Socialism

Question 1

What is collectivism?

Answer 1

Humans get things done better when they work together. Society can be made better by collective effort.

Question 2

What doe fraternity mean?

Answer 2

Brotherhood

Question 3

What do socialists believe the states role should be?

Answer 3

The state should be intervening to promote the common good. It should be planning to meet our goals in the long and short term

Question 4

What is the difference between communists and more moderate socialists?

Answer 4

• Communists - state ownership and organisation of almost all production and distribution
• More moderate - key infrastructure and industries should be state run but private capitalism is allowed in many areas

Question 5

Name some collective elements of the UK

Answer 5

• Education is provided
• Trade Unions
• Social Housing
• NHS

Question 6

What criticism does collectivism face?

Answer 6

It suppresses individuality and erodes individual freedoms.

Question 7

What is moral motivation?

Answer 7

To do what is right for society and help everyone, especially those who are worse off

Question 8

What is the goal of socialists in terms of equality?

Answer 8

Equality of outcome

Question 9

Compare the higher rate of tax in the UK and Sweden

Answer 9

UK - 40% from £150,000
Sweden - 52% from £58,164

Question 10

How does maternity leave compare between the UK and Sweden

Answer 10

UK - 2 weeks for Men and 1 year for Women
Sweden - 480 days to share

Question 11

What was Marx’s view on the role of the state?

Answer 11

• Creates the economic base and maintains the economic system.
• The state is complicit in exploitation and will wither away post-revolution.

Question 12

What was Marx’s view on the equality?

Answer 12

• Workers are exploited by the bourgeoise, the inequality between classes will drive change dialect.
• Equality of outcome will occur in a socialist state.

Question 13

What was Marx’s view on Capitalism?

Answer 13

• Workers are exploited by the state to create surplus value.
• It creates competition within the working class, deceives workers as to what their goals should be. - This will eventually be unsustainable

Question 14

What was Marx’s view on the route to socialism?

Answer 14

• Society has always had contrary forces
• The tension grows until it is unsustainable and breaks
• Capitalism will drive this with the workers becoming aware and active
• Revolution is inevitable

Question 15

What was Marx’s view on the economy?

Answer 15

• It is the base on which societies superstructure is based
• In capitalism this is based on the exploitation if the proletariat and bourgeoise
• After the revolution everything will be in collective ownership , generating means of production

Question 16

What is Webb’s view on the role of the state?

Answer 16

• Power has gradually grown to meet workers needs
• It has moved from keeping order to looking after everyone
• The state will morph into skilled specialists who organise a centrally planned economy

Question 17

What is Webb’s view on the equality?

Answer 17

• A skilled government can deal with the inequalities created by capitalism
• This will inevitably lead to a centrally planned economy
• Distribution of wealth will make society more equal

Question 18

What is Webb’s view on capitalism?

Answer 18

• Capitalism has generated a growing state to deal with its inequalities
• As this continues the gradual move towards more planning and welfare is inevitable
• Eventually we will reach a socialist state

Question 19

What is Webb’s view on the route to socialism?

Answer 19

• No need for revolution
• The gradual move to a socialism as the state takes care of people is inevitable
• The lower classes will be provided for by a specialist, skilled government

Question 20

What is Webb’s view on the economy?

Answer 20

• The capitalist economy is generating its own moderation
• The ‘economic side of democracy’ means that as more workers get better representation they will elect a government that manages the economy in their favour

Question 21

What is Webb’s view on human nature?

Answer 21

• Workers are limited, selfish and uniformed
• Representative democracy is necessary so that skilled experts can be put in charge

Question 22

What is Luxemburg’s view on capitalism?

Answer 22

• Capitalism cannot be managed
• It is still exploitative
• Attempts to work within it don’t solve anything
• You can generate revolution if you can overcome the barriers to class consciousness

Question 23

What is Luxemburg’s view on the route to socialism?

Answer 23

• The only way is revolution
• A socialist party in a democracy can precipitate this through agitation
• Mass strikes, both successful and unsuccessful will lead to a spontaneous socialist revolution

Question 24

What is Luxemburg’s view on the economy?

Answer 24

• