Differing Views and Tensions Within Socialism

Question 1

What is fundamentalist socialism? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 1

Fundamentalist socialism is a branch of socialism which seeks to abolish/overturn capitalism.

Question 2

What did Marx and Engels argue that capitalism had promoted? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 2

Marx and Engels argued that capitalism had promoted the exploitation of workers and their alienation from their labour. Capitalism oppressed workers and favoured a minority of employers and aristocrats.

Question 3

How did Marx draw on Hegel’s ideas of a dialectic in terms of his economic ideas? What was this known as? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 3

Hegel’s idea of a dialectic (a clash between 2 economic ideas) was used by Marx to create the idea of a clash between economic ideas, which would usually result in a change to society. This clash was known as dialectical materialism.

Question 4

What were Marx and Engels’ views on history? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 4

Marx and Engels believed history could be seen as a clash between economic ideas and the creation/dispersal of economic materials.

Question 5

Why does classical Marxism believe that capitalism is doomed? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 5

Classical Marxism believes that capitalism is historically doomed as, in advanced capitalist systems, the proletariat would develop class consciousness and be aware of their exploitation by this system, rising against this in revolution.

Question 6

What is classical Marxism’s perspective on revolution? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 6

Classical Marxism believes that revolution is the ultimate force through which capitalism can be overthrown and replaced with a temporary ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ run on socialist ideals, before a stateless and communist society can develop.

Question 7

What are revolutionary socialist perspectives on class? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 7

Class is defined by your relationship with the economic system, with this meaning that you are either part of the proletariat or bourgeoisie to revolutionary socialists.

Question 8

What are revolutionary socialist perspectives on common ownership? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 8

Common ownership could be established following a socialist revolution, allowing previously exploited workers under capitalism to control their labour. This would re-establish cooperation. Following this, a communist society could develop.

Question 9

What did classical Marxists argue about the state? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 9

Classical Marxists advocated for the bourgeois state to be overthrown by revolution, being replaced by a temporary ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ which would rule in the interests of the working class. This would then wither away as a classless and equal society had been formed.

Question 10

What is Marxism-Leninism? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 10

Marxism-Leninism is Lenin’s interpretations and refining of the ideas of Marx to suit modern socialism.

Question 11

What attitude does Marxism-Leninism take towards revolution? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 11

Marxism-Leninism again advocates for a revolutionary approach to overthrowing capitalism, yet amends Marx’s argument that revolution must occur in advanced capitalist societies, instead believing that it can emerge in developing areas too.

Question 12

What did Marxism-Leninism advocate for in regard to the state? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 12

Marxism-Leninism advocated for the State to remain following a communist revolution, with this being in the form of a one-party, authoritarian government that would rule in the interests of the proletariat.

Question 13

What is determinism? What is voluntarism? What view did Classical Marxists and Marxist-Leninists take of this respectively? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 13

Determinism is the idea that events and actions are historically determined and are external to the will of the people. Voluntarism is whereby people act on their own impetus and control their own actions. Classical Marxists took a determinist view, whereas Marxist-Leninists believed that people could motivate and determine their own actions.

Question 14

How did Lenin argue a revolution should be conducted by fundamentalist socialists? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 14

Lenin argued that socialist revolutions must be conducted and coordinated by a vanguard elite which would eventually replace the existing government as a single-party executive, embodying the dictatorship of the proletariat as seen under Marx.

Question 15

How did the ideas of Stalin and Luxemburg differ with regards to the idea of socialist nationalism? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 15

Stalin advocated for socialist isolationism and an idea of promoting nationalism within a socialist ideology. This was markedly different from the view of Luxemburg, who believed that socialism should be used as a force to trigger revolutions around the world and abolish capitalism.

Question 16

What are orthodox communist views on human nature? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 16

Orthodox communists argue that humans have become disaffected from their labour and have had their fraternal instinct damaged by the presence of capitalism, with collectivist ideas needed to rejuvenate the natural instincts and attitudes of humans.

Question 17

How do democratic socialists share ideas with Marxists and Orthodox Communists on the economy? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 17

Democratic socialists believe that the economy should be dominated by collective ownership of businesses and industries, equally distributing wealth and ensuring that the public have ownership and control of their labour.

Question 18

How did democratic socialist views on the state differ from orthodox communist and Marxist views? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 18

Democratic socialists believed that socialism could be gradually induced through parliamentary means and through winning elections, meaning that the state should be democratically elected (differing from the fundamentalist views of orthodox communists who advocated for revolution) and that the state should have great power/control (differing from Marxists who wished for the state to wither away).

Question 19

Why is a revolution undesirable to democratic socialists? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 19

Revolution is an undesirable situation for democratic socialists due to the volatility and instability created by rapid changes from a capitalist state to a socialist one. Instead, gradual and piecemeal changes to the state and the economy should be introduced through the democratic system.

