Is socialism a natural and unavoidable phase in the development of humankind?  Is the United States headed for socialism?  This course will present an informal, selective, and unbiased look at socialism through history with the intent of addressing these questions.

The instructor will start by exploring the idea of socialism in Plato’s Republic and Thomas Moore's Utopia. She will look at the industrial revolution in order to explain the proliferation of socialist communes in 19th century Europe and America.  After presenting an overview of the ideas of Marx and Engels, she will focus on the manner in which those ideas were implemented and carried out in the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union. 

Hoping to clarify what seems an inevitable progression in any up-to-date     attempt to implement the socialist idea, she will discuss the development and decline of kibbutz.  Finally, she will give a brief overview of socialist developments in the 20th century U.S. and discuss whether the U.S. is headed toward socialism.  If time allows, she will relate some of her own experiences with socialism.

Presented by Jelena Gill who was born, raised, and educated in socialist Yugoslavia.  For a period of time, she also lived in the former Soviet Union, thus getting a first-hand look at a more rigorous form of socialism.  She has lived in the U.S. for the past 30 years, witnessing emergence of social programs that are still seen by many as incompatible with capitalism. Her interest in human nature and the way it is shaped by politics is what has led her to develop this course.
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