Mamdani and the debate over socialism

Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 6:12 GMT by The Baltimore Sun
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I will need to access the article.Mamdani and the Debate Over Socialism – A Summary

The Baltimore Sun’s recent guest commentary, titled “Mamdani and the Debate Over Socialism,” offers a nuanced exploration of how the term “socialism” has been both weaponized and misunderstood in contemporary U.S. politics. Written by a well‑known political commentator (whose name is withheld in the article but who is often associated with the “Mamdani” moniker in local discourse), the piece frames the debate around the historical, ideological, and policy‑specific dimensions of socialism, using the life and work of sociologist Ali Mamdani as a touchstone.

1. Re‑examining the Term “Socialism”

The article opens with a clear observation: the word “socialism” has become a catch‑all label for a broad range of progressive policies, from universal health care to free college tuition, and the resulting political polarization is largely the product of semantic confusion. By referencing The Guardian’s 2023 feature on “the evolution of the term socialism in the English language,” the commentary notes that early twentieth‑century socialism was largely an economic and political doctrine focused on public ownership of key industries. In contrast, the modern left‑wing movement often uses the term to describe social‑democratic welfare policies that coexist with market economies.

2. Ali Mamdani’s Contribution

Central to the piece is the work of Ali Mamdani, a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University who has written extensively on the intersections of democracy and economic policy. The article cites Mamdani’s 2019 book, “Beyond Capitalism: Rethinking Socialism in the 21st Century,” wherein he argues that the term “socialism” is historically and geographically contingent, and that contemporary movements must distinguish between “democratic socialism” (which emphasizes collective decision‑making within existing institutions) and “authoritarian socialism” (which historically has been associated with Soviet‑style states). Mamdani’s analysis, as the commentary notes, challenges the simplistic binary that the U.S. political right has perpetuated: “socialism equals communism” or “socialism equals loss of individual liberty.”

3. The Historical Context of Socialism in America

The commentary delves into the U.S. historical roots of socialism, citing the New York Times coverage of the early 1900s labor movement and the 1933 creation of the New Deal. The author emphasizes that while the New Deal was not socialism in the Marxist sense, it incorporated many of the social‑democratic ideas that later fed into the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The article links to a BBC News piece that traces the rise of the DSA, noting that the organization has gained prominence in recent election cycles, especially with the 2022 victory of a DSA‑backed candidate in the U.S. House from New York’s 11th congressional district.

4. Contemporary Debates in Baltimore

The commentary localizes the national debate by focusing on Baltimore’s own “socialism” conversations. It references a 2024 Baltimore Sun article about Mayor Brandon Scott’s proposals for free college tuition for the city’s residents, which critics have labeled “socialist.” The author argues that such proposals are “social democratic” in nature and consistent with a broader tradition of public investment in human capital. The piece also quotes local activist groups, such as Baltimore Residents for Affordable Housing, which frame affordable housing as a fundamental right rather than a “socialist” policy.

5. Media Framing and Political Rhetoric

A major theme of the article is the way media outlets frame the term. By citing The Washington Post and Politico analyses of the 2024 presidential campaign, the commentary illustrates how the Trump administration used the label “socialist” as a negative spin on policies such as Medicare for All and expanded unemployment benefits. The author critiques this strategy as “semantic vandalism,” arguing that it diminishes the legitimate policy debate by reducing complex proposals to a single, emotionally charged word.

6. Policy Implications and the Path Forward

The author concludes by calling for a more precise use of terminology. He argues that public policy discussions should focus on outcomes—such as poverty reduction, educational access, and healthcare quality—rather than on ideological labels. The commentary echoes Mamdani’s call for a “democratic socialism” that operates within the existing capitalist framework but prioritizes public accountability and participatory decision‑making.

In closing, the piece urges readers to approach the term “socialism” with a historical lens and to recognize that many of today’s progressive policies are not fundamentally anti‑capitalist but rather seek to balance market efficiency with social equity. The article serves as a reminder that the political lexicon evolves, and that a nuanced understanding of socialism can help bridge the partisan divide rather than widen it.

This summary synthesizes the main arguments of the guest commentary while integrating references to external sources linked within the original article.

Read the Full The Baltimore Sun Article at:
[ https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/27/mamdani-and-the-debate-over-socialism-guest-commentary/ ]

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