Democratic Socialism for the Youths

The recent political turmoil within the United States has led to both an increase in the interest of politics and interest in radical politics, especially leftist ideology. Democratic socialism has been on the rise in the United States since the growing popularity of Bernie Sanders and congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. It has also been used as a way to fight back against Donald Trump and his bigoted, outright fascist policies.

Democratic socialism has been particularly en vogue with younger generations. Capitalism has largely been considered less favorable with youths, especially during the current Trump administration's budget cuts and push towards profits and large corporations. Universities have established Young Democratic Socialists club on their campuses, and activism has become very trendy on social media.

What You Need To Know About The Democratic Socialists Of America

But the burning question is still this: what exactly is democratic socialism? To better understand it, it’s best to recognize what “socialism” is. Socialism is the redistribution of wealth and power into a more egalitarian form, specifically with free and democratic ownership and distribution of society’s goods and services. Essentially, it is abolishing capitalism, which focuses on a majority of the power and wealth being owned by a few. Democratic socialism takes that idea but tries to achieve this through democratic instead of authoritarian means.

For the United States, the most prominent organization that supports democratic socialism is Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Boasting more than 56.7 thousand members, DSA mainly targets local governments, working with labor unions and community organizations to fight for issues and advocate for their

Says the Democratic Socialists of America’s website, “Democratic socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.”

This is different from other forms of socialism that focus on authoritarianism to get their way. They have no want for an all-powerful government taking over society, but don’t want all-powerful conglomerates and corporations taking over society either. It’s why democratic socialism fights against the influence of money in politics asks for ordinary workers to fight for better wages and workplace benefits.

Democratic socialism also focuses on improving gender and cultural relationships in the process. Much of the wealth distribution and inequality is harmed just as much due to sexism, racism, transphobia, homophobia, and more embedded into society. It is important to recognize the privileges white men have that exploit and diminish others in gender and racial minorities, and leads to such inequality in the first place.

Arcadia University is one of the many universities that feature a Young Democratic Socialists' club, having first developed the project in late 2016, and fully becoming operational in early 2017. Titled Young Democratic Socialists of Arcadia (YDSA), I was last able to meet the club during a poster session. While enjoying music, several members were working on developing drawings and illustrations protesting authority. Whether it be slogans that fight against the prison or military industrial complex, or images showcasing the horrors of the police force, it was an activity that was simple, relaxing, educational, and progressive all in one package.

The logo for Young Democratic Socialists of Arcadia

Jordan Beck is the co-president of YDSA, overseeing events, seminars, and most importantly, protests and fights. Arcadia's Democratic Socialists club has done much in the way of helping the university, but their biggest claim to fame has been their support of adjunct professors, educators that teach on a limited-term contract and are ineligible for tenure. It is estimated adjuncts make up about 70% of Arcadia's staff, above the national average of 52%. This makes their contracts and job security much more vulnerable compared to tenured professors. That's where YDSA comes in.

"Our very first campaign even before we became an official club," explains Beck, "was helping the adjuncts form their union. We did a social media campaign and a video campaign to support them. We really kept doing that over all four years since I've been here." Their efforts to keep these adjuncts paid off, as they continued to support the union through contract negotiations and meetings, and brought attention to the student body, helping their cause grow more support among the school community.

YDSA's efforts have paid off tremendously. "The adjuncts won their first contract and it was a really good one last spring. That I think was our major accomplishment." Since then, the team has continued their efforts across the school. Rallies to protest climate change have emerged, collaborations with other activist clubs have arrived, and have also helped develop programs like Knights for Nutrition, a food pantry available for underprivileged students. YDSA's founding members are set to graduate this year, but looking at the work they've done, as well as the underclass members already on board, it's fair to say the club has done its job.

Less certain is how the old guard's messages will continue after college and graduation, especially in the current political climate. Joe Biden's major surges during the primaries forced Bernie Sanders, a major influence for Arcadia's club, to suspend his campaign. It puts plenty of questions about health care, education, the workforce, and much more up in the air for the next few years. But at least for Jordan Beck and the rest of YDSA, they still have a set goal, and will do their best to make life better for all of the working class.