Socialism Flashcards
Collectivism?
Collectivism is a value that is characterised by emphasis on cohesiveness among individuals and prioritisation of the group over the indivudual
What collectivist measures does the UK have?
Housing, education, industry, industrial relations, healthcare
What are the socialist views on taxation, education, healthcare?
Taxation - high tax
Education - Quality, free educational system
Healthcare - For everyone to do their part for public healthcare
What does ‘equality of outcome’ mean?
A state in which all people have approximately the same material wealth and income, or in which the general economic conditions of everyone’s lives are alike
What does ‘equality of opportunity’ mean?
The idea that people ought to be able to compete on equal terms, or on a “level playing field,” for advantaged offices and positions
What does DIALECTICAL mean within Marx socialism?
Refers to the contradiction between classes, the forces and relations of production and modes of production
What is class consciousness?
This is all to do with awareness of your class and its place within society created by the economic growth
In order for the proletariat to rise up and overthrow the bourgeoisie as predicted by dialectical materialism it is necessary first…
…for them to come understand their position in a capitalist society
What are the two stages to ‘class consciousness’?
1) Workers become aware of the fact they are being exploited and that the bourgeoisie are doing this. ‘Class of itself’ aware that they share common interests
2) The proletariat must now come to understand that the way to further their interests is to overthrow the bourgeoisie
What is ‘False consciousness’?
Something is stopping class consciousness from forming and, as a result, is stopping the revolution
What are the several forms of ‘False consciousness’?
- Individual consciousness rather than a group consciousness
- Dominant ideology
- Distraction
What is Marx view on the ROLE OF THE STATE?
- Created by the economic base
- Maintains the economic system
- Complicit in exploitation
- Will ‘wither away’
Webb’s view on the ROLE OF THE STATE?
- Power has gradually grown to meet workers needs
- Moved from keeping order, to looking after everyone
- Will morph into skilled specialists to organise a essentially planned economy
Crosland’s view on the ROLE OF THE STATE?
- State has to manage capitalism
- demand side economics (high employment, low inflation)
-  provide more equal distribution of rewards, status and wealth
Gidden’s view on the ROLE OF THE STATE?
- Don’t interfere with the market, invest in society
- provide equality of opportunity to thrive in the market
Marx’s view on EQUALITY?
- workers are exploited by the bourgeoisie
- The inequality between classes will drive change: dialectic
- equality of outcome WILL occur in a socialist state
Webb’s view on EQUALITY?
- Skilled government will deal with the inequalities created by inequalities
- this will inevitably lead to a plant, centralised economy
- The distribution of wealth will create a more equal society
Crosland’s view on EQUALITY?
- The kind of inequality that Marx wrote about is not what we have now
- managed capitalism can deliver social equality
- High levels of welfare spending can provide for those at the bottom without disrupting the lives of those at the top
Gidden’s view on EQUALITY?
- welfare and wealth redistribution on helpful
- you give people opportunities to succeed by providing good education and infrastructure
- Government action can prevent the huge inequalities of capitalism would otherwise create
Marx view on CAPITALISM?
- workers exploited to create surplus value
- create competition within the working class
- deceives workers toward that goal should be and this will eventually be unsustainable as inequalities grow
Webb’s view on CAPITALISM?
- Capitalism has generated a growing state to deal with its inequalities
- as this continues the gradual move towards more and more planning and welfare is inevitable
Luxemburg’s view on CAPITALISM?
- capitalism cannot be managed it is still exploitative
- attempts to work within it don’t solve anything
- you can generate revolution, if you can overcome the barriers to class consciousness
Crosland’s view on CAPITALISM?
- The version of capitalism we have now takes care to deal with inequalities
- therefore, the tension (dialectic) is no longer enough to drive change
- capitalism can be managed by the state
Gidden’s view on CAPITALISM?
-capitalism generates inequality, but also wealth
- that should be harnessed to provide income that can be spent providing equality of opportunity
- The market is efficient, and also promotes things like responsibility
