1 Socialism: core ideas and principles

Question 1

What is socialism?

Answer 1

• when a business does well, its workers should be rewarded

Question 2

origins of socialism

what are the origins of socialism?

Answer 2

• developed in the 19th century mostly as a reaction to the growth of industrial capitalism
• critique of liberal market society
• an attempt to offer an alternative to industrial capitalism

Question 3

core values of socialis

what are the core values of socialism?

Answer 3

1. optimistic view of human nature
2. society and class are defined by the economic relations in society
3. the economy: collective action and common ownership preferred to laissez faire and self-ownership
4. the state must be strong to bring about equality

Question 4

core ideas and principles: common humanity

socialists view of human nature? what is it shaped by? what is society a collection of ?

Answer 4

• socalists have a positive view of human nature or ‘common humanity’
• human nature is shaped by the environment of the individual
• society is a collection of broadly equal individuals with a common purpose

Question 5

common humanity

core beliefs: community and work?

Answer 5

• socialists find pleasure in work and focus on cooperation and collectivism rather than individualism and competition
• they believe in fraterntiy and communit

Question 6

common humanity

how are socialists united over capitalism

Answer 6

• unchecked capitalism has a negative effect on the individual
• they all argue for an interventionist role in the state

Question 7

common humanity

branches that are the most hostile towards capitalism? vs branches that are not as hostile…

Answer 7

• revolutionary and democratic socialism are very hostile to capitalism
• the third way and social democracy argue capitalism can be controlled for good.

Question 8

different views of common humanity within socialism

revolutionary socialism: what do Marx and Engels think about capitalism and common humanity?

Answer 8

• money corrupts, capitalism corrupts
• capitalism therefore must be abolished by a working class revolution to achieve common humanity
• after a transitional period, communism would emerge based on asbolute equality.

Question 9

different views of common humanity within socialism-democratic socialism

democratic socialism: what did Webb argue for in terms of socialist state?

Answer 9

• socialist state via a ballot box
• including common ownership and means of production, nationalisation
• run by a bureaucratic elite

Question 10

different views of common humanity within socialism: social democracy

social democracy: capitalism should be what? How does Anthony Crosland see the economy? intervention based on what? welfate state?

Answer 10

• capitalism should be reformed not replaced, breaking from democratic socialism
• crosland saw a mixed economy of both nationalised industry and privately owned companies as the most producitve
• economic state interventionb based on keynesian economics to ensure permanent full employmeny and growth
• welfare state to redistribute welath and provide social equality

Question 11

different views of common humanity within socialism: the third way

The third way: what did Giddens argue for?

Answer 11

• increased emphasis on equality of opportunity via public services, specifically education and 21st century skills
• the free market and self reliance
• means tested welfare

Question 12

collectivism

how do socialists believe in collectivism?

Answer 12

• socialists believe individuals prefer to work together over independently
• individuals work far more effectively as part of a group

Question 13

collectivism

utopian socialists Charles Frourier and Robert Owen: what did they argue?

Answer 13

• small-scale cooperative communities organised collectively to promote socialist values

Question 14

collectivism

revolutionary socialists marx and engels argued what? (industry)

Answer 14

• the workforces should collectively own all industry
• all agencies of society should be communal

the soviet union nationalised its industry inspired by Marx and Engels

Question 15

collectivism

democratic socialist Beatrice Webb and the Fabian society informed who?

Answer 15

• many of the collectivist policies in Attlee’s government. Particularly nationalisation and top down state management.
• important: Attlee accepted free market capitalism so was not fully collectivist (private industry)

Question 16

two socialist positions on collectivism

industrial relations: social democrat vs third way solution?

Answer 16

1. social democrat: workers belong to trade unions that have strong bargaining rights to stop exploitation
2. third way solution: unions should exist to preserve fair practices, there must be a recognition that wages are market driven

Question 17

two socialist positions on collectivism

Healthcare: social democrat solution vs third way solution?

Answer 17

1. social democrat: the NHS proivides universal ‘free’ healthdcare according to need and paid for by tax
2. third way: universal healthcare is unsustainable. Prescription charges and private healthcare for the rich to ‘jump the queue’ for non-essential healthcare

Question 18

two socialist positions on collectivism

education: social democrat vs third way solution?

Answer 18

1. social democrat: widespread comprehensive state education provides equality of opportunity
2. the third way: there should be more equality of opportunity and spending in education. New Labour introduced academies and life-long learning courses but expected university students to help fund their tuition via fees

Question 19

two socialist positions on collectivism

key industries: social democrat vs the third way?

