7.2 Socialism tensions

Question 1

3

Describe the emergence of the different strands of Socialism

Answer 1

• Revolutionary socialism - emerged in 19th century in response to mass industrialisation
• Social democracy - emerged after WW2, arguing for reform of capitalism rather than revolution
• Third Way - emerged in late 20th century in response to neo-liberalism of 1980s and globalised, less-industrialised workforce

Split into 2 schools - utopian socialism and Marxism

Question 2

2

Describe evolutionary socialism

Answer 2

• a gradual, reformist platform to achieve socialism via political and legal means
• includes democratic socialism, social democracy, third way

Question 3

4

Describe the main ideas of revolutionary socialism

Answer 3

• Postiive human nature of fraternity and cooperation distorted by capitalism
• Revolution of proletariat necessary to remove firmly entrenched institutions that were beyond reform
• Social class central to perception of society and human nature
• Marx theory of revolution based on historical materialism, dialectic, class consciousness

Question 4

4

Describe the main ideas of social democracy

Answer 4

• Revisionism of Webb’s democratic socialism
• Exploitativeness of capitalism mitigated by post-war economic boom with rising prosperity
• state intervention via mixed economy and keynesian economics (recognised role for free market)
• Social justice acheived via welfare state and progressive taxation

Question 5

7

Describe the main ideas of the Third Way

Answer 5

• ‘neo-revisionism’
• Recognition of free market over state planning
• embracing of competitive state
• social inclusion based on equality of opportunity - investment in infrastructure, etc
• meritocracy
• means-tested welfare
• ‘communitariansm’

Question 6

5

Describe unity on human nature among socialists

Answer 6

• Optimistic view of human nature - individuals possess common humanity and are naturally cooperative
• Human nature is malleable to social circumstances and can be corrupted by unchecked capitalism which breeds selfishness due to rationality
• Humans rationally capable of creating new forms of society and economy
• Individuals possess different strengths and weaknesses (not homogenous)
• foundational equality

Question 7

3

Describe revolutionary socialist ideas on human nature

Answer 7

• Marx and Engels argued that capitalism was so corrupting that it could only be recitified with revolution
• As humans are rational, class consciousness will emerge, starting the revolution
• Humans would eventually cooperate in stateless communist society - Luxemburg contested this

Question 8

2

Describe Webb’s ideas on human nature

Answer 8

• Least optimistic on human nature
• Humans lack intellectual capability for workers’ control

Question 9

2

Describe social democrat views on human nature

Answer 9

• Capitlaism not as corrosive on human nature
• Equality of opportunity and socio-economic reform would lead to greater cooperation and fraternity

Question 10

3

Describe third way views on human nature

Answer 10

• Agreed with social democrats that reformed capitalism was workable solution
• Giddens focussed on ‘communitarianism’ (viewed human nature as both individual and communal) rather than purely in a collective sense
• Preffered means-tested welfare to prevent disincentive to work as humans are rational

Question 11

3

Describe unity on society among socialists (in relation to social class)

Answer 11

• Humans naturally tend towards a fraternal society
• Humans need society to fulfill their potential (rejected atomism)
• Social class plays some role in determining individual’s progress and human nature

Question 12

4

Describe unity on society among socialists (in relation to equality)

Answer 12

• Equality in society to provide basic human rights and reinforce collectivism
• Unequal redistribution of wealth key in framing society
• All did not advocate absolute equality
• Society can be remodelled to better achieve social justice

Question 13

5

Describe revolutionary socialist views on society

Answer 13

• Expolitative institutions of capitalism too entrenched to be reformed - revolution needed
• Marx and Engels argue that non-neutral state used religion, patriotism and parliamentary democracy to weaken class consciousness
• Superstructure of society determined by economic base
• Class consciousness and dialectic
• Luxemburg largely agreed though rejected statelessness and historical materialism

Question 14

5

Describe Webb’s views on society

Answer 14

• Agreed with Marxian class analysis
• Class conflict and revolution not inevitable - revolutions were chaotic
• Society could be gradually reformed via parliamentary government
• State would develop highly trained elite to deliver socialist society and nationalised economy
• Equality of outcome and welfare through gradual incrimental tax changes

