ABSTRACT
Now that society is coming to maturity in those countries whose official propaganda in recent years has dubbed them 'really existing socialism' - a clearly imprecise term, since their 'socialism' is no more real than the socialism of Yugoslavia or China or, for that matter, of Algeria and other African states which have proclaimed socialism of their own variety - the need emerges within them for genuine democratization in order to make them consistent with the fundamentally democratic nature of socialism. This need is also growing in the consciousness of their populations, whose basic social security is assured by the socialist organization of society and whose material needs are being satisfied in terms of consumer values (for which this social system has yet to find an alternative). What also highlights the need for freedom is the contrast between, on the one hand, the people's material and educational level and, on the other, the obstacles they face in this society in their efforts to lead full lives.
