Socialism Flashcards
1
Q
What are the core ideas of socialism?
A
Collectivism
Common humanity
Equality
Social Class
Worker’s control
2
Q
What are the three types of socialism?
A
Revolutionist socialists (Marxists)
Social Democracy
Third Way
3
Q
What are the socialist key thinkers?
A
Marx and Engels- Revolutionary socialists
Rosa Luxemburg- Revolutionary socialist
Beatrix Webb- Social Democracy
Anthony Crossland- Social Democracy
Anthony Giddens- 3rd Way
4
Q
What is fraternity?
A
- A common outlook & share basic nature/interests humans have.
- Mutual support/ common humanity
5
Q
What quotes do Marx and Engels use?
A
- ‘from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.’
- ‘Surplus value’ plants ‘the seeds of its own destruction.’
6
Q
What quotes does Beatrice Webb use?
A
- Expansion of state was critical to deliver socialism & would lead to the ‘peaceful emergence’ of socialism.
- Capitalism caused ‘crippling poverty and demeaning inequality.’ The average voter was limited, ill informed, & selfish so she rejected direct democracy & the ‘self-interested’ nature of workers control.
7
Q
What quotes does Crossland use?
A
- Called for ‘democratic equality’ arguing socialism had to move beyond equality of opportunity.
- Wanted to ‘destroy ever grammar school in England & Wales’.
- Economic change led to society being less polarised between employers & employees, & ‘infinitely more complex than Marx could ever have imagined’.
8
Q
What are the social democracy thinkers?
A
- Beatrice Webb
- Anthony Crossland
9
Q
What quotes does Anthony Giddens use?
A
- ‘Social investment state’ in infrastructure & education, not economic & social engineering when they benefit from economic growth through free market.
- The left should ‘get comfortable with the markets’ as the free-market economy was the most efficient system of production, & economic growth would benefit everyone.
- Community was ‘fundamental to knew politics’.
10
Q
What do Marx and Engels say about the state?
A
- The state serves whatever class controls the economy.
- In the wake of a revolution, a new state shall arise that would govern interests of the new economically dominant class. (Dictatorship of the proletariat).
- Once it has cemented socialist values, it will ‘wither away’ & be replaced by communism with common ownership & the principle ‘from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.’
11
Q
What do Marx & Engels say about the economy?
A
- Historical materialism: historical; & social development can be explained in terms of economic and class factors.
- Economic system ‘conditions’ all other aspects of society.
- Reject the liberal view that capitalism promotes prosperity & individual liberty for all as it encourages competitiveness. ‘Surplus value’ plants ‘the seeds of its own destruction.’
12
Q
What do Marx and Engels say about society?
A
- Dialectical change is a process of development that occurs through the conflict between two opposing forces. The process only ends with the establishment of communism.
- Class consciousness is needed for oppressed to overthrow oppressor. Free from the constraints of capitalism by abolishing private property, the state, & class differences.
- Individuals can become fully developed through cooperation & creative work.
13
Q
What does Rosa Luxemburg say about the state?
A
- rejected Lenin’s argument that the workers had to be led by a small, centralized vanguard elite to overthrow capitalism.
- A party demanding total obedience would prevent workers from becoming ‘free and independent directors’ of society under socialism.
- she advocates the immediate construction of a new democracy, underpinned by common ownership, open debate & elections.
14
Q
What did Rosa Luxemburg say about the economy/capitalism?
A
Eventually, capitalism will run out of territories and markets to exploit, and the system would collapse.
15
Q
What did Rosa Luxemburg say about society?
A
- Proletariat discontent against state control would erupt into numerous un/successful strikes, culminating into a spontaneous mass strike, radicalising workers, bringing a revolution.
- Socialism could not be created gradually from within capitalism through reform as it would leave the capitalist system of economic exploitation intact.
- The struggle of the proletariat for democracy & reform is essential to overthrow false class consciousness.
16
Q
What does Beatrice Webb say about the state?
A
- New age of democratic politics would inevitably lead to policies that secure interests of working class.
- Expansion of state was critical to deliver socialism & would lead to the ‘peaceful emergence of socialism.’
- Part of Fabian Society who helped Labour draft Clause IV, ensuing common ownership, & she encouraged the development of the welfare state.
17
Q
What does Beatrice Webb say about the economy?
A
Capitalism caused ‘crippling poverty and demeaning inequality.’ This would most likely be eliminated through vigorous trade unionism & extensive state intervention.
18
Q
What does Beatrice Webb say about society?
A
- Endorses ‘inevitability of gradualness.’
- The average voter was limited, ill informed, & selfish so she rejected direct democracy & the ‘self-interested’ nature of workers control.
- Representative democracy was preferable as it led to a skilled governing class subject.
19
Q
What does Beatrice Webb say about human nature?
A
Capitalism is a ‘corrupting force’ for humanity, fostering unnatural levels of avarice & selfishness.
20
Q
What does Anthony Crossland say about the state?
A
- Main aim of socialism now is to manage capitalism to deliver greater equality & justice, with more egalitarian distribution of rewards, status, & privileges through public spending & better public services.
- Called for ‘democratic equality’ arguing socialism had to move beyond equality of opportunity. Crosland’s more egalitarian society depended on high levels of gov spending on welfare services & redistribution of income & wealth.
- Economic expansion would provide the gov with funds for welfare & social spending to improve life for those at the bottom of society, while enabling the more affluent to preserve their standard of living.
- Extensive state control was now irrelevant.
21
Q
What does Anthony Crossland say about the economy?
A
- Capitalism no longer resembled an economic system based on inherent contradictions. It has raised living standards.
