracy
Right-wing and centrist pundits, and even House Speaker Mike Johnson, have rushed to denounce the Democratic Socialists of America’s new “Workers Deserve More” platform. But the platform’s central insights are hard to dispute.
Everybody Should Welcome Nationalizing AI
Bernie Sanders wants to nationalize half the stock of major AI companies and create a sovereign wealth fund for the American people. The case for going even further is stronger than most people realize.
DSA’s Critics Are Missing the Point About the Working Class
In response to the Democratic Socialists of America’s big electoral wins, some are eager to write it off as a movement of elite professionals. These criticisms miss a lot about both DSA and the changing working class.
Could Democracy by Lottery Fix a Broken System?
Elections keep handing power to elites. Anand Gopal and Ben Burgis debate whether choosing officials by lottery, as ancient Athens did, would be an improvement on representative democracy.
Elon Musk Is a Trillionaire. Yes, That’s a Bad Thing.
Having become the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk is wealthy at a level that the human mind can scarcely comprehend. But one idea is simple to grasp: no functioning and humane society would produce inequality of this magnitude.
The Filibuster Is Killing Democracy
Under the rules of the filibuster, a majority vote in the US Senate is far from enough to pass a law. It’s time to finally ditch this antiquated rule.
Putting the Marxism Back Into “Cultural Marxism”
The Palm Springs School for Social Research wants to revitalize historical materialism, revive ideology critique, and ask big questions about social life. We talked to one of its founders, Catherine Liu, about gangster capitalism and the future of socialism.
Meet Rae Huang, the Progressive Pastor Running for LA Mayor
Reverend Rae Huang is running for mayor of Los Angeles on a platform to expand the public sphere: social housing, free buses, a public bank, and public movie theaters. She explains how her political vision was shaped in part by her Christian background.
Zohran Mamdani Is Right to Condemn West Bank Land Sales
After a rowdy protest outside a real estate event at Park East Synagogue, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was widely criticized for egging on the unrest by condemning the sale of West Bank properties. But the criticisms don’t stand up to scrutiny.
Why the Smears Against Graham Platner Didn’t Work
Opponents went all in on smearing Graham Platner as a Nazi based on a bad tattoo choice. It didn’t work. Maine voters decided they’d rather have universal health care and an end to reckless wars than a polished politician with an unblemished past.
On Iran, Trump and the American Empire Blinked
Donald Trump has shown the world that even the vast power of the globe’s foremost imperial hegemon has limits. His initial genocidal bluster against Iran was downstream of this reality, as was his subsequent capitulation.
Trump’s Goal Is to Suppress Votes, Not Prevent Election Fraud
Donald Trump says the SAVE Act is about stopping noncitizens from voting. But the real target is the millions of working-class citizens who don't have an updated passport or paper birth certificate sitting in a drawer.