Research On The Democratic Socialism Of Harold Laski

Laski is a famous British politician ? ideologist and educator in the early 20 th century.He is an outstanding leader of the British Labor Party and an important representative of the democratic socialism.The world changed dramatically in the first half of the 20 th century.Western capitalist society was faced with the profound democratic crisis and the Fascists was on the rise.While in stark contrast,the Soviet Union was flourishing.Under the background of this era,Laski conducted a profound analysis and criticism of capitalism and put forward his conception of the future ideal society development.Laski expected the bourgeoisie to make compromise,and to launch an "Agreed Revolution" through peaceful measures so as to transform the state from "negative state" to "positive state " ? from "police state" to "social service state".The blueprint of the ideal country envisioned by Laski is a "Planned Society" of economic equality and political democracy.Laski's democratic socialism has made a far-reaching influence on the political theory and practice of the British Labor Party and the Western European Social Democratic Party.Laski's democratic socialism was in line with the prevailing conditions of the Britain,however,the essence of its democratic socialism is only a reformism to safeguard the interests of the bourgeoisie and to maintain the capitalist system.Laski attempted to achieve the "Agreed Revolution" through a compromise of the bourgeoisie is nothing but an illusion.The envisioned ideal country ——a "Planned Society" can not be realized either.Laski is not a true Marxist,and his democratic socialism is essentially different from scientific socialism.