Socialism Flashcards
What did Marx and Engels believe regarding human nature?
- Human nature has been contaminated by the prevailing economic system.
- Humans were fraternal (brother-like), cooperative and selfless.
- Capitalism has caused human nature to become selfish, greedy and ruthless - as outlined in the Communist Manifesto 1848.
What did Marx and Engels believe about the state?
- Revolution could not be brought about peacefully in liberal states (e.g. US and UK) - these states were merely ‘merely a committee’ of the ruling class - advocated revolutionary socialism.
- ‘Dictatorship of the proletariat’ - would obliterate liberal-capitalist states allowing for a stateless communist society - based on common ownership.
What did Marx and Engels propose regarding society?
- Historicism - the history of society is a series of stages moving towards a final destination.
- Each stage in history was an intellectual clash - a dialectic - about how society’s resources should be distributed - called it ‘historical materialism’.
- Society was riddled with class conflicts and the only way to correct them was with a communist society that would be fair and equal.
What did Marx and Engels believe about the economy?
- The task is to create a new, non-capitalist economic system that would nurture man’s fraternity, cooperation and selflessness.
- ‘Historical materialism’ led them to believe that capitalism was ‘historically doomed’ due to the class consciousness that would arise.
What did Luxemburg believe regarding human nature?
In ‘Reform or Revolution’ (1900) she agreed with Marx in that capitalism was at odds with humanity’s natural, fraternal instincts.
What did Luxemburg believe regarding the state?
- Disagreed with Marx’s insistence on revolution - she claimed that ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ could only exist when capitalism was well-developed in a nation.
- Advocated an overhaul of democracy that would be underpinned by common ownership, open debate and elections.
- Formed the German Communist Party (KPD) - as she was operating within the current democratic system, it was easier for communists to broadcast the case for revolution.
What did Luxemburg believe regarding the economy?
Revolution should be a tool for revolt against capitalism on a global scale. E.g. the International Socialist League - still advocates this point.
What did Beatrice and Sydney Webb believe about the state?
- In The Cooperative Movement in Great Britain (1891) - argued that revolutions were ‘chaotic, ineffective and counter-productive’
- They claimed that revolutions were ‘guilty of the same problem besetting capitalism - unpredictability’.
- Paternalism and philanthropy were equally as ineffective at solving poverty - massive state intervention and trade unionism were the best ways.
What did Beatrice and Sydney Webb believe about society?
- More ‘rational’, planned society.
- ‘Where matters could be resolved sensibly… by rational, educated and civic minded officials’.
What did Beatrice and Sydney Webb believe about the economy?
- Heavily influenced in clause IV of the Labour party - commitment to common ownership - claimed this could be achieved through the current political system.
- Served on a Royal Commission between 1905 and 1909 - examined the state’s approach to poverty - claimed the state should guarantee ‘a sufficient nourishment and training when able-bodied, treatment when sick and modest but secure livelihood when elderly’.
What did Crosland believe regarding the state?
Under Keynesian economics, the state was given full economic autonomy - thus argue against the EU.
In ‘Socialism Now’ (1974) he claimed that the EEC would be more likely to promote austerity and full time unemployment.
What did Crosland believe about society?
The Conservative Enemy (1962) claimed that there should be a new form of state education - whereby it was not segregated after age 11.
Comprehensive schools would break down class divisions far more effectively - pushed this agenda when he was education secretary (1965-67) - comprehensive schools had become the norm.
What did Crosland believe regarding the economy?
- Keynesian economics had led to full employment and steady economic growth.
- Capitalism was no longer subject to ‘peaks and troughs’ - thus is could now be relied on to finance a richer, fairer and more classless society’.
- Public ownership had gone far enough - was never the goal of socialism, just a way of achieving it.
What did Giddens believe about human nature?
If human nature was to flourish, the state would have to be more proactive by investing heavily in infrastructure.
In ‘Beyond Left and Right’ (1994) - claimed that human nature could flourish under capitalism though it had to appreciate the importance of of core socialist beliefs of Marx (fraternity, cooperation and collectivism).
What did Giddens believe about the state?
Greater equality of opportunity led to greater inequality of outcome.
