Socialism Flashcards
What is Utopian Socialism
Linked to Robert Owen.
Refers to the earliest form of socialism. A vision of the perfect human existence.
For Marx the ‘utopian’ character stemmed from the absence of any clear method for bringing about socialism
What is Fraternity and Cooperation
Fraternity is socialism’s belief that human beings should be generous, ‘warm’ to each other and a sense of comradeship.
all of us are ‘siblings’ rather than rivals,
Cooperation and solidarity rather than competition and division, this should be the norm.
What is Democratic centralism
Developed by Lenin - there would be only one party and only within that party would there be open discussion.
Once the party had reached their decision, Lenin argued that the decision would embody the will of the people therefore further debate was futile and disrespectful of the revolution.
This doctrine was later used to justify severe repression in orthodox communist countries such as Russia and China.
What is social class
This defines an individuals circumstances, prospects and attitudes.
Middle class / Working class
Bourgeoisie / Proletariat
White Collar / Blue Collar
All denote a certain type of employment, status and division of wealth in society.
What is Social Justice
For socialists Legal and formal justice is not enough to guarantee equality of opportunity. These must be accompanied by social justice
Health care and education accessible to all
Minimum wage
What is Common Ownership.
This is a alternative to private property and a capitalist economy.
A method of ownership seen as conductive to equality and fraternity.
What is capitalism
An economic system based on private: Property, private enterprise and competition between individuals
Often produces unequal outcomes is of concern to most socialists
Also known as ‘economic liberalism’
What is fundamental Socialism
The earliest form of socialism, which holds that socialist values are fundamentally incompatible with capitalism.
Originally asserted by Marx and Engels (‘classical Marxism’) now associated with orthodox communism, New-Marxism, Euro-Communism and democratic socialism (like Bernie Sanders and AOC)
What is Marxism and communism
The final part of human development, Communism represents the perfect society (for socialists)
Based on common ownership, communal living and the principle of ‘each according to his needs’
Marxism’s reflects this prediction also involves a ‘episodic’ view of history, a rigorous critique of capitalism and justification for revolutionary politics
What is Dialectic
Associated with the philosopher Hegel, refers to the clash of ideas and perceptions of each ‘stage’ of history which eventually leads to the disappearance of society
What are the stages of society.
Historical materialism and dialectical change (according to Marx and Engels)
1 - primitive societies with no economic organisation
2 - slave based societies: slaves are the main mode of production
3 - Feudal societies: land owned by the monarch, leased to the lords, tenants and eventually serfs.
4 - Emergence of Capitalism
5 - Emergence of Proletariat and class consciousness
6 - Revolution and destruction of capitalism
7 - Socialism (dictatorship of the Proletariat)
8 - Withering away of socialist state
9 - Communism
10 - ‘end of History’
What is Historical Materialism
The view of Marx and Engels that each ‘stage of history’ was defined by a clash of economic ideas, relating to how society’s resources should be produced and distributed.
What is Class Consciousness
According to Marx and Engels -This was a by-product of capitalism, thrived among the downtrodden working class ‘proletariat’
Eventually be the engine of revolution
What is altruism
This is the principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other human beings or animals, resulting in better quality of life for both material and spiritual.
What is Democratic socialism and the ‘inevitability of gradualism’
Democratic hence parties peacefully campaigning and gradually win the attention and trust of voters
The majority of voters (working class) would gradually and inevitably realise they had no vested interest in capitalism
Voters would inevitably elect socialist governments
Democratic socialist governments would inevitably oversee the gradual replacement of private to state ownership.
Voters would gradually recognise the progress being made and inevitably re-elect democratic socialist governments
The continuous effect of democratic socialist governments would gradually and inevitably produce a socialist society
the benefits of such society would inevitably be clear to all, thus making any reversal of socialism unlikely.
What is evolutionary socialism
Linked to democratic and revisionist socialism: evolutionary or parliamentary is rejection of revolutionary politics and belief that socialism can be achieved peacefully and gradually through the existing system.
What is revisionist socialism
Socialism can be achieved without the destruction of capitalism, destruction private property and revolution.
Therefore a form of evolutionary socialism and ‘Third way’ socialism.
What is Keynesian Economics
State managed market, decisions made so as to ensure steady growth and full employment
Social democrats believed that his would finance steady rises in public spending and thus greater equality.
