The History Of Socialism And Capitalism

Thursday, October 1, 2020
Hoover Institution

The Hoover Institution presents an online virtual speaker series based on the scholarly research and commentary written by Hoover fellows participating in the Human Prosperity Project on Socialism and Free-Market Capitalism. This project objectively investigates the historical record to assess the consequences for human welfare, individual liberty, and interactions between nations of various economic systems ranging from pure socialism to free-market capitalism. Each session will include thoughtful and informed analysis from our top scholars.

FEATURING
Niall Ferguson, MA, D.Phil., is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a senior fellow of the Center for European Studies, Harvard, where he served for twelve years as the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History.

Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution; his focus is classics and military history.

[ramongonzalez]

Not one socialist country has ever produced a large middle class or prosperity like capitalist ones. 🙏🇺🇸

[sapatomaluco]

I feel so blessed to live in a time I can watch this talk for free, from another country, in my home, wearing shorts and flip-flops.

[JonnM]

Prof. Ferguson is absolutely correct. I worked in Sweden for 10 years, on and off, and Sweden is not a socialist country. It’s a capitalist country with a high social commitment to it’s citizenry. Like most of Europe there is a safety net, especially around healthcare, education and housing. While poverty is, of course, still a problem it is in no way compatible to the level one often sees in many major US cities, particularly those on the west coast.

[crackerjack]

And the farmers stopped farming and the truckers stopped trucking. And the firefighters stopped fighting fires and police stopped policing and the employers stopped hiring and the employees stopped producing and the poorest of the poor went hungry first.

[DEPLORABLEKULAK]

Socialism is as socialism does. I view socialism as their actions. And taking away people's private property seams to fit right along the lines of socialism.

[tessysingh]

46:50 "Tocqueville said that unfortunately most people would prefer to be equal and poor than unequal and better off. It was he that said that the two most powerful emotions in human experience are jealousy and envy. It's the idea that someone else better off than you is a more important concern than you being better off. There's some innate human desire to make sure that anyone through accident (in the Aristotelian sense) doesn't look better than you do. " Victor Davis Hanson. Rene Girard describes this human tendency as mimetic desire: I want it because you have it.

[Seekthetruth]

Somebody said: A socialist is a communist without a gun.

if you do not have the freedom to defend yourself you are not free.

[gitmehere]

The fact we have to have this conversation is insane.

[judgecal]

Every time I hear vdh speak I'm absolutely mesmerized.

[periclesithaca]

Absolutely love hearing VDH speak. Supremely educated and articulate.

[linkes]

Hanson has an eloquent way of explaining complex topics. 🙇‍♀️

[extremespartan]

Brilliant observation with respect to how collectivism has evolved to use identity politics instead of class based politics because of how well off most are now in the United States. As always great content and thanks for the upload!

[micahkelly]

Thanks to the Hoover Inst. for making such necessary content and discussion available.

[chrisyuri]

33:00 Here in Norway we too we have something called AS Norge, and it is what drives the economy, small business is what employs the most people, pay the most taxes and provides the most services. Small Business is capitalism, not big business. Both Niall and Victor nailed it.

[UKtoUSABrit]

VDH & NF are definitely two of the brightest minds of the last few decades.
We would all benefit enormously if they were more involved in public policy decisions.
They are a NATURAL RESOURCE.

[stavivanackerson]

“I'd like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living.”
― John Wayne

[gbuz]

Socialism can never work because it goes against human nature. ""From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs." Only happens with incentives to produce and deterrents to take more than your share, thus some form of capitalism is the only answer. We should put this debate to rest in grade school so we don't waste our time as adults.

[reganross]

Brilliant to be promoting honest and articulate discussions like these.

[morgan]

I always love VDH and NF in a They are so good at honing historically relative facts into a present day point. Amazing! a moderator who knows how not to make it about himself.... ;)