Socialism Flashcards
How do Socialists agree on Human Nature?
all socialists share a positive view of human nature
that all humans are naturally fraternal and that human nature is socially determined
What are Fundamentalist Socialists views on Human Nature?
Revolutionary-
Marx, we now have the abundance to live again in a inclusive society that is freed from capitalism with ethical and moral insentives, Capitalism alienates human nature as work should make us feel human
Evo- people show preference for collective action, by establishing co-operatives
economic and moral case for Socialism, can persuade exising party support
What are revisionist Socialists views on Human Nature?
Social democracy- Crosland questions idea of collectivism, argue that it doesn’t lead to free, equal society
Crosland- salaried managers are not as exploitative as the 19th Century ones, Marx argues agaisnt
Third Way- Giddens, New individualism, tradition is overshadowed by new lifestyles and identity emphasis
Communitariansim- individuals are greatly shaped by their communities
Third way also argues that a welfare state can be just as damaging as Capitalism as it can disuade people from seeking employment
What is the agreement within Socialism over Society?
Individuals are shaped by society, shared concern over societal impact of Capitalism
all socialists hope to promote greater social equality
What are Fundamental Socialists views on Society?
Revolutionary- stress importance of class as most important division, e.g. relation to means of production
Marx- can either be Bourgeois or proletariat
Dialectical materialism- all historical change has been driven by class conflict
Evo- Webbs, inspired by owen and not marx, focus on brotherhood between classes rather than divisions
Webbs balance interests of consumers ( co-op) with producers and citizens
poverty is “disease of society itself”
What is the Revisionist Socialists views on Society?
Social dems- Crosland, equality at core of socialism, class too entrenched, focus on imporving education is KEY TO EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY,
narrow, but dont anolish class divisions as it is a material incentive that can benefit society
Third Way- class is less relevant to increasingly individualistic and post-nationalist society
focus on social inclusion GIDDENS, focus on rights/ responsibilities
What is the agreement within Socialism in regards to the state?
They see greater role for the state to engineer a more equal society and managing harmful effects of capitalism
What is the Fundamentalist Socialist stance on the State?
Revolutionary- ultimate goal is to overthrow the state and establish a Dictatorship of the Proletariat, when workers seize the state apparatus to pass socialist reforms as the “government of persons” is replaced by the “administration of things”
Evo- Webbs inevitability of gradualism, as workers would naturally elect experts that favour their cause and help to pass socialism friendly reforms
What is the revisionist socialist stance on the State?
Social dems- not all industry would benefit from Nationalisation
“mixed economy”, could benefit from limited nationalsation, alongside a Keynsian economy
state should focus on providing high quality public services, so as to remove any difference between public and private services
Third Way- Giddens, focus on market state, should act as facilitators of growth, social investment, state should provide positive welfare
What is the unified socialism view on the economy?
Socialists generally agree that Capitalism has flaws and that if it is left unadressed, teh social divisions that come form it can have adetrimental impact on society.
Generally supports some form of economic collectivism and a degree of state intervention or pannign to address the flaws of free market capitalism
What is the fundamentalist socialist stance on Economy?
Revolutionary- Capitalism is inately exploitative, forced to sell labour power for less than value of labour
Private property is divise, unjust and morally corrupting “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”
Evo- collective ownership, trhough nationalisation and unions, helped to establish Clause IV in Labour “ coomon ownership of means of production”, high taxes on wealthy
What are teh Revisionist socialists stance on the economy?
Social dems
Caoitalisn provides economic growth, that ultimately raises living standards the most
Crosland- the C19th century capitalism that Marx argues against no longer exists in Britain
Third Way- Giddens, globalisation, makes it dificult to rely upon old methds, e.g. high taxation
Knowledge ecomony- economy , must invest in human resources, develop entrepenurial culture, “new mixed economy”.
