Chapter 11, "The Monument Builders," Ayn Rand (1962) Summary and Analysis

The focus of this chapter is on the ideological theory of socialism and the highly negative effect socialism has had on all nations that have tried to practice it as an economic system. Here Rand aims to destroy any idea that socialism is a political theory motivated by benevolence and aimed to achieve people's well being. Rand describes socialism as a political theory in which individuals are denied property rights; instead, the right to property (the right of use and disposal of property) is vested in society as a whole, and the production and distribution of property is controlled by the state. The fact that socialism is based on denying individuals their right to property cannot be based on benevolent ideals because denying people their right to property is...