socialist

Socialist refers to an adherent or advocate of socialism, a political and economic theory that emphasizes social ownership and democratic control of the means of production and the distribution of goods. The central aim is to reduce or eliminate social and economic inequality through collective or public ownership and planning rather than private profit. Ownership can be public, cooperative, or worker-controlled, and decision-making is often framed as democratic participation by workers or citizens. Socialist thought encompasses a spectrum from reformist to revolutionary approaches, and from parliamentary social democracy to libertarian or anarchist variants.

Historically, the movement emerged in the 19th century in response to industrial capitalism, with early thinkers such as Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier, and Robert Owen shaping cooperative and visionary strands, and later Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels providing a critical framework for analysis of capitalism and class. Political organizations and parties identified as socialist organized across Europe and beyond, influencing policy through elections, labor movements, and revolutions. In practice, socialist ideas have informed diverse systems, including state-led planning, public ownership of key industries, and extensive welfare programs, but have also inspired authoritarian regimes in some contexts, leading to debates over democratic versus undemocratic implementations.

In contemporary usage, 'socialist' commonly describes supporters of policies aimed at expanding social welfare, progressive taxation, public services, and worker rights. Some modern parties emphasize social democracy—reforming capitalism through democratic means—while others advocate more radical restructuring of the economy toward common ownership. Etymology derives from Latin 'socius' companionship and the French 'socialiste' from the 1830s.