As for the second part, what it means in practice, that is rather a long story and is undoubtedly open to debate. I admit being partial to trying to make a long story short, but even I'm not game to try in this case.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas
^^^^^^^
CB: The definition of socialism in practical terms have been going on since 1917 with the Russian Revolution. Many people, including most leftists, have a problem with the messiness of practice compared with theory. It is not a very linear-straightline process. As I was saying the other day:
The overall historical process might be zig-zagging toward socialism, rather than moving in a straight line. One step forward two steps backward...one step right two and a half steps to the left. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.