Socialism Flashcards
Marx/Engels view on Human nature
Humans are naturally altruistic
Capitalism instils them with a false consciousness of bourgeois values
Luxembourg on human nature
damaged by capitalism.
humans aren’t perfect and parliamentary democracy is needed to prevent tyranny
webb on human nature
capitalism is damaged by human psyche.
believed in intellectual and moral human imperfection, particularly of the working class
crosland on human nature
human nature is innately fair
inequalities of outcome and opportunity hinder collective human progress
giddens
shaped by socioeconomic conditions
more focus on humans as both individuals and collective creatures
Marx/Engels on the state
capitalism must be destroyed by revolution and temp replaced by dictatorship of the proletariat which will wither away when communism is established
luxembourg on the state
capitalism should be destroyed by revolution and replaced with genuine democracy
webb on the state
the state should be used to create a socialist society. would be achieved via universal suffrage and would be a gradual process
crossland on the state
should be managed by ‘meritocratic managers’ and ‘classless technocrats’
giddens on the state
should invest in social investment and infrastructure and refrain from economic and social engineering
marx/engels on society
capitalism corrupts society and the elite oppress the working class, creating class conflict.
a communist society will have absolute equality and societal harmony
luxembourg on society
capitalism corrupts society and the elite oppress the working class, creating class conflict.
a democratic communist society will provide absolute equality and social harmony
webb on society
under socialist state management it will produce equality of outcome
crosland on society
state management will affect societal change and create social justice and equality of welfare
giddens on society
society will embrace equality of opportunity and communal responsibility instead of class conflict
marx/engels on the economy
capitalism = corrupt/inefficient and should be replaced by an economy with communism (equal distribution according to need)
luxembourg on the economy
marx’s historical materialism is flawed as capitalism doesn’t need to reach a ‘final stage’ before it can be abolishes
communist revolutions could happen in LEDC’s
webb on the economy
free market would gradually nationalise as the workers obtain common ownership of the means of production
crosland on the economy
rejected webb’s gradualism and argued for a mixed economy and keynesian capitalism
believded capitalism had largely been reformed if its exploitative tendencies
giddens on the economy
a neoliberal economy with a free market is more efficient than all socialist economic models and the tax revenues they generate can finance greater equality of oppurtunity
fraternity
the bonds of comradeship between human beings
co-operation
working collectively to achieve mutual benefits
capitalism
an economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for profit and wealth is privately owned
common ownership
of means of production so that all are able to benefit from the wealth of society and to participate in its running
communism
the communal organisation of social existence based on the common ownership of wealth
evolutionary socialism
a parliamentary route, which would deliver a long term, radical transformation in a gradual, piecemeal way through legal and peaceful means, via the state
marxism
an ideological system, within socialism, that drew in the writings of marx and engels and has at its core a philosophy of history that explains why it’s inevitable that capitalism will be replaced by communism
revisionism
a move to redefine socialism that involved a less radical view of capitalism and a reformed view of capitalism
social justice
a distribution of wealth that’s morally justifiable and implies a desire to limit inequality
class consiousness
the self understanding of social class that’s a historical phenomenon, created out of collective struggle
historical materialism
marxist theory that the economic base forms the superstructure
dialectic
conflict between two opposing forces eg class
keynesian economics
gov intervention can stabilise the economy and aims to deliver full employment and price stability
3 classes of socialism
revolutionary socialism
social democracy
third way
5 core ideas
collectivism
common humanity
equality
social class
workers’ control
collectivism
the belief that collective human endeavour is greater practical and moral value than individual self striving
individualism
freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control
social democrats on collectivism
trade unions
nhs
state education
key utilities nationalised
third way on collectivism
unions but wages are market driven
private healthcare for rich
prescription charges
equality of oppurtunity
spending on education
free market
equality of opportunity
individuals are entitled to equal chances to make the best of their abilities. should be no artificial barriers to the progress of individual groups
absolute equality
suggests that all individuals should receive the same rewards as long as contributions to society are made to the best of their best ability
equality of outcome
proposes that economic rewards should be distributed to the values of an individuals contribution, difference in rewards would be less than it would be in a free market
equality of welfare
perceives society as inevitably unequal but argues that everyone should be entitled to an equal minimum standard of living, enabled by a welfare state
how do socialists disagree on nature of equality
revolutionaries - only after a revolution, dismiss equality of outcome, material rewards based on needs, equality of welfare rejected because it failed to remove capitalism
social democrats - only achieved after reforming capitalism, needs to be substantially equal, high taxation to allow for welfare state, nationalised industry
third way - needed most for neediest, equality of outcome = impractical, absolute equality = flawed, high levels of welfare and security creates dependency
how would different socialists bring about equality
revolutionary - seize means of production, overthrow capitalists state
social democrats - some equality inevitable so a mixture of state intervention and private enterprise to promote and enhance equality (equality of oppurtunity)
third way - accept there are benefits to the free market, use benefits to create equal society, fair wealth distribution
exam q
to what extent does the socialist view of social class impact on their view of society, the state and the economy?
jeremy corbyn’s plan for greater worker’s control
£300 billion in shares across 700 promised countries
Divindends of
revolutionaries vs social democrats on common ownerships
revolutionaries - abolition of private ownership, centralist economy
social democrats - selective nationalisation of industry, pursuit of equality
Clause IV
common ownership of utilities
different strands views on workers control
revolutionaries -post revolution, no need for workers control as communism will rise
social democrats - didn’t believe in workers control (lack of capability)
third way - impractical, people with actual skills should lead instead (also dropped clause IV)
4 ways workers are alienated (Marx)
alienated from product of their labour
work to produce profit for those who own means of production
process - work under supervision
fellow workers and themselves - encouraged to be self interested
rosa luxembourg disagreements with marx
less economically developed societies could have revolutions
disagrees with concept of dictatorship
advocates democratic institutions
no need to wait until capitalism had reached its final stage (advocates overthrowing it)
why did webb dismiss workers control
revolutions are chaotic, inefficient and counter productive
how did webb think evils of capitalism would be overcome
professional experts - would solve it not the workers. the working class would vote for socialism. gradualism would mean the elected gov would refashion the state to manage not oppress workers
national housekeeping - silently change its character from police power to housekeeping on a national scale. Highly trained elite administrators to organise society
what is social justice
a moral justification to redistribute wealth so as to limit inequality and provide an equality of opportunity for everyone in society
what is revisionism
to review and change a political theory
what are social democracy’s 3 key ideas
1 - mixed economy, blend of free market capitalism and state collectivism
2 - state management, facilitating mixed economy via state management of the economy to deliver continual growth and full employment
3 - welfare state, when capitalism has been suitably reformed, the state funds a welfare state that promotes social justice and equality of opportunity
what is Keynesianism
gov intervention can stabilise the economy and aim to deliver full employment and price stability
anthony crosland (later a fabian) ideas linking to webb
managed capitalism should be reformed not replaced
social justice means progressive taxation and the welfare state
crosland argued for a reformed education system for social justice, why?
grammar schools favour the middle class and comprehensive education is needed to decrease class division
4 unique features of the third way
- recognition of the free market over state planning
- embracing competitive state
- embracing community, moral responsibility and social inclusion
- the importance of equality of opportunity over other forms of equality
why was Giddens critical of high tax levels
taxation inhibited wealth creation and economic growth
New Labour govs accordingly reduced business taxes and kept higher rate income taxation
