7.1a Fraternity & Co-operation Flashcards
Fraternity:
The Principle of Fraternity describes a strong bond between people who share similar interests and beliefs.
Socialists believe fraternity exists in a society where wealth is equally shared by everyone.
For socialists, a shared feeling of brotherhood between people will cause co-operation and peace in a society.
Socialists do not believe that there is fraternity in a capitalist system as people compete with each other to succeed.
Socialists believe fraternity will end capitalism.
Fraternity: Fraternity examples
Fraternity is found in many labour movements where workers stand as comrades to defend and promote their rights through protests and strikes.
Fraternity: Miners’ strikes
The miners’ strikes of 1984-1985 were taken to stop the closing of coal mines by Margaret Thatcher’s government.
The strikes were organised by the National Union of Mineworkers, a trade union.
Fraternity: Lecturer strikes
Lecturers went on strike in 2018 to protest against planned changes to their pensions.
Lecturers from 65 universities chose to strike from February to April and formed picket lines outside universities.
Co-operation
Working together for the same end (for example the common good) Socialists believe in a society where humans co-operate with each other.
Socialists argue that there is no co-operation in a capitalist society because there is a conflict between the different social classes which exist in a capitalist society.
Socialism believes a socialist economic system will promote co-operation.
For socialists, the society’s economic system influences human behaviour.
Co-operation: Examples
The co-operative movement in the UK is based on the principle of co-operation.
The co-operative movement is owned by its members and aims to serve its members’ needs.
Co-operation: The Co-Operative Bank
The Co-Operative Bank (The Co-Op Bank) is a well-known example of the co-operative movement.
The Co-Op Bank’s main aim is to meet the needs of its members rather than to maximise its profits.
The Co-Op Bank has an Ethical Policy which lists important values to the bank’s customers and members.
Ethical policies include:
Supporting charities which aim to increase social development, promoting human rights and protecting the enviroment
Co-operation: The Co-Operative Party
The Co-Operative Party represents the co-operative movement in UK politics.
The Co-Operative Party are closely linked to the Labour Party and have an agreement not to stand against each other in elections.
Political candidates represent both parties, with 37 Labour and Co-Operative Party MPs in Parliament.
