Sanders and Corbyn: Is the world ready for socialism?

By: Ethan Miller, Student Voices writer

Two old socialists have the possibility of becoming world leaders. They are underdogs. But if they win, what would that mean for the world?

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Jeremy Corbyn. Bernie Sanders. Two old, white men. Yet their popularity derives almost directly from the under 30s, Sanders receiving 84% of their support in the Iowa caucus, and the Labour Party seeing a massive rise in membership from 18-24 year olds during and after the leadership election. So what caused this ‘Corbynmania’ and why are the young generation ‘feeling the Bern’?

I am a socialist, and for me it comes down to doing what is right. It simply makes sense that those who have more should give to those who have less, and it seems like this is the view of the large majority of us ‘young people’. An out-view on the world that everything can be fair, that everyone can have equal rights can be seen as naïve to an older generation, but this integrated socialism is placed into our young minds because we are raised to believe in good moral values. It only makes sense that we should give what we don’t need, why should other people suffer while we are living in luxury. However, when we enter a capitalist, corporate world, we lose that sense of belief, we realise that we have to fight for ourselves to get ahead, and if we weren’t born into a wealthy white family then there’s no point in trying. The older we get, the less hope we have.

Why then, are the main figures of the left old? Socialism only became viable after the world wars with the arrival of the Labour Party. Before then, government influence was seen as controlling and the country didn’t want the nobles interfering in everyday life, their lives were laissez-faire. This all changed when the poorer in society were able to vote, and when a new party could represent them, that party was able to win government. Both Sanders and Corbyn grew up in a world trying to rebuild from major human disaster and the only way to do that was to work together, to share the wealth, to create a united humanity.

Main criticism thrown at these men is that they are ‘commies’, and although Corbyn is indeed a self-proclaimed Marxist, these comments are simple hyperbole from right wing politicians who are afraid of anything that veers any further left than Tony Blair. Bernie Sanders is the real shock then, as American politics rarely goes any further left than centre, he was never expected to get this far to presidency, with an unexpected percentage of the population seen as ‘socialist sympathisers’ or indeed socialists themselves. It seems that the young American population is sick of Wall Street, tired of expensive health care, and they just hate Donald Trump.

Both candidates are popular because they’re galvanising the youth, previously known for political apathy, but are they enough? For Corbyn, he needs to assure his popularity in the north, wales, and somehow take a crack at Scotland – which for now is still seemingly impossible. If he can gain the youth vote in all these areas and even work on allowing 16-17 year olds to vote in the general election he could have a chance of winning, although it seems like an uphill battle he still has four years. He needs to recover his party, who aren’t ready for his extreme ideology. Bernie has the support of his party, and he has just got the ball rolling with ever increasing momentum. Historically the candidate with the most money wins, but Sanders is no Trump, he can’t fund himself, and he isn’t receiving $15million dollars from Wall Street like Hillary. He has rejected such large donations, and his average donation is around $27. Despite this, Bernie has still somehow achieved a hefty $33 million dollars with around 1 million donations, he is raising money as a socialist would, everyone is sharing wealth little by little. He almost won Iowa, losing by coin tosses only, he’s popular in New Hampshire by 2-1, and once people see he’s a winner, his support will keep on growing granting him candidacy for future president.

Two old socialists have the possibility of becoming world leaders. They are underdogs. But if they win, what would that mean for the world? A new precedent for the global economy that means the rich get fully taxed and that money is injected back into society through small business and increased earnings, the nationalisation of transport, healthcare, and education. Increased appreciation for the UN and for the EU, nations together as one, true equality. The western world showing that humanity can work together and we can all be better off for it. That’s the dream at least.

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Meet the author:

Ethan Miller

Writer

Ethan Miller is 16 and is currently studying Politics, English Literature, and Music A levels at Liverpool College. He had lived in Norwich all his life before he moved to Liverpool in September, and is now settled in to life here in the north. Coming from Norwich South, he enjoys remaining in a Labour constituency and his politics follow very close to his party

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