Who among the following defined socialism as a chameleon, which changes its colour according to the environment?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UGC NET Paper 2: Political Science 11 Oct 2022 Shift 1

Answer 1

Socialism has roots in earlier movements and ideas, its history can be traced back to the French Revolution of 1789.

Key Points

Socialism is a political ideology and movement that places a focus on democratic control of worker self-management.
The social and economic theory of socialism advocates public control over and ownership of property and natural resources.
The socialist perspective holds that people collaborate with one another.
Socialism can be divided into three parts:
- Utopian socialism
- Modern socialism
- Marxism
Although there isn't a single definition that encompasses all socialism.
As Muir pointed out, "Socialism is a chameleon-like creed. It changes its colour according to its environment."

Thus, Ramsay Muir defines socialism as a chameleon, which changes its colour according to the environment.

Additional Information

Marxists began using socialism in place of communism in 1888 since the latter was then seen as an archaic synonym for socialism.