Who were the first socialists?

The first modern socialists were early 19th-century Western European social critics. In this period socialism emerged from a diverse array of doctrines and social experiments associated primarily with British and French thinkers—especially Thomas Spence, Charles Fourier, Saint-Simon, Robert Owen.

Where did socialism come from?

It is strongest in Victoria, where three socialist parties have merged into the Victorian Socialists, who aim to address problems in housing and public transportation. In New Zealand, socialism emerged within the budding trade union movement during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

What is socialism in economics?

Socialism describes any political or economic theory that says the community, rather than individuals, should own and manage property and natural resources. The term “socialism” has been applied to very different economic and political systems throughout history, including utopianism, anarchism, Soviet communism and social democracy.