Reformism

Reformism (also called revisionism or revisionist theory) is the belief that gradual changes in a society can ultimately change its fundamental structures. It is a key component of the movement known as democratic socialism. This movement is contrasted to "revolutionary socialism", which believes that there must be a revolution to fundamentally change a society.

Related Topics:
Society - Democratic socialism - Revolutionary socialism - Revolution

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Rosa Luxemburg was a prominent polemicist against reformism, with her essay Reform or Revolution?, written in 1900, where she assailed the "Evolutionary Socialism" of Eduard Bernstein. The Bolsheviks held a similar view, but Luxemburg died in the German Revolution while her counterparts won the Russian Civil War and founded the Soviet Union.

Related Topics:
Rosa Luxemburg - Reform or Revolution? - 1900 - Evolutionary Socialism - Eduard Bernstein - Bolsheviks - German Revolution - Russian Civil War - Soviet Union

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The term "Reformism" is usually applied to the political left. Reformists are seen as centre left. Some Social Democratic parties such as the Canadian NDP are considered reformist.

Related Topics:
Political left - Centre left - Social Democratic - NDP

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