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’.
How would a communist society be collectivist?
It would be organised on a communal basis and all goods and property shall be owned in common, by the people.
According to Marx and Engels, what are the five attributes of a communist society?
- Stateless
- Classless
- Common Ownership
- Absolute Equality
- Production According to Human Need
Marx quote about absolute equality:
“From each according to ability, to each according to need.”
To Marx, why would people do the irritating tasks in a communist society?
Moral incentive: He argues that society is self-regulating and that (because people are innately sociable) will do tasks because the benefit the group, the beneficial aspect of these tasks will even make them enjoyable.
What is the importance of Workers’ control to Marx and Engels?
According to Marx (in Das Kapital), the economic value of a good is based on the labour put into it. As the ones doing the labour, the working class have a right to control as the bourgeoisie provide nothing they themselves have done.
How does Marx kind of like Capitalism?
Under dialectical materialism, each thesis is better than the last - landowners better than slave masters, bourgeoise better than landowners. Additionally, he believes it unlocked the secrets of production but does not put this to the benefit of society.
What is the importance of Workers’ control to Luxemburg?
A Socialist revolution has to be done by the people, it cannot be done by any politician otherwise the society that follows will not be the will of the people.
Luxemburg quote about Workers’ Control:
“The whole mass of the people must take part of it… Otherwise, socialism will be decreed from behind a few official desks, by a dozen intellectuals.”
Luxemburg quote disavowing legislation to achieve Socialism:
“Those who declare themselves in favour of legislative reform… do not choose a more tranquil, calmer and slower road to the same goal, but a different goal.”
What is the Democratic Socialists’ view of Workers’ Control?
As they don’t believe in revolution, they believe in nationalisation of the ‘Commanding Heights’ (key fields in the economy like energy) to give power to the government who should act as representatives of the people.
Altee quote about nationalisation:
We need to nationalise the “Commanding heights”
What led to the prevalence of Social Democracy?
Socialist parties began adopting parliamentary strategies and started to move away from abolishing capitalism or nationalisation and more towards reforming it.
What three ideas is Social Democracy associated with?
- Capitalism is the only way of reliably generating wealth but cannot effectively distribute it.
- Capitalism can be reformed through economic and social intervention.
- Social change should only come about peacefully.
How does Crosland argue that capitalism has changed?
The development of a new class of technocrats and managers that has replaced the bourgeoise means that there is no longer need for a revolution.
How does Crosland’s view of capitalism affect his view on Workers’ Control?
As the only way to reliably create income for an extensive welfare state to redistribute income (financed by progressive taxation) and due to it being less corrupting as possible and capable of being reformed, nationalisation is not the focus but rather a system of welfare.
What did Crosland call his system of extensive welfare?
‘Cradle to the grave’
How does Crosland argue for a mixed economy?
To finance generous welfare, there needs to be a growing economy (that is only possible through capitalism) to generate sufficient tax revenue.
What are the three collectivist objectives of Social Democrats?
- A mixed economy, a blend of public and private ownership
- Economic management, Keynesianism regulation of the market
- A welfare State, that can efficiently redistribute wealth
How does the Social Democratic acceptance of Capitalism affect their equality?
Because SDs do not believe in a revolution to create an absolutely equal society, they strive for ‘relative social equality’ (reduction of poverty) rather than equality of outcome.
How do Social Democrats revise the idea of social class?
They see it in terms of income and wealth, rather than labour. This is as a result of more people having shares and working in companies and the creation of a new class of managers and technocrats replacing the old capitalists.
Based on their definition of class, what is the Social Democratic aim?
They wish to achieve ‘relative social equality’ through a welfare system that will be funded by progressive taxation and will effectively redistribute wealth
What is the key difference between RS’s and SD’s end goal of social class?
Class warfare vs. Class harmony
[SD] What is the State’s role within workers’ controls?
The state acts as an instrument of indirect workers’ control whereby an elected government controls nationalised industries in reflection of the will of the people.
Why did the Third Way not believe in nationalisation?
They believed that capitalism has many positive values and that Britain needs to be able to economically compete in a globalised world, rather than isolationism like Marx and Engels propose.
What kind of market did Giddens argue for?
“A new mixed economy” with private partnership with public services rather than nationalisation.
Outline Giddens idea of communitarianism.
