This allowed resulted in the easy exploitation of workers for increased profit. From there, socialist activists fought for improvement of working conditions and sought regulations to improve the lives of these workers. As time went on, there was a growth of trade unions and working class political parties that fostered more economic security for these workers as well as to integrate them into the industrial society (Heywood). .
Socialism is the collective ownership by all the people of all instruments of production, such as factories, railways, or mills. Under socialism, all authority will be under the working class, which is integrally united under Socialist Trade Unions. Socialism draws on human beings' capacity for overcoming social and economic problems by working together, rather than by individual effort. This establishes a sense of community between all individuals. Whereas other ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, and anarchism make a clear distinction between the individual and society, socialists believe that the individual is intrinsic to society (Socialist Labor Party).
Democratic Socialism encompasses humanist ideals with the ultimate goal of affording each individual the opportunity and means for their personal development and individual satisfaction. A socialist understands that an individual is embedded in both their social and economic environments and believe what is best for the individual is best achieved in what will benefit the collective as a whole (Bergonia). To quote Bertrand Russell, "Basic economic decisions, as well as political decisions, must reflect the common good. The entire economy should operate for the good of the entire society, with no one left behind (Bertrand). " While the individual plays a significant role within socialism, the objective of socialism is not focused solely on their benefit. Social and economic well being of all people within a society is more important than the benefit of a single individual.
