Socialism

Question 1

Do socialists generally agree with capitalism?

Answer 1

No

Question 2

What do socialists seeks to create a society founded on and why?

Answer 2

Collectivism and common humanity, as they inform other socialist values and principles such as equality, welfare and common ownership.

Question 3

What is collectivism?

Answer 3

Collectivism maintains that humans can achieve their politicial, social and economic objectives more effectively through collective action.
It also suggests that society can only be transformed by collective endeavour.

Question 4

What is common humanity?

Answer 4

Socialists see humans as social creatures with a tendency for cooperation, sociability and rationality.
The individual cannot be understood without reference to society, because human behaviour is determined by people’s place in society.

Question 5

Human nature and collectivism.

Answer 5

Human are social creatures with a natural tendency to work together to achieve their goals, tied together by the bonds of fraternity.

Question 6

Society and collectivism.

Answer 6

The interests of the group (for example society or community) should take priority over individual self-interest.
People are defined by the social grouos they belong to, so membership of a community/society offers fulfilment.

Question 7

Economy and collectivism.

Answer 7

Collective endeavour utilises the economic potential of society more efficiently than wasteful competitive individual effort.

Question 8

The state and collectivism.

Answer 8

Collective action via the state ensures a fairer distribution of goods and services (vis state intervention and state planning) than free-market forces.

Question 9

Marxism and collectivism.

Answer 9

Marxists advocated collective action based on the principle of ‘from each accorsing to ability, to each according to need’.
For example the communist regimes of the USSR and North Korea.

Question 10

Revolutionary socialists and collectivism.

Answer 10

Revolutionary socialists accept some degree of free-market capitalism and pursue collectivism in a more limited way.
For example, the 1945-51 UK Labour government nationalised key industries but left much of the economy in private hands.

Question 11

Two main arguments against collectivism.

Answer 11

Collectivism suppreses human individuality and diveristy.

It leads to the growth of arbitrary state power and erodes individual freedoms.

Question 12

Society and common humanity.

Answer 12

Human can be driven by a desire to contribute to the betterment of society (moral motivation).
For example, cooperative effort to boost economic growth increases living standards for the working population and provides the funds (through taxation) to finance welfare measures.

Question 13

Human nature and common humanity.

Answer 13

Humans are naturally inclined to work together for the common good because of cooperative effort-

• produces the best results for society
• enables people to form connections based on respect, understanding and mutual support
• is superior to capitalist competition which sets one person against nother and undermines our common humanity.

Question 14

What is an example of collectivism?

Answer 14

The cooperative movement began in Britain with the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers (1844).
Cooperatives are voluntary associations designed to provide economic assistance for their members.
They are owned and run by workers or consumers, who benefit in the form of shared earnings or cheap goods secured through the cooperative.

Question 15

What is arguably the most important principle of socialism?

Answer 15

Social equality or equality of outcome- even if it underpins most areas of socialist thought.

Question 16

What is the key socialist idead of equality based on?

Answer 16

Social equality/equality of outcome

Egalitarianism

Question 17

What is social equality/equality of outcome?

Answer 17

The equal distribution of economic rewards such as income and wealth.

Question 18

What is egalitarianism?

Answer 18

A theory or practice designed to remove or reduce inequalities and ensure veryone has a fair chance in life.

Question 19

How do revolutionary socialists view the state in terms of equality?

Answer 19

Demand absolute equality, the abolition of private property and replacement with common ownership of all means of production.

Question 20

How do social democrats view the economy in terms of equality?

Answer 20

They call for the relative equalising of society within a reformed capitalist economy via welfare measures, government spending and progressive taxation to remove absolute poverty.

Question 21

How do social democrats view human nature in terms of equality?

Answer 21

Material incentives continue to play an important role in human motivation, and greater emphasis is placed on equality of opportunity.

Question 22

What are three arguments in favour iof equality?

Answer 22

Ensures fairness- economic inequality is due to the structural inequalities in capitalist society.
Reinforces collectivism, cooperation and solidarity- will ecourage people to co-exist and work harmoniously.
Satisfies basic human needs- more redistribution and equal distribution will promote human fulfilment and realise human potential.

Question 23

Socialists and common ownership.

