Chapter 11 Socialism

Question 1

Core ideas and principles - common humanity

Answer 1

1. Socialists agree on an optimistic view of human nature, believing that individuals share a common humanity, are rational and predisposed to cooperate.
2. Human nature is not fixed but shaped by an individual’s environment.
3. Society as a collection of broadly equal individuals with a common identity.
4. Socialists find pleasure and fulfilment in work that focuses on cooperation and collectivism rather than individualism and competition
5. Underpinning this common humanity is a belief in fraternity and community
6. Socialists are united in their concern about the effect that unchecked capitalism can have on the individual.
7. Revolutionary socialism and democratic socialism are the most hostile to capitalism, while social democracy and in particular the third way argue that capitalism can be harnessed for the greater good.

Question 2

Branches of socialism on humanity

Answer 2

Revolutionary socialism view on humanity

1. Marx and Engels argued that individuals were deformed by capitalism. Capitalism must therefore be abolished by a revolution started by the exploited working class. After a transitional period, a classless communist society would emerge, based on absolute equality, in which all social and economic activities would be done collectively. 1848 Communist Manifesto

Democratic socialism view on humanity

1. Argued for a socialist state via the ballot box. This would include common ownership of the means of production, achieved by extensive state nationalisation run by a socialist bureaucratic state. Webb 1897 Industrial Democracy

Social democracy view on humanity

1. Social democracy argued that capitalism should be reformed and not replace, which was a significant break with democratic socialism, which envisaged a fully socialist state Supporting a mixed economy. Economic state intervention based on Keynesian economics to ensure permanent full employment and economic growth. Welfare state. A Social Democratic Britain 1971 Anthony Crosland

The third way view on humanity

1. By the 1990s Giddens argued that developed economies should have an increased emphasis on equality of opportunity via public services, specifically education. Neo-liberal ideas such as the free market and self-reliance. Means-tested welfare. The Third Way 1998

Question 3

Core ideas and principles - collectivism

Answer 3

1. Humans are social creatures.
2. Utopian socialists argue for small-scale cooperative communities. Marx and Engels argue on a larger scale.
3. Democratic socialists + Beatrice Webb argue that you can effectively collectivise through vast nationalisation of a socialist bureaucratic government
4. Social democrats and third way were suspicious of collectivisation

Question 4

Core ideas and principles - equality

Answer 4

1. Foundational equality - all individuals are born with innate human rights that translate to political and legal equality
2. Rejection of natural hierarchies - each individual has the potential to take up any position within society to which they may aspire.
3. Equality of opportunity - all individuals should have access to the same life chances

Question 5

Branches of socialism on equality of opportunity

Answer 5

1. Rev socialist (M+E and RL) - argue that equality of opportunity can only be achieved after a revolution.
2. Dem socialist (BW) - Equality of opportunity can be achieved only by reformation
3. Social Dem (AC) - believed in a mixed economy with state management based on Keynesian ideas.
4. Third Way - Equality of opportunity needs to target the neediest in society. Abandon universal welfare

Question 6

Branches of socialism on equality of outcome

Answer 6

1. Rev socialist - dismiss equality of outcome under capitalism not socialism as it presupposes that there would be no exploitation, which is impossible.
2. Dem socialist - gradualist process of distribution. This would not be absolute equality, but still a much fairer society
3. Social dem - Crossland was against pure equality of outcome as it would disincentivise wealth creation in the economy
4. Third Way - Giddens argued it would damage the economy

Question 7

Branches of socialism on absolute equality

Answer 7

1. Revolutionary socialism - an economy based on common ownership and collectivisation, material rewards would be based on needs.
2. Dem socialist - high taxation to flatten difference but not absolute
3. Social dem - dismiss absolute equality as utopian. In a meritocratic mixed economy, those who contributed more would be rewarded accordingly.
4. Third Way - Dismissed it as a flawed concept, like social dem inequality is a natural consequence of society

Question 8

Branches of socialism on equality of welfare

Answer 8

1. Rev socialism - rejected for its failure to remove capitalism
2. Dem socialist - welfare would be achieved by mass nationalisation of industry. Argued for proper state management to ensure equality through redistribution
3. Social dem - state as a neutral force that could reduce class conflict partly through universal public services.
4. Third Way - argued that high levels of social security and welfare disincentivised work.