The idea that people are formed through their community and thus owe them reperct and responsibility.
How is Giddens’ definition of communitarianism similar to other branches of socialism? How is it different?
People have an obligation to each other and their communities, similar to Donne’s ideas about connected humanity.
- They then argue that the onus is communities to create equality, rather than the state - people should be self regulating within capitalism
Link communitarianism to the economy.
People have a responsibility to their communities to uplift them; as they are composed of people, businesses have that same responsibility so are expected to help.
How does the TW differ on class?
They do not believe in it at all, preferring a consensual, community model of society and as such do not recognise capitalism as an exploitative system.
How did the TW change the idea of equality from SDs?
Rather than striving for ‘relative social equality’, Giddens argues for policies that encourage individuals to support themselves by increasing their skills, rather than relying on the government (also known as equality of opportunity.
Blair quote about equality policy:
‘Genuinely providing people a hand up, not a hand out.’
What did Giddens redefine equality as?
‘Equality as inclusion’, include the socially excluded in programmes to help them get out of marginalisation
How do TW’s beliefs on incentives differ from RS’s? How are they similar?
Both believe people are motivated by both material and moral incentives but RSs believe material incentives are corrupting whereas TWs believe there should be a balance between the two.
Give one way Socialists agree on the role of the state; including thinkers.
Most agree that the state should play a role in ameliorating inequality.
- Crosland: ‘relative social equality’ through a welfare state and progressive taxation
- Blair: ‘a hand up not a hand out’, through social inclusion
(Common humanity -> equality -> ameliorating poverty)
Give two ways Socialists disagree on the role of the state; including thinkers.
Disagreement of the role of the state in nationalisation, as necessary Vs. Private-public partnership
Atlee: nationalise the ‘commanding heights’ to give people control
Giddens: ‘new mixed-economy’ with pro- business and pro-enterprise ideals.
(Disagreement on Workers’ Control)
Disagreement on the need for the state at all
- Marx: superstructure and the State (Dictatorship of the Proletariat)
- SDs: need for the state in order to organise and ameliorate poverty
(Wider disagreement on the extent of capitalist control in society)
Give one way Socialists agree on human nature; including thinkers.
Agreement that humans are naturally sociable and cooperative
- Marx: post-revolution world
- TW: communitarianism and responsibility, extension to businesses
(Collectivism + common humanity)
Give two ways Socialists disagree on human nature; including thinkers.
Disagreement on effect of competition on humans, negative vs. positive
- Marx: bourgeois hegemony and uncompetitive nature
- Blair: pushing people to be better
(Underlying disagreement on capitalism and the contexts of their theories)
Disagreement on benefit of different kinds of incentives, moral incentives Vs. moral and economic incentives
Marx: superiority of moral incentives due to benefit to community
Giddens: need for balance between economic and moral incentives
(Disagreement on view of people as social creatures (collectivism))
Give one way Socialists agree on society; including thinkers.
Agreement over importance of communities
Marx: ‘from each according to…’, work for the benefit of community
TW: communitarianism and social obligation
(Common humanity + collectivism)
Give two ways Socialists disagree on society; including thinkers.
Disagreement over quality of capitalism
- Marx: nope
- Crosland: necessary for welfare
- Giddens: good for UK competion in global economy
(Wider disagreement over the structure of a capitalist system)
Disagreement over definition of equality in society
- Marx: ‘from each according…’, absolute equality
- Crosland: ‘relative social equality’
- Blair: ‘a hand up, not a hand out’, social inclusion
(Underlying disagreement about class)
Give one way Socialists agree on the economy; including thinkers.
Agreement that economy should work for the benefit of society
- Marx and Engels: ‘from each according…’ ensuring absolute equality
- Giddens: link communitarianism to the economy
(Underlying belief in collectivism and equality)
Give two ways Socialists disagree on the economy; including thinkers.
Disagreement over capitalism
Marx: inherent class conflict and incentive to exploit / crisis of capitalism
Crosland: economic growth is needed to fund progressive taxation, capitalism is needed
(Underlying disagreement about class)
Disagreement over the welfare state, positive Vs. negative
Crosland: redistributive mechanism and eradicating poverty
RSs: ‘giving a human face to capitalism’ and legitimising inequality
(Underlying disagreement on reform (evolutionary vs. revolutionary)
