Core Ideologies: Socialism

Question 1

What are the core principles of Socialism?

Answer 1

common humanity
collectivism
equality
social class

Question 2

what is common humanity?

Answer 2

optimistic view of human nature

underlining this is a belief in fraternity and community

al socialists agree by varying degrees about common humanity

this leads them to have an interventionist approach to the state

Question 3

what is collectivism?

Answer 3

sthe idea that people work better and more efficiently in a collective rather than as separate individuals

Question 4

what is the concept of equality?

Answer 4

equality is a multi-facisted concept which is debated by different factions of socialism

However, all socialists agree with equality of opportunity and that anyone should be equal to achieve whatever they want

Question 5

What is social class?

Answer 5

the concept arguing that capitalism creates inequality and harmful social class divisions that result in societal hierarchies

Question 6

What is revolutionary socialism?

Answer 6

conceived by Marx (Das Capital) and Engles

argued that…

there will be dialectical change

must realise class consciousness

in a materialistic society people can’t realise their full potential

Question 7

What is democratic socialism?

Answer 7

Beatrice Webb (A Constitution for the Socialist commonwealth of great Britain)

Webb was a member of the Fabian society and argued that socialism would evolve peacefully from a course of political action

Primeminister Atlee’s economic policies were inspired by Webbs economic policies as a result of William Beveridge in the beverage Report of 1942

Question 8

What is Social Democracy?

Answer 8

Anthony Crosland (The Fitrie pf Specialism, 1956)

argued that capitalism had a place in society and that with capitalism society an improve

argued for a mixed economy

equality of opportunity can be reached by reforms to education, increasing comprehensive schooling, increasing, getting rid of grammar schools

argued for Keynesian economics a state managed economy

Question 9

What is third way socialism

Answer 9

Anthony Giddens The third way: the renewal of social democracy, 1998)

social democracy should adapt to embrace the free market

top-down state interventionist approach proved to be ineffective

instead the state should focus in improving infrastructure, education, and so on

community is vital

Tony Blair New LABOUR