The Realities of Socialism

The Realities of Socialism curriculum unit was created in partnership with the Fraser Institute for their Realities of Socialism Project.  The project includes videos, infographics, and informative studies about socialism’s history in Poland and Estonia, Sweden and Denmark’s short experiment with socialism, and Singapore’s unique approach.  For more information visit realitiesofsocialism.org.

This curriculum unit features lessons and classroom activities that allow teachers to:

• engage students in the study of the history of socialism.
• learn from experiments with socialism around the world.
• examine whether or not socialism exists today.

These lessons cover the questions of what socialism is, how it’s understood today, and its impacts in the past. They include resources such as slide decks, activities, extended learning assignments, and more to assist in the classroom, whether it be in person or virtual.  Lesson content can easily be integrated with economics courses, business courses, social studies courses, and more. These lessons are catered to a high-school-level curriculum.

Lesson Outline

Part I:  What is Socialism?

This topic provides an introduction to socialism and economic systems. It identifies the major themes and problems of socialism and uses examples from Poland and Estonia to do so.

• Lesson 1: Socialism Defined
• Activity 1: A Survey: 4 Countries and You
• Lesson 2: A Shorth History of Poland
• Activity 2: Let’s Make it Fair!
• Lesson 3: Pathologies of Privilege 

Part II: Realities of Socialism

This topic features historical examples of socialism focusing on the realities of and using examples from the scandinavian countries of Sweden and Denmark.

• Activity 3: Innovation – Is it Rocket Science?
• Lesson 4: The Mirage of Swedish Socialism
• Activity 4: The More the Merrier
• Lesson 5: Denmark – The Free Enterprise Welfare State

Part III: Does Socialism Exist Today?

This topic highlights the evolution of socialism, providing insights from all 5 countries and  incorporates examples from Estonia and Singapore.

• Activity 5: The Shortage Economy
• Lesson 6: Estonia
• Activity 6: Will the Real Socialism Please Step Forward?
• Lesson 7: Singapore