Answer 23

They argue common ownership of the means of production esures all can participate and benefit.
Wealth is created by communal effort so it should be owned collectively.
Private property encourages materialism and the fale belief that personal wealth will bring fulfilment.

Question 24

Agreements and disagreement with equality of outcome.

Answer 24

Nature- people’s experiences of society should be more or less the same. Associated with social equality and economic equality.
Supported by- fundamentalist socialists who reject capitalism.
Rejected by- social democrats and the third way as artificial social and economic levelling.

Question 25

Agreements and disagreement with absolute equality.

Answer 25

Nature- everyone who contributes to society will receive the same rewards. Over time, each person’s contribution will be roughly equal.
Supported by- Marxists, who support communism.
Rejected by- social democrats and the Third Way as impractical and potentially destabilising.

Question 26

Agreements and disagreement with equality of opportunity.

Answer 26

Nature- everyone has an equal chance to make the best of their abilities, with no artificial barriers to progress for those who work hard and have ability and talent.
Supported by- The Third Way on meritocratic grounds.
Rejected by- Marxists because it does not remove capitalism.
Social democrats who support grated social equality/justice.

Question 27

Agreements and disagreement with universal welfare.

Answer 27

Nature- inevitable, human society os unequal. However, all individuals have an equal minimum standard of living guaranteed by state welafre provision.
Supported by- social democrats as it protects the most vulnerable.
Rejected by- Marxists because it does not remove capitalism.
The Third Way as they support targeted welfare.

Question 28

What explains the most important divisions in society for socialists?

Answer 28

Social class

Question 29

What has influenced various strands of socialist thought?

Answer 29

Workers’ control.

Question 30

What is social class?

Answer 30

Members of a social class share similar outlooks and aims.
Social classes are therefore principal agents of change.
Socialism is idealogically committed to represent the interests of, and improve conditions for, the working class.

Question 31

What is workers’ control?

Answer 31

The term is used in two ways-
The complete or partial ownership of an enterprise by employees, including real decision-making powers.
Control of the state by workers- a wider and more politicial concept.

Question 32

Marxist views on class.

Answer 32

Class is economically determined by their relationship to the means of production.
Conflict is inevitable between the owners of productive wealth and those who sell their labour to survive.
The ruling bourgeoisie use the state apparatus to maintain their dominance.
Eventually, class conflict leads to proletarian revolution, which overthrows capitalism, resulting in a classless, equal society and the state withers away.

Question 33

Social democrats views on class.

Answer 33

They define social class more flexibly, emphasising icome and status differences between non-manual and manual occupational groups.
Socialist objectives can be achieved through targeted government intervention to narrow class distinctions.
State provides welfare and redistribution schemes.
Unlike Marxists, social democrats advoate classs consensus in society and peaceful social improvement.

Question 34

Human nature and workers’ control.

Answer 34

Workers’ control based on socialist views on human nature as it promotes collective effort and the pursuit of group interests.
It also tackles workplace alienation and challenged the capitalist view that the workforce is simply a commodity in the production process.

Question 35

Economy and workers’ control.

Answer 35

Workers are the most important element in economic production, so they should have the right to control the means of production and thus either dilute or replace capitalist control of the economy.
For example, by the early 1800s French syndicalists were calling for full workers’ control over the economy based on the trade unions and proletarian politicial institutions.

Question 36

Society and workers’ control.

Answer 36

It is an important step towards a socialist society.
‘Moderate’ workers’ control enables the introduction of limited social and economic reforms.
Industrial self-management by workers living under state socialism reinforces the ideas that a socialist society should raise the condition and status of the working class.

Question 37

What are three criticisms of workers’ control?

Answer 37

Businesses don’t just rely on workers; they also depend on people who are prepared to take commercial risks and invest money.
Workers may not have the entrepreneurial qualities required to make their workplace a thriving concern.
By assuming responsibility for functions, such as appointments, promotions and dismissals, manual employees may lack the appropriate managerial expertise, thereby undermining the economic prospects of their workplace.

Question 38

Why has the socialism-working-class link decline?

Answer 38

Deindustrialisation and the rise of the post-industrial service and information economy.
Consequently, moderate socialist politcial parties have adapted their programmes to appeal to non manual workers.