Which characteristic is fundamental to socialism?

A fundamental characteristic of socialism is the public ownership of national resources. Socialism advocates for the collective or state ownership and control of the means of production, which includes not just national resources but also industries and services. This collective ownership is aimed at ensuring that wealth and resources are distributed more equitably among the population, rather than being concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or corporations.

In socialist systems, the idea is to meet the needs of all citizens, reducing inequality and promoting social welfare. This contrasts with systems that rely heavily on private ownership, where individual entities have the primary rights to manage, control, and benefit from economic resources without the same emphasis on social welfare considerations. Thus, embracing public ownership underpins the socialist framework, emphasizing the importance of collective benefit over individual profit.