Where has socialism worked? What does Zohran Mamdani stand for and what are his plans for New York?

In recent years, the question of “Where has socialism worked?” has rightly returned to the global agenda, especially with the recently concluded mayoral election in New York City.

What is socialism?

Before looking at where it has worked, it makes sense to provide some sort of understanding of the term itself, something that is often misused for political point-scoring. Socialism is broadly defined as a political and economic system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned or regulated by the community as a whole. Karl Marx described it as the transitional stage between capitalism and communism, where “the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.”

In contrast, democratic socialists such as Eugene V. Debs and later Bernie Sanders have framed socialism not as state control but as the extension of democracy into the economy – “an economy that works for all, not just the few.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a theory or policy of social organization which advocates the ownership and control of the means of production, capital, land, property, etc., by the community as a whole.”

Despite its many interpretations, the central thread of socialism remains the pursuit of economic equality, social welfare, and collective decision-making as antidotes to the inequalities produced by unrestrained capitalism. Reducing the gap between rich and poor fairly across a community.

In which countries has socialism ‘worked’?

In practice, socialism has taken diverse forms, from the Nordic model’s blend of welfare capitalism and progressive taxation to the more centralized planning once seen in the Soviet Union. But the argument has definitely shifted over the years, while often left a little unclear in your daily news intake.

Socialism in its modern guise tends not to mean state-owned factories alone, but rather democratic institutions that steer markets towards social priorities.

While political and personal differences will always remain on what represents success, the following countries are often cited as having ‘worked’ with socialist or social-democratic principles:

• Sweden
• Norway
• Denmark
• Finland
• Iceland
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Canada
• Uruguay

They have all to some degree produced high living standards, equality, and robust democracies while maintaining market economies.

Political experts point to public figures like the NYC’s new mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose ‘democratic socialism’ is far closer to European ‘social democracy’ than 20th century Soviet style command economies.

What is Mamdani’s ‘socialist’ plan for NYC?

Mamdani puts his finger on what he sees as the urgent question facing New York City: how working-class and immigrant New Yorkers are being squeezed by surging housing costs, rising fares, fragile incomes and declining public services, including child care. His plan is to change that.

What Mamdani stands for, in short, is a redistribution of power and resources: empowering tenants and transit users, taxing the wealthy and corporations more heavily, investing public funds into housing and services rather than relying solely on private developers. If his vision is realized, and it works, other neighborhoods could well take note.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.