A Study Of Bernstein's Social Democratic Thought

Edward Bemstein(1850-1932),a famous theorist and activist in the history of the German Social Democratic Party and the World Socialist Movement,went through a period of radical democracy,Orthodox Marxism and revisionism.He was transformed from a revolutionary Social Democrat into a reformist,with complex ideas and unique life history.However,as the father of social democracy,Bernstein has had a profound impact on the social democracy of the Western social Democrats and the Democratic socialism of the socialist international.At the same time,it has had a great impact on the history of international communist movement and the development of socialism.Therefore,how to analyze and evaluate Bernstein's social democratic thought objectively and impartially is of great significance to fully understand contemporary capitalism,adhere to Marxism and firmly establish socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.Based on this,this paper tries to make a comprehensive and systematic analysis and study of Bernstein's social democracy according to the context of his transformation.This paper is divided into three parts:The first part:discusses the acceptance and defense of Marxism by Bernstein as an Orthodox Marxist,especially during his time as editor of the social Democrats,he actively studied Marxist theories,propagandized and defended Marxist ideological views and opinions,and severely criticized anti-Marxism statements.At the same time,involved in the workers movement and the constructive guidance of the workers'movement,becoming a young Marxist theorist and world socialist activist,has made indelible contribution to the world socialist movement.The second part:expound the revision and deviation of Marxism from Bernstein.After Engels's death,Bernstein drifted away from Marxism.In order to solve the difficulties of the so-called socialist ultimate goal and realistic policy,socialist theory and practice,social revolution and social improvement,Bernstein began to accept LaSalle's view and promote Ferdinand Lassalle,proposing the revision of Marxism,gradually departing from Marxism,and then openly and comprehensively amending Marxism,and eventually moving towards revisionism.The third part:analyzes the rationality and limitation of Bernstein's social democracy thought.As the father of social democracy,Bernstein is an important theoretical foundation of social democracy and later renamed democratic socialism,which promoted the improvement of Western capitalist system.Because Bernstein finally abandoned the basic principles of Marxism and the goal of socialist struggle and lofty ideals,denied the violent revolution,emphasized the improvement of the capitalist system,thus has the essential difference with Marxism,its theory has great limitations.Finally,this paper points out that the systematic study and objective evaluation of Bernstein's social democracy have important implications for the deep understanding of the new changes of contemporary capitalism and the major theoretical problems of socialism and the development of the contemporary world socialist movement.How to adhere to Marxism,build socialism,how to implement the thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era of Xi Jinping is of great theoretical and practical significance.