Question 9

Core ideas and principles - social class

Answer 9

Rev socialists argue that the issues of social class can only be solved through a revolution. Capitalists are parasites that profit from the work of the exploited. The state was not neutral but actively reinforced the oppressive relationship.

Webb believed the state could be changed to accommodate socialism through universal nationalisation.

Social democrats are critical of Webb’s ideas as it would compromise the freedoms of the individual. Crossland argues for reduction in class through education - comprehensive schools.

This view is shared by the Third Way

Question 10

Key Thinker Marx and Engels

Answer 10

1. Empiricism and inevitability of socialism and revolutionary change.
2. Class struggle, arising from property ownership, has existed throughout history. History has a final destination: communism
3. Capitalism will eventually lead to a tiny majority benefitting. The vast majority will form the proletariat and realise their exploitation
4. Liberal democracy and the state use religion, patriotism, and parliament to suppress class consciousness
5. After the transitional period from revolution, a stateless society will emerge

Question 11

Core ideas and principles - worker’s control

Answer 11

All socialists agree that in an unchecked free market.

1. Rev socialism - Marx and Engels imagined a workers controlled society. It would then become a stateless, classless society.
2. Evolutionary socialism - Dem soc did not believe in workers’ control dismissing worker as incapable. Evils of capitalism would not be solved by workers but by professional politicians
3. Social democracy and the third way - viewed workers’ control as outdated.

Question 12

Key Thinker Beatrice Webb

Answer 12

1. Inevitability of gradualness. Socialism through parliamentary means is inevitable with universal suffrage.
2. Working class will vote for socialist parties.
3. workers’ control will be achieved by evolutionary means.

Question 13

Key Thinker Anthony Crosland

Answer 13

1. Criticised Marx’s view that capitalism created internal tensions as he argued that the internal tensions were not present in post war capitalism.
2. Socialism is best served by a mixed economy
3. Equality of opportunity can be achieved through providing everyone the same educational experience.
4. Keynesian economics made state-managed capitalism a reality.

Question 14

Key Thinker Anthony Giddens

Answer 14

1. Free-market capitalism enriches and alongside individualism is irreversible. Socialism must collect from the benefits of the free market while neutralising its negative effects
2. Neo-liberal ideas can be reconciled with social democracy’s emphasis on community and social justice
3. Individuals will become stakeholders with both rights and responsibilities within society.
4. Third-way socialism prioritises spending on infrastructure.
5. Greater equality of opportunity would be funded via prudent taxation
6. Emphasis on active welfare would facilitate social inclusiveness in society to provide wider opportunities.

Question 15

Differing views and tensions within socialism - Revolutionary socialism

Answer 15

Utopian socialism - early emphasis on small-scale cooperative communities

Marxism - first to argue that human nature had been distorted by capitalism, first to critique capitalist economics, first to place social class at the heart of socialist ideas. First to argue that the state was not neutral. First to articulate the need for and the inevitability of a revolution.

1. Within historical materialism, economic conflict is the catalyst for historical and social development within society.
2. Historical development is driven by a clash of contradictions between the exploited and the exploiter.
3. Social class is central too the perception of human history.
4. The emergence of class consciousness will start the revolution.

Question 16

How Rosa Luxemburg revises M+E

Answer 16

1. Luxemburg disagreed with historical materialism. She argued that economically developed societies could have communist revolutions and did not need to wait until capitalism had reached a final stage.
2. Luxeburg disagreed with the view that there would be no need for democracy after the revolution. Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of the press and assembly, without free struggle of opinion, life dies in every institution.

Question 17

Key Thinker Rosa Luxemburg

Answer 17

1. Evolutionary socialism is flawed as capitalism cannot be reformed.
2. Marx’s historical materialism idea is flawed as capitalism does not need to reach a final stage.
3. Socialism must be internationalist.
4. Vanguard elite to develop class consciousness.

