Further Decline in Socialism Finally, I would note that American political exceptionalism is declining, not because of the growth of socialism here, but as a result of the European Left moving in an American direction. In the United States, socialism has become even weaker. After World War II, the Socialist Party dissolved, the Communist Party remained minuscule, and union membership declined. Meanwhile, our economic system prospered, and the United States remained the wealthiest, most productive, economy. Consumption levels and standards of living continued to increase.
Social mobility remains high.
America leads the computer revolution and steadily creates many more new jobs than the entirety of Europe. In Europe, class tensions have fallen and support for Marxist doctrines has declined dramatically. The fall of Soviet communism served to conceal a development in Western socialist parties, the end of their belief in and advocacy of socialism. Everywhere they have accepted the market and capitalism. D'Souza Two important new books by AEI authors are now available.