Socialism Flashcards
What is the underpinning idea of socialism?
collectivism
What is collectivism?
the idea that people work best when working as a group
What about human nature suggests that collectivism works?
socialists believe human nature suggests we are social animals and prefer to live in groups
What is the term that socialists use to explore collectivism?
fraternity - humans are bound together by common interests and inclinations
What does being a membership of a community/society allow according to socialists?
allows true freedom and fulfilment
What do socialists believe about the role of the state?
- the need for state planning and intervention
- strong and centralised role of the state?
Why do socialists believe a planned economy is necessary?
to ensure resources are fairly allocated
What type of society cannot be trusted according to socialists and why?
capitalist or free market
capitalism creates competition which is damaging to society as it causes divisions and leads to conflict
Difference in the role of the state between revolutionary socialists and moderate socialists?
- rev socialists advocate for complete state control and collective ownership
- moderate socialists favour a mixed economy accepting some forms of capitalism
Why type of equality do marxists support?
absolute equality
What does equality ensure?
- ensures fairness
- reinforces collectivism
- satisfies basic human needs
Why do marxists reject equality of opportunity?
because it treats people differently based on their abilities
How does equality satisfy basic human needs according to socialists?
since all basic human needs are the same therefore there should be an equal distribution of wealth and resources
What does common ownership mean?
- everyone has an ownership in all aspects of society
- wealth should be owned collectively as we all work together to create it
- against private property
Why are socialists against private property?
it generates social conflict between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’
causes materialism, jealousy and the false belief that money makes you happy
How do modern socialist parties, such as Labour, approach common ownership?
make less of a commitment to public/common ownership
Labour 1945-51 nationalised key strategic industries but left most of the rest of the economy in private hands
Describe Marxists theory on class
- have’s (bourgeoisie)
- have nots (proletariat)
- capitalism oppresses proletariat
- bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat by using them to profile themselves
According to marxists what is needed to eliminate class differences?
workers revolution
only thing that will overthrow the bourgeoisie, destroy capital and impose common ownership
How do social democrats approach the key principle of class?
- less of a focus due to class dealignment
- focus more on the differences between manual and non manual occupations
According to social democrats how can class differences be narrowed?
through targeted state intervention (e.g. progressive taxation)
What is workers control?
full democratic control over places of employment
What is the benefit of workers control?
if workers have control over the means of production and the decision making they will work together in the common interest as everybody will benefit
What do socialists see workers control as a step towards?
a utopian socialist society
Marxism on Workers Control
human nature promotes collective effort and pursuit of a group rather than individual interests
Social Democrats on Workers Control
system of workers control based on trade unions
What does common humanity suggest?
cooperation not competition
cooperation benefits everyone and boosts economic growth
How did revolutionary socialism come to be?
as a result of early development of industrialisation and capitalism (19th century) which brought poverty, exploitation and unemployment
Revolutionary Socialism
violent action was the only way to achieve socialist goals
What do revolutionary socialists reject working with?
capitalism as any attempts to work with it undermines socialist ideas
Revolutionary Socialists on Democracy
rejects it as it is a system dominated by elites where workers had little say
What do Marx and Engels believe is central to socialism?
social class
What society do Marx and Engels desire?
communist society
Three aspects of Marxism
- historical materialism
- dialectical change
- class consciousness
Historical Materialism
the notion that the economic system has always influenced every other aspect of society
Dialectical Change
there has always been a struggle between the ‘haves and have nots’
this will only end with the establishment of a communist society
Class Consciousness
before a revolution
proletariat must firstly be aware of their own identity and establish how their goals are to be pursued
What strand of socialism does Beatrice Webb represent?
evolutionary socialism
What is evolutionary socialism?
the rejection that class struggle is central to socialism
instead we can pursue socialist goals through democratic means
Webb on Democracy
- rejected direct democracy because the average voter is not well enough informed
- accepted representative democracy where a skilled governing class could be relied upon to pursue socialist ideas
What does Webb believe is central to socialism?
planning of the economy
What is social democracy?
