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List of socialist states

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This is a combined map of all countries who declared themselves to be socialist states under any definition, at some point in their history, color-coded for the number of years that the territory in question claimed to be a socialist:
  Over 65 years
  50 - 65 years
  40 - 50 years
  30 - 40 years
  20 - 30 years
  10 - 20 years
  Under 10 years
Click on image to magnify.

This is a list of countries, past and present, that declared themselves socialist either in their names or their constitutions. No other criteria are used; thus, some or all of these countries may not fit any specific definition of socialism. Their only common feature is using the label "socialist" for themselves, under any interpretation. There are few, if any, definitions of socialism that could fit all the countries on this list. However, most definitions of socialism fit at least some of these countries at some points in their histories.

There are many countries that have been ruled by socialist political parties for extended periods of time without ever adopting socialism as an official ideology in their names or constitutions. Such countries are not listed here. However, see the article on the Socialist International for an up-to-date list of countries that are currently ruled by member parties of the SI (the largest present day organization of socialist political parties).

Conversely, there are some countries that maintain constitutional references to socialism without being currently ruled by a socialist political party. Those countries are included on this list.

Marxist-Leninist

These countries known as "Communist states" in the West, because their ruling parties generally use the name "Communist Party of [country]."[citation needed] However, the countries themselves are referred to as socialist republics, not communist, in their own constitutions. They are defined by a form of government in which the state operates under a one-party system and declares allegiance to the ideology of Marxism-Leninism.[citation needed] In accordance with Marxism-Leninism, the constitutions of these countries claim that all power belongs to the working class, that a democratic dictatorship of the proletariat has been implemented within their borders, and that they are building socialism, with the goal of achieving communism one day.

Western countries view Socialism and Communism as two distinct form of governmental economy. Concerning Socialism, it regards the welfare of its people like Capitalism does. In the sense that the wealth is redistributed the same way, while taxes would be higher. As for Communism, Western countries regards Communism as the opposite of Capitalism; in which the money itself is redistributed equally among everyone so that they may have a similar lifestyle. Whether their lifestyle is similar remains irrelevant in that sense.

Furthermore, the West views Communism as being a state run by the government for the greater good of all the people. As for those who see the difference between Communism and Socialism in the West, they view Socialism as being a state run by the government for the people.

Current

Main article: List of current communist states
A map showing states who currently declare themselves to be Marxist-Leninist.
  •  People's Republic of China - (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó) (since October 1, 1949)[1]
  •  Cuba - Republic of Cuba (República de Cuba) (since January 1, 1959) [2]
  •  Laos - Lao People's Democratic Republic. (Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao) (since December 2, 1975)[citation needed]
  •  Vietnam - Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cộng hòa Xã hội Chủ nghĩa Việt Nam) (officially in unified Vietnam since July 2, 1976, but in the north since 1954) [3]

Former

A map of countries who declared themselves to be socialist states under the Marxist-Leninist definition (in the west known as, "Communist states") at some point in their history. The map uses then-current borders. Note that not all of these countries were Marxist-Leninist at the same time.

Non-Marxist-Leninist

These are countries whose constitutions make references to socialism, but do not subscribe to Marxist-Leninist ideology. As such, they represent a wide variety of different interpretations of the term socialism. Countries such as Egypt and Libya, for example, have adopted different versions of Arab socialism as their ideology at some point in their history. The Republic of China, ruled by the Kuomintang party adopted Chinese socialism. Tanzania, on the other hand, adopted African socialism as its official doctrine.

Map showing countries whose constitutions contained some references to socialism (under a non-Marxist definition) at some point in their history.

Constitutional references

Informal

Former

Former states

Ephemeral

These are short-lived political entities that emerged during wars or revolutions (mostly in the aftermath of World War I) and declared themselves to be socialist under some interpretation of the term, but did not survive long enough to create a stable government or achieve international recognition.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Constitution of the People's Republic of China: "Both the victory of China's new-democratic revolution and the successes of its socialist cause have been achieved by the Chinese people of all nationalities under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and by upholding truth, correcting errors and overcoming numerous difficulties and hardships."
  2. ^ Constitution of the Republic of Cuba: WE, CUBAN CITIZENS, heirs and continuators of the creative work and the traditions of combativity, firmness, heroism and sacrifice fostered (...) by those who promoted, joined and developed the first organizations of workers and peasants, spread socialist ideas and founded the first Marxist and Marxist-Leninist movements."
  3. ^ Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: "The Communist party of Vietnam (...), who adheres to Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought, is the force assuming leadership of the state and society."
  4. ^ Herskovitz, Jon (September 28, 2009). "North Korea drops communism, boosts "Dear Leader"". Reuters.
  5. ^ The socialist ideology started in 1917 with the new Constitution as a result of the Mexican revolution and not just with the foundation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929. From 1934 to 1945 the education in Mexico was socialist and the social programs continued until 1983 with the enter of neoliberalism according to Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor. The left wing of the Institutional Revolutionary Party went on to form its own party the Party of the Democratic Revolution in 1989 with the union of the Mexican Communist Party, the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico, the Socialist Mexican Party and the Mexican Workers' Party as a result of the stablishment of neoliberalisma and the reduction of social programs.
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