What are the similarities between socialism and democracy?

Answer 1

All three are economic systems, or modes of production. More broadly they can be described as socioeconomic systems, although the term "Communism" with a big C has been used to refer to countries run by Communist parties in the 20th century and thus to a form of government rather than an economic system.

Ownership:

Capitalism is based on private ownership, Socialism on co-operative ownership, and Communism on common ownership (or open-access, i.e; non-ownership and is thus more distinct than the other two).

Socialism is based on the principle of "to each according to his contribution", whereas capitalism is also nominally based on that principle along with the idea that one should be rewarded based on how much capital one holds. Communism is more radically different from socialism and capitalism by being based on "to each according to his need", which basically means free-access in a hypothetical post-scarcity economy.

Capitalism is based on markets, money (value), and the state. Socialism might be based on markets or planning, replaces money (value) with labour credits or another measure of value, and retains the state. In contrast, Communism is a post-market, moneyless, stateless and classless hypothetical society.

Socialism and capitalism are a lot more similar to each other than either are to Communism because communism is postulated on a hypothetical economic state of post-scarcity.

Answer 2

There are none.

Democracy involves input to the governing of an organization whether it be a business or government by those being governed. We tend to think of democracy referring to the form of government mostly

Capitalism is an economic organization whereby those who own the means of production (the buildings, raw materials, machines, etc.) dictate the rules to their employees (the governed). In capitalism, those being "governed" have no input into the method of organization except those allowed by the capitalist.

Answer 3

Those are two entirely different things. Totalitarianism (versus relative freedom) is when the government has strict control over people's lives.

Socialism (versus capitalism) is collective ownership of the means of production.

Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s was totalitarian but had private ownership (capitalism) of companies (even though "socialist" was in the full name of the Nazi party, it was not descriptive).

The Soviet Union had socialism and (especially under Stalin) also totalitarianism.

Sweden today is more socialistic than a lot of other countries, but not totalitarian.

Answer 4

Both are ways of organising society and production. But they differ in terms of class vs common ownership, production for profit vs for use, and so on.

Answer 5

they can both help citizens.

Answer 6

Equality.