IDEOLOGIES - Socialism Flashcards
What are the five core principles of Socialism?
- Collectivism
- Common Humanity
- Social Class
- Equality
- Workers’ control
Summarise ‘collectivism’
The group over the individual. Decisions should benefit everyone not the few and the power should be with the people. As the largest class, this prioritises the working class.
Give the John Donne quote about collectivism and explain how it relates.
“Never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”
- collectivism is the belief in a society where we will support each other, a belief in common humanity.
What is the Labour Party’s statement of collectivism?
“By the strength of our common endeavour, we achieve more than me we do alone.”
Outline Socialist’s view of human nature.
Human beings are elastic: we are sociable and inclined to cooperate with one another but aside from that we are largely decided by our circumstances. We are all also connected to one another due to our common humanity.
How does capitalism affect people?
People are incentivised (and often forced) to be competitive, to see their comrades as enemies, obstacles, and stepping stones to one’s own economic success - a futile dream.
Define social egalitarianism.
A practice based on the desire for social equality
How does liberal equality differ from socialist equality?
Liberal equality is characterised by foundational and formal equality and equality of opportunity, socialist view this as a prerequisite for an equal society and focus more on equality of outcome.
Marx quote about absolute equality:
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
What are the socialist arguments in favour of social equality?
- Upholds social justice: the difference in people’s abilities does not reflect the difference in wealth
- Underpins community and cooperation: people are more likely to identify with one another if they are equal
- Only genuine way to ensure needs are met: distribution of wealth on the basis of need satisfaction is best
What are the three reasons socialists criticise private property?
- Injustice: wealth is produced by collective effort and is owned by the select few who do not contribute, the bourgeoise
- Materialism: it encourages people to believe that happiness and fulfilment can be gained through the pursuit of property
- Division: it promotes conflict in society, between those who have it and those who don’t.
How does Workers’ Control link to collectivism?
Workers are the majority ~> business owners make choices to benefit the few ~> decisions should be made to benefit all ~> workers are more likely to do that
What committed the Labour Party to achieving Worker Control?
Clause IV of the Labour Party Constitution committed them to nationalisation, a Democratic Socialist approach to workers’ control: ‘common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.’
What are the four strands of Socialism and their key thinkers?
Revolutionary Socialism: Marx and Engels and Luxemburg
Democratic Socialism: Webb
Social Democracy: Crosland
Third Way: Giddens
What do Marx and Engels say the two main classes are?
Bourgeoisie: those who own the means of production
Proletariat: those who sell their labour
[RS] How does ‘surplus value’ relate to capitalist oppression?
Capitalists are incentivised to make as much money as possible to live a cushy life and keep their business afloat, this profit can only be achieved through paying workers less than their labour is actually worth - an innate oppression to capitalism.
Why did Marx believe economics are the driving force in history? [QUOTE]
‘It is a simple fact of life that all mankind must first of all eat, drink and have shelter and clothing; therefore must work before it can pursue politics, science, art and religion’
According to Marx, How does the superstructure reinforce the base?
Through multiple institutions, the bourgeoisie can spread their ideology, which upholds and protects their position, to the working class subliminally.
Define and give an example of the ‘bourgeois hegemony’, explaining how it is one.
The imposition of values and ideologies that benefit capitalism onto the working class in order to maintain the status quo.
- Ambition: convinces people to see one another as enemies rather than allies connected via a common humanity.
[RS] How does belief in the base and superstructure influence revolutionary socialism?
The state is part of the superstructure, as such it is impossible to create a socialist society through a system that serves the ruling class - a revolution is required.
Marx quote about religion:
“Religion is the opiate of the masses.”
Summarise Dialectical Materialism. [3 key words]
Marx and Engels argue all historical change comes about as a result of conflict between a dominant force (a thesis) and an opposing force (an antithesis) to create a new historical stage (synthesis)
Communist Manifesto quote about class struggle:
“The history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle.”
According to Marx and Engels, why is there constant pressure on capitalists to exploit their workers more?
Capitalists have to constantly better their rivals by producing more goods for a lower cost.
Why is capitalism cyclical?
Capitalism experiences constant booms (ever greater production of goods based on ever greater exploitation of workers) and slumps (recessions caused by workers not being able to buy goods produced and businesses tanking). Unemployed people become desperate for work and the surviving capitalists capitalise and the cycle repeats.
How is capitalism’s fall inevitable?
Each successive boom and slump of capitalism is bigger, the capitalist class gets smaller and smaller and the wealth disparity eventually becomes too obvious for even false class consciousness to hide.
Marx quote about the crisis of capitalism:
“Capitalism contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction.”
What is the importance of the state post-revolution?
Marx says there will be a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ which serves to prevent counter revolution by the dispossessed bourgeoisie, but will eventually ‘wither away’.