Answer 19

1. social democrat: key utilities are brought under gov control and operate in their collective interest of all
2. the third way: the free market is the most efficient way to run buisiness. No support for renationalising state utilities

Question 20

differnence between collectivist thinking of the strands

Answer 20

• Social democrat anthony corssland was suspicious of revolutionary Marx/Engels, and democratic socialist Webbs collectivism
• Giddens third way collectivism on the other hand was influenced partly by neo-liberal ideas.

Question 21

equality

3 aspects that socialists can agree on within equality + what do they disagree on

FE, RONH, EOO

Answer 21

• foundational equality: socialsists believe individuals are born with human rights that translate to political/legal equality
• rejection of natural hierarchies: each individual can take up a position in society which they aspire to
• Equality of opportunity: all individuals should have access to the same life chances

socialists disagree on the nature of equality.

Question 22

socialists ideas on various types of equality

equality of opportunity: what does it mean?

Answer 22

• individuals are entitled to equal chances to make the best of their abilities
• posiotive steps should be taken to eliminate barriers to their progress

Question 23

equality of opportunity differences among socialists

revolutionary socialism: how can equality of opportunitty be achieved?

Answer 23

only through a revolution

Question 24

equality of opportunity differences among socialists

democratic socialism: how can equality of opportunity be achieved?

Answer 24

• webb: only by reforming capitalism to the point that it is truly socialist

Question 25

# equality of opportunity differences among socialists social democracy: how can equality of opportunity be achieved? | economics is key

Answer 25

- **crosland** belived state economy with keynesian economics - progressive taxation to allow even opportunities via a large welfare state

Question 26

# equality of opportunity differences among socialists the third way: how is equality of opportunity achieved?

Answer 26

- poorest in society should be targeted - giddens sought abandoning the welfare state for means tested welfare | giddens

Question 27

# equality of outcome what is it?

Answer 27

- economic rewards for how much an individual contributes. - difference of rewards will be far smaller than it would be in a free market economy

Question 28

# equality of outcome differences among socialists revolutionary socialists: how can equality of outcome be achieved?

Answer 28

- they dismissed the idea - because it implied capitalism could get rid of exploitation, which they viewed as impossible

Question 29

# equality of outcome differences among socialists democratic socialism: how can equality of outcome be achieved?

Answer 29

- she did advocate for high taxation to close class gaps, but didnt advocate for absolute equality, whilst accepting some wage differences would be inevitable. | webb

Question 30

# equality of outcome difference among socialists social democrats: how can equality of outcome be achieved?

Answer 30

- crosland dismissed absolute equality as utopian - he accepted a meritocratic mixed economy. Those who contributed more would be rewarded more

Question 31

# difference between socialists over equality of outcome the third way: how can equality of outcome be achieved?

Answer 31

giddens dismissed absolute equality as flawed, and like crosland accepted inequality as a natural conseuqnece of society

Question 32

# difference between equality of welfare what does equality of welfare mean?

Answer 32

- perceieves society as inevitably unequal but argues everyone should be entitled to an equal minimum standard of living, enabled by welfare provision

Question 33

# differences among socialists over equality of welfare revolutonary socialists: how did they see equality of welfare to be achieved?

Answer 33

- Marx, Engels and Luxemburg rejected this idea for its failure to remove capitalism

Question 34

# differences between socialists over equality of welfare democratic socialism: how can equality of welfare be achieved?

Answer 34

- Webb argued mass nationalisation would provide equality of welfare - proper state management would ensure equality of welfare by redistributing resources | webb

Question 35

# differences between socialists over equality of welfare social democracy: how can equality of welfare be achieved?

Answer 35

- the state was neutral, so could help reduce class conflict by breaking down barriers and widening opportunities - **universal public services** would help facilitate this - supported nationalised utilities and the free market economy | crosland

Question 36

# differences among socialists concerning equality of welfare the third way: how could equality of welfare be achieved?

Answer 36

- giddens argued high levels of social security and welfare were a disincentive to work and created a dependency culture - benefits should be targeted at the most needy

Question 37

# social class what does capitalism create and reinforce?

Answer 37

- harmful social class divisions that result in social hierarchies

Question 38

# social class how do they disagree on how to fix the issue of social class? Revoutionary v. Democratic socialism (evolutionary) v Giddens (third way) and Crosland (social democracy)

Answer 38

- Marx/Engels/Luxemburg argued revoluton is the answer - others disagreed with tis

Question 39

# social class what did Marx and Engels argue abous social class: capitalists? class differences? alienation? state reinforcement?