Question 18

Differing views and tensions within socialism - social democracy

Answer 18

Social justice - Crosland believes in managed capitalism, rather than the laissez-faire economics, could deliver social justice and equality of opportunity.

Distribution is achieved through progressive taxation and a comprehensive welfare state which still has capitalism.

Question 19

Differing views and tensions within socialism - third way

Answer 19

Recognition of free market over state planning, embracing the competitive state, embracing community, importance of equality of opportunity.

1. Rejected the cybernetic model of the state in which the state acts as an artificial managing brain. The free market holds primacy.
2. Embracing the idea of the competitive state - the state needs to promote investment in infrastructure and education
3. Embracing community - Giddens was critical of an atomistic society and advocated for communitarianism which was a balance between individualism and social responsibility.

Question 20

To what extent do socialist agree about human nature? agree

Answer 20

1. Most socialist thinkers have an optimistic view of human nature, believing that individuals possess a common humanity and gravitate towards cooperation and sociability
2. Socialists believe human nature is malleable
3. Socialists believe that humans are rational and capable of forming new societies and economies
4. Socialists do not believe that all individuals have identical abilities or needs

Question 21

To what extent do socialist agree about human nature? disagree

Answer 21

1 Webb is the least optimistic thinker, arguing that the working class lacked the rational and intellectual sophistication to take control

2. disagreement on effect of capitalism - Marx and Engels argue capitalism corrupted human nature to the extent that only a revolution could restore a positive state of human nature.

Crosland argued that capitalism was not as corrosive, believing that equality of opportunity and reform would lead to greater cooperation and fraternity.

Giddens focuses on communitarianism not collectivism.

Question 22

To what extent do socialists agree about the state agree

Answer 22

1. All socialists agree in a large supportive state
2. All socialists agree that a state should play a role in developing greater collectivism or communitarianism

• All socialists agree that an unchanged state facilitates the naturally exploitative nature of capitalism.

3. All socialists agree that the state should change

• All revolutionary socialists agree that the state is a committee for the ruling classes
• All evolutionary socialists argue that the state can be remodelled

Question 23

To what extent do socialists agree about the state disagree

Answer 23

1. Fundamental disagreement on the future of the state among socialists. Revolutionary socialists argue that after the state will wither away. Evolutionary want to reform the state
2. Democracy is put forward by luxemburg
3. Evolutionary socialists disagree about how to reform -

democratic socialists Webb believes through parliamentary democracy and bringing the economy under common ownership.

Social democracy believes that the state should play a role in managing the economy with private industry.

Third way rejected state centralisation.

Question 24

To what extent do socialists agree about society - agree

Answer 24

1. Society should be based on equality as this ensures economic fairness, reinforces collectivism and satisfies everyone’s basic human needs,
2. Socialists broadly agree on the need to respond to the negative effects of capitalism
3. All socialists argue that society directly affects the individual
4. All socialists believe that society can be remodelled so that it embraces greater equality

Question 25

To what extent do socialists agree about society - disagree

Answer 25

1. Rev socialists argue that capitalist society is too exploitative to be reformed.

Evolutionary socialists disagree -

Democratic socialists Webb argued revolutions were chaotic and that society could be gradually reformed via parliamentary government.

2. Communitarianism vs collectivism

Social democracy Crosland thought Webb’s vision limited individual freedom and would be counter productive.

3. Opportunity - Giddens argued for a narrower focus of equality of opportunity and rejected universality

Question 26

To what extent do socialists agree about the economy - agree

Answer 26

1. All forms of socialism are critical about the negative effects of capitalism on the individual
2. All forms critical of the wasteful competition and emphasise a need for cooperation facilitated through the state
3. All forms are committed to an economy that creates a fairer society

Question 27

To what extent do socialists agree about the economy - disagree

Answer 27

1. Revolutionary socialists think capitalism is beyond reform
2. Workers control
3. Socialists disagree on the role of the states in organising the economy