Socialism: an American tale

During the early stages of this year’s Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders emerged as a serious contender for victory – and in the process gave democratic socialism a visibility it has not enjoyed for years.

The Vermont senator’s proposals include healthcare that’s free at the point of delivery, free tuition at public colleges and a ‘Green New Deal’ to convert electricity and transportation to renewable energy within 10 years. And – as his emergence as one of the leading contenders to win the nomination has proved – it is a manifesto with considerable appeal. Sanders has built his success on the backing of millennials, whose political consciousness was shaped by the failure of capitalism in the 2007–09 financial