socialism Flashcards
Whose ideas is revolutionary socialism derived from?
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engals
Known as Marxism
it argues that socialist values cannot co-exist with capitalism and therefore there must be a revolution to transform society and the economy
what is evolutionary socialism and who are the thinkers
Argues that change should happen gradually
democratic socialism, social democracy and the third way are all types of evolutionary socilism
Democratic socialism - Beatrice Webb - which influenced the Labour Party
Webb argued that capitalism could be gradually reformed via parliament - she wanted mass nationalisation and state management to ensure social justice
social democracy - Anthony crosland - dismissed Marx + Webbs socialism. It values social justice above the common ownership
Wants to work with existing capitalist systems through a redistributive welfare state
third way - Anthony giddens - added a Neo liberal element to socialism - inspired new labour (Tony blair+ gordon brown) -
What are the core ideas and principles of socialism
Common humanity -
collectivism
Equality
Social class
What do the different branches believe about common humanity
Most perceive society as a collection of equal individuals who share a common identity and collective purpose
have an optimistic view of human nature and that we share a common humanity
Belief in fraternity - siblings not rivals
revolutionary socialism - believed individuals were deformed by capitalism as power and money corrupts those with it so need revolution to get rid of it - then a classless society would emerge based on absolute equality - we could then enjoy common humanity
Democratic socialism - argued for a socialist state via democracy. This would include common ownership achieved by mass nationalisation
social democracy - capitalism should be reformed not replaced - mixed economy/keynesian economics. Should redistribute wealth to stop inequality
Third way - equality of opportunity via public services. Free market and moving away from universal welfare - paying for own higher education
What do socialists believe about collectivism
Believe humans are naturally social creatures - believe we prefer to work together and will work Better in groups
marx+ engals - large scale collectivism - work forces would collectively own all industry and all agencies of society would be communal eg Soviet Union nationalised industry
Webb - nationalisation - formed many polices of Atlees labour
Social democrat - Crosland- suspicious of collectivism
health care
Social democrat - NHS paid for by taxes
Third way - universal healthcare is unsustainable - supports prescription charges and private healthcare for the rich
Key industries
social democrat - bring under government and operate in collective interest of all
Third way - the free market is the most efficacious way to run business - no support for renationalising state utilities
Socialists views on equality of opportunity
Revolutionary - Marx, engals+Rosa believed it can only be achieved after a revolution
capitalism is corrupt
Democratic socialism - Webb argued it can only be achieved by reforming capitalism to the point that it is socialist eg common ownership
social democracy - mixed economy + Keynesian. Wanted break down class barriers and have progressive taxation to allow an even distribution of opportunities via an expansive welfare state
The third way - EOO needs to target the neediest in society -giddens advocated abandoning the universal welfare of crosland
socialist views on equality of outcome
Revolutionary - dismissed it as it presupposed that capitalism could be rid of exploitation which they thought was impossible
Democratic - Webb argued for a gradual incremental process so that income would eventually be more evenly distributed - would not be absolute equality but wld be fairer
Social democracy - crosland was against pure equality of outcome as he felt it would weaken the economy by acting as a disincentive to wealth creators
third way - wage equality of outcome was impractical and disincentive so would damage the economy
socialist views on absolute equality
Revolutionary - economy based on common ownership and collectivisation material rewards would be based on needs - people wld contribute and take what they need
Democratic - Webb believed in high taxation to flatten differences between classes but did not advocate absolute equality - some wage differences
Social democracy - dismissed absolute equality as is presupposed abundant wealth. Accepted meritocracy and those who contributed would be rewarded accordingly
the third way - dismissed absolute equality as a flawed concept - accepted that inequality is a natural consequence of society
socialist views on equality of welfare
Equality of welfare - perceives society as inevitable unequal but everyone should have equal minimum
Revolutionary - Marx, Engels and Luxembourg rejected it for its failure to remove capitalism
Democratic- believed it would be achieved by mass nationalisation of industry. Argued proper state management would ensure equality of welfare via an efficient redistribution of resources
social democracy - crosland saw the state as a neutral force that could reduce conflict by breaking barriers + opportunities
He was ethustiasic for nationalised utilities and free market economy
third way - high levels of social security and welfare were disincentive to work and created dependancy culture - benefits sold be targeted to needy
socialists views on social class
Revolutionary - problems of social class can only be resolved through revolution
Believe capitalists as parasites profiting of exploited workforce
state reinforced oppressive relationship
Webb - agreed with Marx analysis of class but argued the nature of the state could be changed by serving capitalism to delivering a socialist state - universal nationalisation, equality of outcome, progressive taxation and a welfare state which wld narrow class divison
Social democrats- crosland - critical of mass nationalisation in Webbs idea - believed it compromised freedom - would make a socialist a state a ‘dull functional nightmare’
he wanted a fairer distribution of wealth and equality of opportunity
Believed education reinforced class divisions so wanted comprehensive schools that would cater for all abilities
giddens agreed and merry revises the aims of crosland in education
Wendy bottero argued that there exists a ‘paradox of class’ whereby class identification Is in decline
what are Marx and engals main ideas
Argued there theories were empirical and scientifically determined
capitalism would lead to just the bourgeoisie benefiting from it - the proletariat will be exploited
Believed that socialism is inevitable - proletariat will overthrow capitalism and a transitional phase of ‘the dictatorship of the proletariat’ will occur and after this period the state will whither away and a stateless communist would emerge based on common ownership
final destination is communism
what do socialists believe about workers control
All socialists agree that in an unchecked free market the capitalist will exploit the industrial worker but the branches have different ideas on the concept of worker control
revolutionary - workers control would be a short period between the revolution and the stateless communist society - there would be no need for workers control as communism would be free from the exploration of capitalist competition
Democratic socialism - Webb - did not believe in workers control - dismissing the workers as incapable of such responsibility - ‘we do not have faith in the average sensual man’
she was critical of state nationalisation under workers control as she thought they lacked the intellectual capacity to organise such enterprise
Although her husband drafted clause IV of the Labour Party with the specific aim of common ownership she never intended for this to mean the workers would control the means of production
Webb had the most negative view of human nature
belived capitalism would be solved by the ‘professional expert’ not the workers
Social democracy - viewed workers control and militant class struggle as outdated
just before capitalism of its exploitive traits
Crosland- comfortable with mixed economy , welfare state
Third way - giddens - saw workers control as impractical similar to Webb and crosland
argued against mixed economy/nationalisation - believed free economy was more efficient - Tony Blair influenced by these ideas
what are the main ideas of Webb
Parliamentary democracy and not revolution will deliver the inevitable socialist state
The working class will vote for socialist parties
The expansion of state is vital to deliver socialism
revolutions are ‘ chaotic, inefficient and counterproductive
what are the main ideas of crosland
Criticised the marxist view of capitalism
socialism is best served by the ‘state managed capitalism’ of a mixed economy rather than public ownership
Equality of opportunity can be achieved by giving all state school students the same educational experience
keynesian economics made state managed capitalism a reality and society can look forward to permanent economic growth and full employment
what are the main ideas of Giddens
Free market capitalism enriches and empowers society - socialism must harness the benefits of free market while neutralising its negative effects
neo liberal idea of free market
Individuals will become stake holders and have both rights and responsibilities within society
third way socialism prioritised spending on infrastructure such as community services and public transport
