What Is Socialism?

Socialism is a political and economic system in which the major means of production, such as land, natural resources and factories, are owned or controlled collectively rather than mainly by private individuals or companies. Its aim is… The Atlas covers 24 socialist ideologies, listed below with their estimated positions.

Socialism explained

Socialism is a political and economic system in which the major means of production, such as land, natural resources and factories, are owned or controlled collectively rather than mainly by private individuals or companies. Its aim is for members of society to share economic resources and wealth more fairly.

Core ideas

• Major property should be publicly owned or controlled for the benefit of all.
• Production is a social product, so everyone who contributes to it is entitled to a share.
• Capitalism tends to concentrate wealth and power, which socialists see as undermining real freedom and equality.
• Socialists disagree about how much property should be collectively owned and whether control should be centralized in the state or decentralized.

Origins

As a political movement socialism grew out of the Industrial Revolution; the word “socialist” came into use around 1830. Britannica also traces older roots to Plato's Republic, early Christian communities and monastic orders.

Associated thinkers

Thomas More, Henri de Saint-Simon, Robert Owen, Charles Fourier, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

Based on Britannica: Socialism (checked October 20, 2026).

Types of socialism on the Atlas

Economic: 0 collective/planned – 100 market. Social: 0 progressive – 100 traditional. Authority: 0 libertarian – 100 authoritarian. How these are calculated.

Average position of the family

Simple average of the 24 ideologies above; the family is a grouping used by the Atlas, not a single doctrine.