What did the socialist parties in Europe accomplish?

Question

Once again, I really need to know for my history class!

Answer 1

Well, that should go under the homework help. But either way...I lived in the former Yugoslavia...was born in it and I can tell you that to this day my mom and dad both swear that living in socialism was the golden age. And I'm not talking about the repressive communist regime in the USSR...anyways, socialism did a lot for people in Europe in terms of establishing the welfare state, but more than that it contributed to the life of common workers. My mom, for example came from an ordinary family, did not have a college degree and started working at 19. So, picture this: a single woman, with high school education, minimum wage and at 25 she had her own apartment...how many people do you know that can do that these days without the help of their families?

So, basically it gave regular people an opportunity to have a fulfilling life and some financial security. As far as I understand it, it helped create workers unions, social security (and I don't mean the US one), public health care (basically all the wonderful things you can still find throughout Europe these days). Of course, I'm not promoting socialism as ideal at all...I will just tell you that if you ask any of the common people who have lived under socialism and are now living in capitalism, they will tell you that it was the best time of their life. Hope it helps somehow but I would really go on the internet and read about it some if you need it for school.

I do agree that socialism actually created more problems than it solved in the long run.

Answer 2

Socialist parties in Western Europe nationalised key industries and provided welfare, social housing, health services etc. This led to a general improvement in the standard of living.

They funded this through taxation which increased with wealth, as opposed to conservative parties which opposed wealth-based taxation and state intervention in the economy.

One significant failure of the left in pre-war Germany was to present a united opposition to Hitler. The late Willy Brandt, former Social-Democratic Chancellor of West Germany, said that had the SPD (Social Democrats) and the KPD (Communists) united in the early-30s instead of fighting each other, they could have defeated Hitler and the Nazi regime and World War 2 could have been avoided.

After the war, socialism in the West meant left-of-centre democratic parties interested in reforming the mixed economies in favour of the working classes and less well-off, while in the Eastern Bloc, socialism meant communist dictatorship, with virtually the entire economy under state control and the absence of democratic freedoms which people in the West take for granted.

Answer 3

As a person who lived in Western Europe during the 90's, the only thing I can say that socialism accomplished was in pissing off the European taxpayers. Western Europe opened their doors to non-tax paying immigrants from the middle east and the majority of these immigrants have refused to assimilate into European culture. This has caused increased social programs and higher taxes for the actual taxpayers. A German friend of mine, who is a single mother, was paying 45% of her paycheck in taxes. Also, socialism has contributed to a rapidly declining birthrate which certain governments are trying to reverse by making children tax right-offs. Bottom line, my true European friends hate their governments and blame these immigrants for their woes. SOCIALISM DOESN'T WORK, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!

Answer 4

High unemployment rates. Low productivity. It's hard for young people to enter the job market.

Answer 5

Nothing except create welfare states in Europe and extremely high taxation of it's citizens.