Socialism Flashcards
Origins of socialism
- A response to the class divides of the Industrial Revolution
- Created by utopian socialists but later evolved into scientific socialism
What is utopian socialism?
- Originated from thinkers such as Robert Owen
- Believed that they could as socialism is morally superior, people could be persuaded to adopt it to live in ‘utopia’
What is scientific socialism?
- Originated from Marx and Engels
- They believed that socialism would inevitably take over capitalism
- Follows the Hegelian dialectic
Who are the bourgeoisie?
The owners of the means of production
Who are the proletariat?
The class who have to sell their labour to the bourgeoisie in order to survive
What is class consciousness?
Workers becoming aware of their inferior place in a capitalist society
What is a dictatorship of the proletariat?
The transitional phase between capitalism and communism where the communist group takes control to replace private ownership with common ownership
What is the fundamental goal of socialism/communism?
- There will be a socialist revolution
- A dictatorship of the proletariat will be installed
- Common ownership would lead to the end of class conflict
- Eventually the state will wither away into a full communist society
What is common ownership?
The means of production being owned by the workers so they can control their working lives
2 key works of Marx and Engels
- The Communist Manifesto (1848)
- Das Kapital (1867) (Marx only)
How did Marx and Engels view society?
Capitalism had split society into two opposing and hostile camps: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat
Why were Marx and Engels critical of the liberal state?
They argued that as the state was controlled by the ruling class they would continue to introduce policies which benefitted them
Why was Marx critical of religion?
He called it the ‘opium of the masses’ as it dulled people’s ability to achieve class consciousness
2 types of socialism
- Revolutionary socialism
- Evolutionary/reformist socialism
Features of revolutionary socialism
- Socialism can only be achieved through revolution
- Dictatorship of the proletariat
- Abolition of private ownership of property and the means of production
- Classless society and communism
Features of evolutionary socialism
- Socialism can be achieved through democracy
- Universal suffrage enables the working class to vote for parties which support their interests. As they are the largest class, socialist parties will win support.
- Socialism can be achieved peacefully
Key work of Rosa Luxemburg
Reform or Revolution? (1900)
How did Luxemburg see a socialist revolution?
- Through a mass strike of the working classes
- When the proletariat join together and see their common interests they will inevitably overthrow capitalism (scientific socialism)
Why did Luxemburg criticise socialism through democratic means?
- The state is inevitably controlled by a ruling class
- Reformation means capitalism is accommodated for
Key work of Beatrice Webb
The Minority Report of Poor Law Commission (1900)
How did Beatrice Webb promote socialism in real life?
- Established the Fabian Society (left-wing pressure group)
- Helped to create Labour’s original Clause IV
How did Webb believe poverty should be tackled?
She believed that paternalism and charity would never be enough and poverty could only end by moving from capitalism to socialism
How did Webb view human nature?
She believed capitalism was a corrupting force on human nature and made them unnaturally selfish and greedy
Why was Webb critical of Marxist revolutionary thinking?
She argued a revolution was not necessary, as socialism could be introduced through gradual state reforms peacefully
Why did Webb argue that socialism was inevitable?
As it was ethically and morally superior, once it was introduced and its benefits became obvious, socialism would become permanent
What type of socialist is Webb?
Democratic socialist
What is social justice?
A fair society where wealth is evenly distributed through progressive taxation and a welfare state
Why do Marxists argue that socialism and capitalism aren’t compatible?
- Capitalism’s requirement for profit means that workers will never see the true value of their work
- Capitalism causes economic busts and booms which can cause mass unemployment, causing workers constant employment stress
Why do revisionist socialists argue that socialism can work under capitalism?
- Capitalism is incredibly efficient in producing economic growth, which means more money is available to spend on welfare
- Through a progressive taxation system and a strong welfare state, social justice can be achieved under capitalism
What is Keynesian economics?
High taxation and high spending to allow full employment and continuous economic growth
What caused a shift to social democracy in the 20th century?
