10 Similarities and Differences of National and Democratic Socialism

9. Democratic Socialists are left-wingers, while National Socialists reject this label.

The political aligning of Adolf Hitler has been one of the most heavily disputed areas among liberals and conservatives, mostly because neither wants him on their side. The left claim Hitler’s persecution of Marxists, his intolerance for homosexuals and blacks indicates a right-wing stance. However, conservatives are quick to counter with Hitlers disdain for Capitalism, his belief in the welfare state and association with atheist regimes. According to Justice 4 Germans, National Socialism is neither left nor right wing:

“The National Socialist ‘world view’ was neither ‘right’ nor ‘left’ in terms of how most people view the political spectrum, but rather, a ‘Third Way’ and saw itself as a broad-based, popular social nationalist movement,  aimed at involving all classes of the national body for the greater good of the people as a whole, from which all would benefit.”

Of course, there is no debate on which end of the spectrum Democratic Socialists align with. Democratic Socialists of America explains:

“Like our friends and allies in the feminist, labor, civil rights, religious, and community organizing movements, many of us have been active in the Democratic Party. We work with those movements to strengthen the party’s left wing, represented by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.”