As I understand it, Socialism is about the Government owning land and means of production and deciding how to use that. Like deciding that they need more corn and less iron. I do not think, however, that it has to be tied to a particular government system. From what I have read here, it seems that, historically, socialism is tied together with some form of totalitarianism or dictatorship. I am guessing that this does not always have to be the case. Are there not Scandinavian countries that are very socialist but have a republic/democratic form of governance?
Scandinavian countries are socialist in that they have a strong welfare state. There are also more government-owned companies there than in America (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_government_enterprises_of_Sweden), but in no way are all the "means of production" ruled by the government. Private land ownership is also possible and common.
You are right that it is confusing: socialist economic governance in quite independent from socialist governance (marxist). Most Socialist parties today are not socialist according to a textbook definition, which is why I asked people to clarify their definitions.
