Preface
vii
This Historical Dictionary of Socialismhas no pretension to be a com-
prehensive, single-volume history of socialism. To produce such a vol-
ume would probably be an impossible task. This dictionary is, rather, a
general guide to the subject—a guide that will, hopefully, encourage
readers to find out more. It is, furthermore, a work of information rather
than advocacy. It traces the evolution and diversification of socialism
from the early nineteenth century to the early twenty-first.
In this second edition of the dictionary, we have extended the scope
and updated the relevant entries in order to reflect events and develop-
ments in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century. The
dictionary also now includes more material on important and influential
socialist thinkers and a range of new entries on intellectual and social
movements of the left. Many more political parties have entries, in-
cluding former communist parties that have been transformed into
social-democratic ones, as well as the few remaining ruling communist
parties. There are many other miscellaneous new entries. The introduc-
tory essay has been revised, as have the chronology, glossary, and bib-
liography.
This dictionary complements another in the Scarecrow series: James
C. Docherty, Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor, Second Edition
(Scarecrow Press, 2004), which deals with the industrial wing of labor,
the trade unions; there is some overlap between the two works, but gen-
erally we have kept it to a minimum. The present dictionary is mainly
concerned with politics rather than industrial relations. It offers infor-
mation on writers, activists, ideas, political parties, institutions, and
movements that sought, and in many cases are still seeking, to change
the social and political order. We try to give due weight to the work of
individuals, including many who are now forgotten but exerted much
influence in their time. In some cases we indicate why or how such in-
dividuals came to be socialists. Turning to the contemporary scene,
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