Question 15

6

Describe social democrat views on society

Answer 15

• Crosland felt Webb’s vision of society limited individual freedom and would be economically counterproductive
• Focused less on collectivism
• Benefits of economic growth in reformed capitalism should be more equally spread throughout society (e.g. via progressive taxation)
• Argued for equality of opportunity via comprehensive education
• Meitrocracy
• Inequality natural consequence of society

Question 16

8

Describe third way views on society

Answer 16

• Inequality was natural consequence of society
• Narrower focus on equality of opportunity than social democracy (e.g. accepted private education)
• Globalisation and de-industrialisation has reduced social divisions
• Concentrated on social investment in infrastructure and education + means-tested welfare
• Free-market capitalism could be beneficial for society when reconcilled with social justice
• Giddens advocated ‘communitarianism’
• Stakeholding in society - workers’ rights, civic society, individualism
• Individual action more beneficial than collective action

Question 17

3

Describe unity on the state among socialists

Answer 17

• Unreformed state facilitates exploitative nature of capitalism
• There is role for state in managing economy and inequality, at least in short term
• All evolutionary socialists agree that state should be remodelled to better promote social justice (though disagree on how)

Question 18

5

Describe revolutionary socialist views on the state

Answer 18

• State is merely a committee of the ruling class (bourgoisie), hence naturally exploitative
• State should promote collectivism and socialist principles
• Marx argued state would naturally wither away in communist society (end of history)
• Luxemburg saw place for socialist state with democratic elections and free speech
• Revolution inevitable due to ‘dialectic’ and class consciousness

Question 19

3

Describe Webb’s views on the state

Answer 19

• State could be reformed through parliamentary democracy to provide mandate (‘silently change its character’)
• Neutral state should manage economy through nationalism to allow equality of outcome and reduce class division
• State should organise highly trained elite of adminstrators and specialists to organise society and economy

Question 20

5

Describe social democrat views on the state

Answer 20

• Crosland proposed that neutral state managed economy through keynesian economics and mixed economy
• Crosland saw role for private enterprise
• State should promote equality of opportunity (similar to Third Way, against Webb)
• State should initiate comprehensive education
• Welfare state (free at point of use) for equality of welfare

Question 21

3

Describe Third Way views on the state

Answer 21

• Rejected centralised state model of Webb and Crosland as state supresses freedom by mnaipulating society and economy
• state should invest in infrastructure and education to achieve equality of opportunity
• state should prioritise means-tested welfare

Question 22

3

Describe unity on the economy among socialists

Answer 22

• Critical of negative effects of unchecked capitalism
• Critical of wasteful competition inherent in capitalism and emphasise need for cooperation (to some extent)
• Economy should best promote social justice

Question 23

5

Describe revolutionary socialist views on the economy

Answer 23

• Capitalism beyond reform and exploited working class - revolution needed
• Advocate centralised common ownership and workers’ control
• Marx notes historical materialism (though Luxemburg rejects this)
• Marx argues only mature economies can experience revolution, Luxemburg argue less mature economies also capable
• Marx believes economy will not be managed by state in communist society and people should take from economy according to their needs

Question 24

3

Describe Webb’s views on the economy

Answer 24

• Humans lack intellectual capability to manage economy - rejects workers control
• Highly trained elite should manage nationalised economy
• Gradual incrimental tax changes to achieve equality of outcome and welfare

Question 25

3

Describe social democrat views on the economy

Answer 25

• Reform to capitalism has ended ‘inherent contradictions’ and exploitative tendencies
• Support mixed economy based on keynesian economics
• Accept role of private enterprise (allows for innovation)

Question 26

5

Describe third way views on the economy

Answer 26

• Advocated greater deregulation to create wealth to tax for greater equality of opportunity (neo-liberal state)
• state has role in investing in education and infrastructure to drive future economic growth
• means-tested welfare rather than Crosland’s universal benefits
• free market better than mixed/centralised economy as there is some benefit to materialism
• focuses much less on equality of outcome