Date of Award
Spring 4-18-2018
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Political Science and International Affairs
Department Chair or Program Director
Kramer, John
First Advisor
Farnsworth, Stephen
Second Advisor
Lester, Emile
Major or Concentration
Political Science
Abstract
This paper examines the status of socialism in contemporary US politics. Historically, socialists have struggled to garner much popularity or political success in America. However, recent events suggest that socialism has increased in popularity. This project first analyzes the history of socialism in the United States and identifies a number of factors that have inhibited its success. The project then analyzes public opinion data on reactions to the term “socialism” and opinion on universal healthcare. This data analysis breaks down public opinion by different demographic factors to determine which Americans are most likely to express support for socialism and proposals commonly espoused by socialists. The data analysis suggests that there has been a generational shift on public opinion regarding socialism. The paper argues that this shift is due in part to the end of the Cold War, but that the collapse of the Soviet Union alone is insufficient to explain this trend. Rather, this paper argues that the economic difficulties facing young Americans has challenged their faith in Americanism. The paper concludes by suggesting possible areas for future research.
Recommended Citation
Gardner, Noah, "The Status of Socialism in Contemporary US Politics" (2018). Student Research Submissions. 255.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/255