- gradual transition from capitalism to socialism
- against a sudden violent overthrow of the system
Webb on the role of the state
needs to be vastly expanded in order to deliver socialism to the masses
What regime did Webb endorse?
Naively endorsed Stalinist Russia - she felt at the time that its level of planning in the public interest and rather than being motivated by profit
Which key thinker rejects Webb’s evolutionary socialist ideas?
Rosa Luxemburg
What idea does Luxemburg reject and why?
evolutionary socialism
it leaves capitalism intact
What does Luxemburg believe is needed to pursue socialist goals?
workers control
complete overthrowing of the capitalist system
What does Luxemburg believe is essential to socialism?
class consciousness and struggle by the proletariat
Luxemburg on Capitalism
capitalism is doomed
in the end it will run out of markets and territories to exploit
any attempts to work around or with it will simply prolong it
Social Democracy on capitalism
- seeks to reform rather than abolish capitalism
- creation of wealth itself is not wrong just the way it is distributed
Three aspects of Social Democracy
- mixed economy
- keynesian economics
- welfare state
Social Democracy on the economy
we should put more money into the economy when it is struggling - keynesian economics
What type of equality do social democrats favour?
equality of opportunity
Which key thinker represents social democracy?
Anthony Crosland
Crosland on Capitalism
it has changed since the days of Marx
has actually led to an improvement in living standards
How does Crosland believe Capitalism has changed?
- welfare state
- nationalised industries
- power of trade unions
Crosland on Revolution
no longer an appetite for revolution
What does Crosland now believe socialism should concentrate on?
managing capitalism to pursue:
- economic efficiency
- community based society
- individual rather than just talents and abilities
- social justice
How does Crosland want to ensure equality of opportunity?
- progressive taxation
- welfare state
- expand comprehensive school system and destroy grammar schools to increase access to higher education
What type of economy does social democracy advocate for?
a mixed economy
What idea does Luxemburg reject and why?
evolutionary socialism
it leaves capitalism intact
What is ‘The Third Way’?
a middle ground and alternative route between socialism and free-market capitalism
What branch of socialism does Giddens represent?
‘The Third Way’
Which PM practiced the third way?
Labour party under Blair
What are the 5 key features of ‘The Third Way’?
- importance of market over state
- value on community and moral responsibility
- consensus and harmony
- social inclusion
- competition or market state
What feature of socialism does ‘The Third Way’ reject?
emphasis on social equality
The Third Way on Equality
focuses on equality of opportunity through access to education and welfare
The Third Way on Class
focus on consensus and social harmony rather than class conflict
The Third Way on Economy
investment in education/transport/infrastructure
The Third Way on Society
- rejects atomism
- emphasises community
The Third Way on the role of the state
- rejects state intervention in the economy
- accepts the free market
Why does the Third Way reject state intervention in the economy?
it discourages investment
it stifles entrepreneurial initiative
What do critics on the left argue about the third way?
it departs so far from socialism in its embrace of the free market that it can hardly be regarded as socialism at all
Giddens main argument
- entrepreneurship and capitalism can be harnessed to create wealth for all
- state should focus more on investing more in the infrastructure of society e.g. training, education, expert advice etc
What did Giddens say about what past experiences have shown?
that top down state intervention was both inefficient and ineffective
What do socialists believe society is characterised by?
- class inequalities
- economic divisions
- significant disparities in property ownership
How does the view of society differ across the branches of socialism?
Marxists - a capitalist society is dominated by class conflict and only a classless society can deliver a stable and unified society
SD - welfare and distribution schemes can narrow class inequalities that exist
Third Way - model of society stresses harmony, consensus and social inclusion
How does the view of economy differ across the branches of socialism?
Marxists - replacing capitalism with a centrally planned economy based on common ownership
SD - mixed economy, accept a degree of free market capitalism, endorse keynesian interventionist techniques, support welfare policies to restribute wealth
Third Way - reject state intervention in the economy on the grounds that it discourages investment and stifles entrepreneurial initiative
Marxists on the state
- instrument of class rule
- bourgeoisie use the state apparatus (political and legal system) to maintain their dominance over the proletariat
- state will wither away under communism
