At the Birth of Modern Socialism: A Comparative Study of the Ideas of Thomas Paine and Thomas Spence
Journal: Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium)
Year: 2022

Toward the end of the 18th century in Britain, early harbingers of socialism began to emerge from the radical milieu. Two of the most influential forebearers of socialism were Thomas Paine and Thomas Spence. Despite sharing similar philosophical and religious frameworks, both men embraced differing proto-socialist philosophies. Spence, a forerunner of anarcho-socialism, supported the democratic ownership of land and related utilities through local government. Paine pioneered an early version of