On the Three Stages in the Development of Socialism

Abstract

Socialism passes through three stages, which capture the qualitative transformation of the relations of production caused by changes in the productive forces. Specifically, the primary stage = public ownership as central (private ownership as supplement) + market-based distribution according to labor as central (distribution according to capital as supplement) + state(plan-) dominated market economy. The intermediate stage = multiple forms of public ownership + multiple commodity-type distribution according to labor + state-dominated planned economy (market adjustment as supplement). Finally, advanced socialism = singleform public ownership by entire society + product-based distribution according to labor + complete planned economy. Communism = single-form public ownership by entire society + product-based distribution according to need + fully planned economy. By contrast, the modern capitalist economic system = private ownership + distribution according to capital + state-directed market economy. This new theory of the three stages of socialism reasonably coordinates the various systemic criteria in the Marxist classics, and helps reveal the inherent connection between the primary stage of socialism and the great systemic goal of communism.