- Modern capitalism lacked internal tensions to drive social change or bring a revolution.
- Some nationalised industries in a system based on private ownership was the best way to generate sustained economic growth.
- Now a gov pursing Keynesian economics could maintain high employment, ensure low inflation, & promote continuous growth.
- Capitalism was no longer a system of harsh class oppression.
22
Q
What does Anthony Crossland say about society?
A
- A new skilled governing class of salaried managers, technocrats & officials had now taken over the control of industry from the old capitalist class. Key industries had been nationalised & a comprehensive welfare state is now established. Pursuit of profit was only one of its objectives as have wider concerns like the maintenance of good employer-worker relations and the protection of business reputation.
- Common ownership had gone far enough, arguing it had never been the aim of socialism, merely a method for achieving it. True objective is equality which can be achieved in a managed capitalist economy.
- Equality creates a more communitarian society. Injustice of rewarding talents & abilities were mainly due to nature/ nurture, not individual responsibility.
- Called for development of comprehensive secondary school education & the expansion of higher education where children of all abilities/backgrounds would share similar educational experiences. Wanted to **‘destroy ever grammar school in England & Wales’. **
- Economic change led to society being less polarised between employers & employees, & **‘infinitely more complex than Marx could ever have imagined’. **
23
Q
What does Anthony Giddens say about the state?
A
- ‘Social investment state’ in infrastructure & education, not economic & social engineering when they benefit from economic growth through free market.
- Top-down state intervention was now inefficient & ineffective. Called for gov action to control widening equalities of outcome.
- Rejects extensive state welfare & wealth distribution programmes as it encourages a dependency culture. This discourages investment & entrepreneurial effort needed to sustain a competitive economy.
24
Q
What does Anthony Giddens say about the economy?
A
- Acceptance of free market economy.
- The left should ‘get comfortable with the markets’ as the free-market economy was the most efficient system of production, & economic growth would benefit everyone.
25
Q
What does Giddens say about society?
A
- Drew on the strengths of social democratic & neo liberal market traditions.
- Emphasis on equality of opportunity, responsibility & community. These offset the negative effects of free market capitalism (excessive materialism & competitive individualism), but also reflects declining class conflict & hierarchy. Community was ‘fundamental to knew politics’. -
- Social democracy had to be modernised due to globalisation, the rise of knew knowledge economy, & growth of individualistic aspirations.
- For the free-market system to be fair, equality of opportunity was needed for people to better themselves through ability & effort.
- People have responsibility to help themselves.
26
Q
What does Giddens say about human nature?
A
Free market would encourage personal qualities like responsibility.
27
Q
Where do socialists agree on the state?
A
- Reject monarchical, theocratic & aristocratic state.
- To bring about social justice & fairer society, a strong state is needed.
- It can enable redistribution of wealth & dirigiste (having or supporting control of society & the economy by the state.) Advocate a democratic state that reflects principle of equality. Believe reducing state power will increase inequality.
28
Q
What is dirigiste?
A
Having or supporting control of society & the economy by the state.
29
Q
What are the three types of states that socialists reject?
A
- Monarchic: Monarch is head of state.
- Theocratic: The Government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided/ a state governed by a theocracy.
- Aristocratic: Government by a relatively small privileged class or by a minority consisting of those presumed to be best qualified to rule.
30
Q
Where is there consensus within socialism over the economy?
A
- State intervention in economic affairs as they maintain that the profit driven free market cannot allocate wealth & resources fairly.
- Believe it is impossible to address the fundamental issue of inequality without addressing structure of economy.
- Capitalism encourages competitiveness & ruthless egotism. Want greater workers control & redistribution of wealth.
- ‘Redistributionist economy.’
31
Q
Where is there consensus within socialism over the economy?
A
- Traditionally see society characterised by class inequalities, economic divisions, & disparities in property ownership.
- Individuals are products of society.
- Equality of opportunity is meaningless without equality of outcome.
- Believe social justice through healthcare & education is essential for equality.
- Without narrowing social classes, society will continue to lack fraternity, cooperation, & solidarity, encouraging greed, resentment, & division.
32
Q
Where is there consensus in socialism over human nature?
A
- Have a positive view.
- People are co-operative, sociable, & rational. Human nature is socially determined.
- People naturally prefer to work together than compete. By harnessing ability of a whole community, it enhances personal growth.
- Natural conditions of mankind is one of fraternity.
- Human nature is malleable/adjustable.
33
Q
What do the third way accept in relation to the modern world and economics?
A
- Accept globalisation & ‘knowledge economy’ where info & communication tech ensure competitiveness & productivity.
- Free market economy is the most efficient form of production which leads to economic growth, benefiting all & encourages responsibility.
34
Q
What do revolutionist socialists believe about human nature?
A
- True co-operative & communal instincts of humans can be liberated only by removing the exploitative & oppressive capitalist system.
- Human nature is most susceptible to whichever economic system it is under.
- People live under a ‘false consciousness’ which can only be removed through communism.
35
Q
What do social democrats believe about human nature?
A
- Damage inflicted by capitalism on the human psyche will only be compounded by violent revolution.
- Humanity needs to be guided back to its natural cooperative position.
36
Q
What do neo revisionists believe about human nature?
A
- Communitarian liberalism emphasise personal autonomy operating within a communal context based on mutual dependence & benefit, balancing rights with responsibilities.
- Human nature can prosper under capitalism, but third way still appreciates importance of core socialist beliefs like co-operation, fraternity & collectivism.
37
Q
What do socialists mean by ‘collectivism’?
A
Acting collectively to enhance human potential.
38
Q
What do socialists believe by workers control?
A
Means of production and the state are controlled by the proletariat.
