Unlike the violent Bolshevik Revolution that rapidly imposed Marxism on Moscow and, eventually, much of Eastern Europe, American socialists have pursued a markedly different route.
In the United States, the strategy has been quieter, more gradual and less overtly revolutionary—a process many academics describe as the “long march through the institutions.”
Whether that approach originated with Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci or German student activist Rudi Dutschke is ultimately beside the point.
The larger reality is that, in America, the socialist long march has achieved significant success.
Numerous polls indicate that socialism is more popular in the United States than it was in the past, particularly among younger Americans.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), described as “the largest socialist organization in the United States,” now commands greater political influence than ever.
The organization has scores of members serving in political offices across the country, with hundreds of additional candidates on the ballot in November. It has funding, growing momentum and an expanding presence in American politics.
Most important of all, its ideas have gained traction among young people.
In short, the political Left’s long march through American institutions has already produced substantial results.
To understand how that effort has advanced, one must examine what critics identify as its central pillar: ideological indoctrination through education.
Not long ago, I worked as a social studies teacher in a public high school.
I would like to briefly explain what I experienced.
Before I could enter the classroom, I had to earn a degree from an accredited teacher-education program.
I am not exaggerating when I say that my two-year program at a prominent education college in Chicago did little to prepare me for the practical demands of effective teaching. Instead, considerable time was devoted to extended discussions of far-left political and social theories.
Social and emotional learning strategies were presented as more important than mastery of academic content. We were encouraged to focus on academic equity rather than academic excellence.
Many of my professors appeared more invested in preparing students to become social justice advocates than in ensuring that we developed the skills needed to become effective teachers.
That message was reinforced during my student-teaching assignment at a high school in a Chicago suburb. The degree of conformity among teachers was striking, and I was honestly afraid to voice dissenting views because I feared some form of reprimand.
I encountered much the same atmosphere during the several years I spent teaching social studies in Illinois and South Carolina.
Consider one example. The day after Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, nearly every teacher in the social studies department wore black clothing because, they said, they were “in mourning.” This took place in ruby-red South Carolina.
Parents should recognize that, in the view of critics, the spread of Marxist ideology in public schools has reached a crisis point.
A generation of American students has been intentionally misinformed about the evil nature of socialism. On the contrary, they have been miseducated into believing that socialism is righteous.
Millions of American students have no idea that socialism has been tried and failed time and time again. They are unaware of the mass poverty, misery, and murder that socialist governments have wrought upon their people.
Even worse, they are being brainwashed into believing that individual liberty and free enterprise are the real enemies.
As a libertarian, I am generally not for government intervention and mandates. However, in the realm of public education, I think the case is so dire that those heavy-handed solutions might be the only way to force change.
To his credit, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis saw this problem coming years ago.
In 2024, DeSantis signed SB 1264 into law, which “requires instruction in public schools about the history of communism.”
In 2025, the Florida Department of Education approved “new History of Communism standards” to equip “students with a truthful, in-depth understanding of how communist ideologies suppress individual freedoms, abuse power, and inflict widespread suffering.”
Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida’s Education Commissioner at the time, emphasized that the “standards will ensure that students learn the truth about the brutal realities of life under communism and gain a deeper appreciation for the blessings of liberty that define our nation.”
“With the resurgence of communist ideologies across the United States,” he added, “it is more important than ever for students to understand the catastrophic failures and human suffering caused by communist regimes.”
I could not agree more.
This fall, Florida public students are learning the truth about socialism. Could this be the beginning of the end of the long march? I sure hope so.
Chris Talgo ([email protected]) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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