Answer 39

- capitalists were parasites profitting from the workforce - class differences cannnot be reconciled by capitalism, only revolution - capitalists took the surplus (gapb etween wages paid to workers and profits taken by capitalists) alienating the workers from their labour - the state actively reinforced this relationship with laws, bureaucracy, police forces, and the army

Question 40

# social class what did Webb believe about the state: could it be altered? what would a socialist state introduce

Answer 40

- can be altered to deliver socialism - socialist state would introduce universial nationalisation, equality of outcome, progressive taxation and a welfare state that would reduce class division

Question 41

# social class What did Crosland criticise about Webbs approach, how did he feel about nationalisation? what did he argue for instead?

Answer 41

- criticised the utalitarianism of Webbs ideas, arguing nationalisation compromised freedom of the individual - he instead argued for fair distribution of wealth and opportunity, so the individual could thrive in a soviety that would eventually become classless.

Question 42

# social class Crosland and educaton

Answer 42

- education reinforced class barriers - he wasnted comprehensive schools that would allow for all abilities and eliminate the social segregation of grammar schools

Question 43

# social class giddens on education

Answer 43

- revised crosland in that educational attainment is the most important factor in occupational attainment - *'investment in education is an imperative of government today, a key basis of the redistribution of possibilities'*

Question 44

# social class how has the question of class become more difficult in the modern day | why does Giddens argue this is? why do others argue this is ?

Answer 44

- individuals no longer see themselves in the traditional class roles they did at the times of Marx/Engels/Webb/Crosland - Giddens argues this is because of the breakdown of traditional class based occupations - others argue this is because the working class mistakenly see themselves as middle class even though they are lowly paid

Question 45

# social class Sutton Trust Research on Independent schools | **2019**

Answer 45

- 7% of people attend private school - but 39% of people working in the highest paid jobs are privately educated

Question 46

# social class what does Marxism believe about materialism

Answer 46

- materialism dominates societal culture, ideology, politics, and religion - it prevents the subjugated from percieving their exploitation

Question 47

# workers control all socialists agree that in an unchecked free market...

Answer 47

capitalists will exploit the workers

Question 48

# workers control debates among socialists about workers control

Answer 48

- **Marx/Engels/Luxemburg** advocate for workers control - **Webb/Crosland/Giddens**: do not see the worker seizing control of the economy or production

Question 49

# workers control: revolutionary socialism how do Marx/Engels see workers control?

Answer 49

- in the aftermath of the revolution: Marx/Engels imagined a transitional period where the workers were in control - the inter-rim stage would see society re-embracing the cooperative, collective, fraternal values while removing capitalist ideals - the workers control would be a short period, as in a communist society workers would not control anything, because they would be free from the exploitation of capitalistic competition

Question 50

# workers control: evolutinary socialism democratic socialist Beatrice Webb and workers control + quote | WDNHFITASM

Answer 50

- she didnt believe workers had the capacity of such responsibility - *'We do not have faith in the "average sensual man"'*

Question 51

# workers control: evolutionary socialism Sidney Webb and Clause IV

Answer 51

- he drafted it with a specific aim of common ownership - but the Webbs never inteded common ownership would entail workers controlling the means of the production

Question 52

# workers control: evolutionary socialism Beatrice Webb and human nature

Answer 52

- she had the most negative view of human nature, as she believed the worker was intellectually inferior -

Question 53

# workers control: evolutionary socialism Webb: the evils of capitalism: how to be resolved?

Answer 53

- they would not be resolved by revolution but by the professional expert - the working class could vote for socialism and gradually elected socialist governments to refashion the state to manage the worker, not oppress him

Question 54

# workers control: evolutionary socialism how does Webb see the state transitioning from capitalist to socialist

Answer 54

- it would *'silently change its character'* - from *'police power, to housekeeping on a national scale'* - this strategy for achieving socialism would involve a highly traiend elite of administrators and specialists to organise society

Question 55

# workers control: social democracy and the third way Crosland views on workers control and capitalism

Answer 55

- workers control's struggle was outdated - capitalism was no longer exploitative - Crosland was comfortable with a mixed economy, but didn't approve of further nationalisation as it would threaten individual freedom - he supported Gaitskell's attempt to reform Clause IV

Question 56

# workers control: social democracy and the third way How did Giddens see workers control? what did he argue against? wat did he advocate for as more efficient in terms of the economy?

Answer 56

- impractical because the average worker could not manage their workplace - argued for a mixed economy because nationalised companies could not compete with the wealth the free market creates - he also believed the free market was more efficient than the mixed economy, and it would be pbetter to channel the proceeds of the free market towards 'social justice'