What is authoritarian socialism?

Ideology

Authoritarian socialism is characterised by the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to the authority of the state at the expense of personal freedom, coupled with an economic system which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole, with the community typically being synonymous with the state.

Authoritarian socialism rejects liberal concepts such as freedom of assembly, habeas corpus, and freedom of expression, and places an emphasis on heavy industry for development, a single–party system to propel the goals of the state forward, and the extensive use of propaganda to do the same.

Authoritarian socialism is prone to several problems. Central planning leads to resource misallocation, lacks incentives for innovation, and a difficulty in adapting to change, all of which increases the risk of systemic collapse.

Followers

Authoritarian socialists support heavy restrictions on both cultural and economic freedom. Authoritarian socialists oppose most private property rights. Authoritarian socialists do not tolerate criticism of their ideology.

Allies

Authoritarian socialists will ally themselves with other socialists, known as useful idiots, for as long as they derive utility from the association. Once their usefulness ends, authoritarian socialists will betray their allies, often with deadly force.

As they lean toward the authoritarian side of the political spectrum, authoritarian socialists will view socialists on the libertarian side of the spectrum with suspicion and mistrust. As such, they are less likely to ally with these socialists.

Enemies

Authoritarian socialists consider liberals and capitalists to be their enemies and seek to destroy them utterly for daring to end the tradition of collectivism that was practiced for most of human history. Authoritarian socialists will employ entryist strategies to infiltrate and subvert liberal and capitalist organisations so as to destroy them from within.

Location on the political spectrum

Authoritarian socialism is located at the centre-top centre-left of the political spectrum. It is bordered by state communism, national socialism, fascism, progressivism, centrism, social democracy, Marxist socialism, and international socialism. As it is a mainstream ideology, authoritarian socialism occupies more space on the spectrum than fringe ideologies.