The Origins of Socialism

In this lecture, Professor Jeremy Jennings (King’s College London) explores the origins of socialism, focusing in particular on: (i) the importance of the French Revolution which, whilst not itself a socialist revolution, inspired political radicals such as Gracchus Babeuf to imagine both a model socialist future and the means for arriving there; (ii) the widespread conservative reaction to the French Revolution and the suppression of socialism in the decades after the Congress of Vienna in 1815; (iii) ‘utopian socialism’ and its supporters such as Robert Owen who envisaged and sometimes actually created ‘model villages’ which would foster socialist political organisation; (iv) Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’s critique of utopian socialism for excessive idealism.

[ugafan]

Thank you. Well versed, laid out, explanation of the origins and early history of Socialism. The British accent also helps to accentuate the importance of topics and points being made.

[Jadeserphant]

Very informative, thank you so much. Philosophy is one of my great loves, though I've never had the money to study it formally. I've read many of the authors you mention here, but some I hadn't heard of before. I'll definitely add them to my "reading list." I wish I had someone to discuss it all with. Its so sad that America doesn't really teach Philosophy in public schools.. I subscribed and I'm, very much, looking forward to learning more.

[ShellshockDM]

I'm not a socialist even though I was one for a short time, basically a Mutualist/Individualist Anarchist/ Libertarian Socialist. But well done for explaining this video and very well put together might I say. The only important person you forgot to mention is the man who coined the term feminism Charles Fourier, one the first Utopian socialists or Libertarian socialists.

[colorizedenhanced-silentmo]

Good evening, MASSOLIT. this is a surprising video. thanks. :)