Constitution of Socialism

Tim Platenkamp obtained his master’s degree from the University of Amsterdam in 2020, specializing in political theory. He is currently employed as a trade unionist.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsGlossary1 Introduction1 The Crisis of Socialism – Goodbye Lenin!2 OverviewPart 1 Diagnosis2 Socialism in Theory – Promise and Possibilities1 The Communist Mode of Production and Distribution2 Economic Calculation under Socialism3 Socialism in Practice – The Soviet Model1 The Experience of War Communism2 General Features of Soviet Planning3 Material Balances4 The System of Norms5 Reforming the System – From Optimism to CynicismAddendum: Sharing in the Illusion – On the Question of State-Capitalism4 Socialism in Practice – The Yugoslav Model1 Laying the Groundwork2 Toward Self-Governing Socialism3 Bottom-Up Planning and Collapse5 Socialism in Theory, Again1 Back to the Drawing Board2 The Community of Citizens3 Contradictions of Market and Plan – The Menu of Options4 Negotiated Co-ordination and Allocation5 Participatory Planning of Production and Consumption6 Big Computer and Labour Time7 Multilevel ProgrammingPart 2 Remedy6 Governance in the Socialist Republic1 Socialist Constitutionalism and the Social Contract2 Political Institutions and Practices of Self-Government3 The Role of Central PlanningAddendum 1: A Note on Public Safety, Crime, and National DefenceAddendum 2: A Note on Organised Political Activity Under Socialism7 Production in the Socialist Republic1 Public Property and Public Domination2 Three Public Sectors3 Self-Government in Industry – Workers’ Councils8 General Planning and Parametric Control1 Cost Accounting – ‘khozraschet’2 Planning, Prices, Allocation3 Co-ordination, Investment, Uncertainty4 Labour Incentives5 The Dynamics of GrowthAddendum: On the Possibilities for Progressive SocialisationPart 3 Conclusions9 Postscript1 Closing Remarks2 What I Hope to Have Imparted to the Reader3 Moving Forward Along the Long and Winding RoadReferencesIndex