Communism collapsed with remarkable and unpredicted rapidity, first in 1989 with the downfall of the Eastern European satellites, and then in 1991 with the disintegration of the Soviet Union itself, the crucible of revolution. As with other world historical events, an accurate appraisal may await the passing of centuries. From our proximity, though, the nearly bloodless vanquishment of Communism, largely fomented, ironically, by Polish workers and disgruntled vanguards, cast a pall upon socialism, its ideological heritage, in all of its myriad forms. For socialists of every stripe, the fall of Communism necessitated a reexamination of their own variants of socialism, if only to distance them from the Communist model that had so conspicuously failed, if only to provide reassurance that socialism at its core remained relevant into the twenty–first century.

In this collection, twelve philosophers, historians, and political scientists—scholars with a diverse set of disciplinary and political leanings—assess aspects of socialism in light of its recent reversals. Some of the essays consider what made the socialist project seem compelling to its advocates, examining the moral and political values that made socialism appealing to intellectuals. Others evaluate whether there are aspects of socialism that ought to be preserved, such as its quest for equality and community. Some essays examine whether free–market systems need to be further modified in response to ongoing socialist critiques. Several others argue for the continuing validity of socialism in its social democratic incarnation, suggesting ways in which socialism may still have a productive future.