By Sophie Bunar, ’27

Staff Writer

Zohran Mamdani was recently elected mayor of New York City, and he’s sharing his progressive ideas with the country. Mamdani proudly describes himself as a democratic socialist, similar to Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. So what exactly is democratic socialism?

After President Donald Trump tried to label Mamdani a communist, the candidate became very vulnerable with his political and economic beliefs in public. When CNN’s Erin Burnett asked Mamdani during the campaign if he liked capitalism, he said: 

“No, I have many critiques of capitalism. And I think ultimately, the definition for me of why I call myself a democratic socialist is the words of Dr. King decades ago. He said, call it democracy or call it democratic socialism. There must be a better distribution of wealth for all of God’s children in this country. . . . For too long, politicians have pretended that we’re spectators to that crisis of affordability. We’re actually actors, and we have the choice to exacerbate it, like (outgoing) Mayor (Eric) Adams has done, or to respond to it and resolve it like I’m planning to do.”

Democratic socialism, as described by both Mamdani and Martin Luther King Jr., is a political ideology advocating a socialist economy within a democratic framework. It seeks to achieve a more egalitarian and just society by controlling the economy to benefit the majority, not just the one percent at the top. Democratic socialists support policies like universal health care, higher minimum wages, and worker cooperatives. They strongly distinguish it from both communism, which is seen as authoritarian, and social democracy, which they believe doesn’t challenge capitalism enough.

While no country is a pure democratic socialist state, Nordic nations such as Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark are often cited as examples that follow many of the ideals. They utilize a mixed-market economy that combines private ownership with a strong social safety net, and they’re known for their comprehensive welfare system, including universal health care. Public services are funded through taxation. Labor unions, as well as labor market policies, reduce conflict between labor and capital. Other countries influenced by democratic socialism include Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

Despite how beneficial these ideas sound, is America ready for democratic socialism? The U.S. operates under a representative democracy with a capitalist-based economy. Capitalism is a stark contrast to socialism; it features private ownership, free markets and competition, while socialism involves government or collective ownership with a focus on equitable distribution. Capitalism promotes individual economic freedom and innovation through competition, but it can lead to inequality, which is what socialism aims to reduce. However, socialism has potential drawbacks as well. Despite its just basis, it can stifle innovation due to reduced competition and government control. Also, like many “unchecked” economies, it can lead to authoritarianism and gradually devolve into communism. However, under the current administration, many people are asking for either a socialist shift or a mix of both socialism and capitalism.

Mamdani’s own ideals are probably part of the best basis we have when it comes to the modern understanding of democratic socialism. His big policies are all focused on making life more affordable for working people. He aims to:

• Freeze the rents for one million people in rent-controlled apartments. This means a temporary, legal halt on increasing rent for residential properties, preventing landlords from raising it for existing tenants and sometimes for new ones too.
• Subsidize New York City buses to make them free to riders, as well as making child care free for New Yorkers.
• Start a pilot program of one city-run grocery store in each borough to see whether removing the profit motive makes groceries cheaper—a risky arrangement.
  
  One of Mamdani’s policies is the most ambitious, though: increasing taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and on the city’s corporations. In the same CNN interview, Mamdani goes on to say:

“I think the dream at its core is a dream for stability in one’s life. And what you’re saying is that you work hard enough and that you then reap the benefits — too many New Yorkers, and Americans for that matter, are working eight hours and then still feeling like they haven’t made enough money to keep living in the city they call home.”

Works Cited

Campbell, Lucy. “Who Is Zohran Mamdani, New York’s Democratic Socialist New Mayor?” The Guardian, The Guardian, 5 Nov. 2025, http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/zohran-mamdani-profile.

“Capitalism vs. Socialism: An Overview | EBSCO.” EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | Www.ebsco.com, 2019, http://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/political-science/capitalism-vs-socialism-overview.

Genovese, Daniella. “Business Leaders React to Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Mayoral Victory.” Fox Business, 5 Nov. 2025, http://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/business-leaders-react-zohran-mamdanis-nyc-mayoral-victory. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Lach, Eric. “The Mamdani Era Begins.” The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025, http://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/the-mamdani-era-begins. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

National Museum of American History. “Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship.” Americanhistory.si.edu, americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/learn/government-basics/11/learn.

Thaywick, Lena. “15 Democratic Socialist Countries and Social Democracies.” HowStuffWorks, 22 Oct. 2025, people.howstuffworks.com/democratic-socialist-countries.htm. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Treisman, Rachel. “4 Things to Know about Zohran Mamdani, Presumptive Democratic Nominee for NYC Mayor.” VPM, Virginia’s home for Public Media, 25 June 2025, http://www.vpm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2025-06-25/4-things-to-know-about-zohran-mamdani-presumptive-democratic-nominee-for-nyc-mayor. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Wolf, Zachary B. “Democratic Socialism, according to Zohran Mamdani.” CNN, 6 Nov. 2025, http://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/politics/mamdani-democratic-socialism-explained.