- Rise in globalisation and post-industrial economies
- Capitalism had raised living standards across the globe, disproving Marx’s idea that it caused constant misery
Famous social democratic government
Attlee’s post-war Labour party, who established wide-scale nationalisation and created the welfare state (e.g. NHS)
Difference between democratic socialism and social democracy
Democratic socialism:
Using democratic methods to achieve a full socialist society (Webb)
Social democracy:
Reforming a capitalist society to ensure social justice (Crosland)
Key work of Anthony Crosland
The Future of Socialism (1956)
How did Crosland view the economy?
Keynesian economics:
- Economic growth was good for social justice
- Nationalising all industry was not necessary
- Progressive taxation and wealth redistribution
How did Crosland propose reforming education?
The end of segregated schools (i.e. private, grammar) would help break down class barriers and provide greater equality of opportunity
What is third way socialism?
- Acceptance of free market capitalism, rejection of Keynesian economics
- Focus on equality of opportunity
- Investment in services allows for more skilled workers to be competitive in a global economy
Key work of Anthony Giddens
The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy (1998)
What events inspired third way socialism?
- Globalisation and Thatcher’s economic restructuring
- Failure of socialist states such as the Soviet Union
What were the two roles of the government that Giddens suggested?
- Maximise workforce’s skills through good education and training
- Build necessary infrastructure such as airports and schools to maximise trade and investment
What did Giddens praise about neo-liberalism?
It had empowered individuals economically, bringing them greater freedom
How did Giddens view society?
Community was important and this could be implemented through devolution
Where do socialists agree in regards to human nature?
- Humans are naturally fraternal and work together
- Human nature is shaped by social circumstances
- Optimistic view of what humans can become
How do Marx and Engels view human nature?
- Not fixed
- Labour satisfies humans needs while forced labour alienates workers, preventing them from being satisfied
How did Luxemburg view human nature?
- Optimistic
- Humans have the capability to form class conciousness
How does Giddens view human nature?
- Optimistic
- The free market allows individuals to be empowered
Where do socialists agree in terms of the state?
- The state can drive social and economic change
- The state has a duty to promote equality
How did Marx and Engels view the state?
- Merely a committee for the ruling class
- Cannot be reformed and must be replaced by a dictatorship of the proletariat
- The state will eventually wither away
How did Luxemburg view the state?
- Class conflict between the ruling state and the workers who felt ignored
- The state must be overthrown by the working class and not by the intellectual class
How did Webb view the state?
- The state could implement socialism through parliamentary democracy
- The state could be gradually expanded
How did Crosland view the state?
The state should play a key role in managing the economy using Keynesian economics
Where do socialists agree in relation to society?
- Humans are a product of the society in which they live
- Society needs to be restructured to promote more equality
How did Luxemburg view society?
- Capitalist society exploited the working class
- This exploitation would continue until there was a mass workers strike and socialist revolution
How did Webb view society?
Society should have a ‘national minimum’ quality of of life which nobody should be allowed to fall below
Where do socialists agree in regards to the economy?
- The economy should work for the interests of all in society
- Private property and capitalism are problematic
How did Marx and Engels view the economy?
- Working class are ‘gravediggers’ of capitalism
- By owning the means of production, class conflict and poverty will be a thing of the past
How did Webb view the economy?
The state could gradually take the economy into common ownership
How did Giddens view the economy?
- Deregulation and free market economics
- Taxation spent on infrastructure and welfare
3 socialist views on human nature
- Luxemburg: optimistic, the proletariat can be intellectual enough for a revolution
- Webb: capitalism and poverty a ‘corrupting force’ on human nature, naturally humans are cooperative
- Giddens: positive, free market empowers humans
3 socialist views on the state
- Marx and Engels: committee for the ruling class, must be overthrown, eventually withers away
- Webb: parliamentary democracy could implement socialism
- Crosland: role of state is to manage economy using Keynesian economics
3 socialist views on society
- Luxemburg: society had been corrupted by capitalism and therefore the workers must come together to end it
- Webb: ‘national minimum’ standard for society
- Giddens: community is important instead of class conflicts, pro-devolution
3 socialist views on the economy
- Marx and Engels: capitalism replaced with common ownership of means of production
- Crosland: Keynesian economics
- Giddens: free market capitalism