Question 20

What are democratic socialist views on society? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 20

Democratic socialists advocate in favour of the rejuvenation of a fraternal and cooperative society through communal ownership of industry and the conclusion of divisive and conflicting labour/economics promoted by capitalism.

Question 21

What is Euro-communism? What does it advocate? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 21

Euro-communism is an approach to bringing about communal ownership and an equal society without utilising undemocratic measures. This advocates the replacement of the existing economic system (capitalism) by establishing a socialist counter-culture which would gradually usurp capitalism as the most popular economic belief among the electorate.

Question 22

What were Euro-communist views on the state in terms of achieving change? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 22

Euro-communists believed that the existing liberal-bourgeois state could be utilised and adapted to create meaningful, legitimate socialist change by transforming the economy from private to public ownership.

Question 23

What are Euro-communist views on the state with regards to post-capitalism? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 23

At the point at which communism is achieved through the use of the liberal-bourgeois state, Euro-communists argue that this state will eventually wither away without the need of the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Question 24

What are Euro-communist views on society? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 24

Euro-communists believe that society and its dominant cultures must be replaced and overturned with communist counter-cultures. These would not just replace capitalism in the economic sphere, but also in arts, education, recreation and literature.

Question 25

What is Neo-Marxism? What are their views on revolution (nature/timing)? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 25

Neo-Marxism is a branch of socialism which seeks to adapt and update Marx’s ideas in order to preserve their relevance in 20th Century Western Europe, where capitalism had persevered and continued. They believed that a revolution of economic, political and cultural significance must be launched to overthrow the capitalist ideas which had pervaded throughout society. THIS SHOULD EMERGE DURING ECONOMIC SLUMPS.

Question 26

What are Neo-Marxist attitudes towards the state? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 26

Neo-Marxists advocate for the state to be overthrown through revolution, with socialism simply unachievable through democratic means according to individuals such as Ralph Miliband. He argued that the socialist state was diverted from its purpose to achieve equality by groups such as the civil service, the armed forces and the judiciary (anti-socialist groups).

Question 27

What is revisionist socialism? How should this be developed? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 27

Revisionist socialism is where an attempt is made to reconcile the ideas of Marx of creating a fairer and more equal society with the existing capitalist system which has become entrenched as the dominant economic system. This should be brought about in a gradual and evolutionary manner.

Question 28

What is classical revisionism? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 28

Classical revisionism is a branch of socialism which encourages socialist-minded government to emerge through a widened franchise, yet that this should seek to temper capitalism and make it work in the interests of the working class. Attempted to curb the inequalities previously created by capitalism.

Question 29

What differentiated classical revisionist ideas from those of democratic socialists? What similarities did they have? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 29

Classical revisionists differed from democratic socialists as they did not hold absolute contempt for capitalism and believed it could be manipulated to serve the interests of the working class. However, they both advocated for union and educational rights of the working class, as well as for the achievement of their aims through democracy and a widened working class franchise.

Question 30

What are social democratic attitudes towards the economy? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 30

Social democrats argue that the economy should be focussed upon the Keynesian model of economics, through which the state regulates market forces (controlling supply and demand) to encourage constant full employment and sustained economic growth. They also believe in state ownership of key industry, but a majority privately owned economy.

Question 31

How did social democratic economic views shape their beliefs on the role of the state? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 31

Social democrats believed that with Keynesian economics, increased wealth would be generated which could be taxed and utilised by the state to finance welfare spending. This would reduce inequality and ensure a significantly more equal society without the need for a wholly collectivist society and economy.

Question 32

How do social democratic views on the state influence their opinions on society? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 32

Social democrats believe that equality and fraternity can be achieved in a society which regulates capitalism by utilising welfare spending to narrow inequality. This would involve greater provision of education and healthcare services to generate significant equality in society.

Question 33

What ideas are being contested that Third Way thinking aims to resolve? What does it advocate for in terms of property? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 33

Third Way thinking aims to resolve clashes between a desire for social justice/equality and the dominance of the market economy of a neo-liberal style. Third Way subscribers aim to accept and endorse private ownership of property and privatisation as the best methods through which economic growth can be boosted.

Question 34

What attitude does the Third Way have to equality of outcome? What form of equality did they advocate? (SOCIETY) - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 34

The Third Way accepts that with increased economic volatility from laissez-faire capitalism, equality of outcome would diminish and inequalities could widen. They instead advocated for greater equality of opportunity, redefining social justice as being this.

Question 35

Which class did the Third Way direct the majority of their welfare towards? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 35

The Third Way directed most of their welfare efforts towards the extremely impoverished lower classes rather than the whole of society (as would be seen in strictly socialist governments) as this would allow them to ameliorate the issues of those poorest in society, hence creating equality of opportunity.

Question 36

What political ideology did the Third Way most resemble to some more radical socialists? - Differing Views in Socialism

Answer 36

To some more radical socialists, the Third Way more represented paternalistic conservatism than any branch of socialism due to its attempts to narrow inequality rather than eradicate it.