Recently, there has been growing anti-capitalist sentiment across the nation. Particularly amongst young people. With the recent success of democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, growing distrust in mainstream politics, and the role of the internet radicalizing people even before voting age; the question must be asked: Is America ready for socialism?
First, we must understand what socialism is. According to Karl Marx, socialism is the transitional stage between capitalism and communism. It is characterized by the public ownership of the means of production, where production is used for the good of the people rather than profit. This is put into practice primarily by government intervention, with the state taking control of private entities and institutions, wealth distribution, and basic amenities. Socialism in its simplest terms, aims for economic equality, social equality, and power to workers by completely dismantling capitalism.
The road to socialism has historically been marked with incredible pushback from corporations, the wealthy, and it’s even trickled down to the working class via historical events and Cold War era anti-communist propaganda. But through figures like Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Zohran Mamdani; and the increasingly undesirable policy and rhetoric from mainstream politics, socialism has begun to positively resonate with working class voters. In September, Gallup concluded that since the turn of the last decade, positive views of capitalism have slipped from 61% to 54% and positive views of socialism have jumped from 36% to 39%. This may not seem like a big difference until you account for the demographic getting into politics and voting: young people.
Gen Z teenagers, adults, and younger millennials have been spearheading this anti-capitalist sentiment. A Gallup poll done in 2018 concluded that only 45% of young adults viewed capitalism favorably. A significant drop from 68% in 2010, and in a study done in 2022 by The Pew Research Center, only 40% of young voters aged 18 – 29 had a positive view of capitalism compared to 73% of older voters aged 65 and up. Why? The internet has a large role to play. More access to the internet and information, how these young voters use the internet, and algorithms. Memes, social media, and internet blogs have been used to radicalize younger people and keep them in that circle. And with our politicians and biggest institutions using the internet as an advantage, it puts a bigger spotlight on government and an even bigger spotlight on the woes of capitalism, leading to distrust of capitalism even in spite of history.
The question: “Is America Ready for Socialism?”, is still up in the air for debate. With figures like Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, and AOC, the working class is beginning to understand why their current conditions are undesirable, and change is desirable in any form. Americans may be ready for change, but is it socialism they want? For now, only time will tell.
Close up top view of young people putting their hands together. Friends with stack of hands showing unity. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
