Gandhi and Socialism

Abstract

Gandhi, along with other leaders in India’s Freedom Movement, clearly identifies himself as a socialist. We now live in an India and world dominated by finance capital and big corporate capitalism. It has seemed to most that Gandhian socialism is dead and irrelevant in our contemporary world of economic, social, political, and other power relations. Disagreeing with this view, this essay examines the relationship between Gandhi, capitalism, and socialism and asks what Gandhian socialism might mean today. After examining the nature of socialism and Gandhi’s writings on socialism, we delineate the major distinctive characteristics of Gandhian socialism. After analyzing serious weaknesses and confusion in Gandhi’s approach and strengths that are invaluable for what socialists and others can learn from a creatively developed Gandhian socialism, we conclude with a section on Gandhian socialism today, formulating the significance of such a new developing philosophy and practice for the contemporary world.