About the author
German social-democratic theorist (1850–1932), the founder of reformist or 'revisionist' socialism. A close associate of Engels who broke with orthodox Marxism, Bernstein argued in Evolutionary Socialism (1899) that capitalism was not collapsing as predicted and that socialism should be pursued through democratic reform, trade unions, and the ballot rather than revolution. His revisionism set the template for European social democracy and provoked Rosa Luxemburg's famous reply.
Synopsis
A revisionist socialist argument for democracy, gradual reform, and adapting socialism to changing capitalist society.
Core passage idea
Paraphrase · Public domainBernstein argues that democratic reform can matter more than revolutionary expectation.
This shows that socialism has reformist as well as revolutionary traditions.
To avoid a bubble
Pair with Luxemburg or Marx.
Reading note
Useful for users who want socialism without immediately jumping to revolution.
Best paired with
Rosa Luxemburg, Reform or Revolution.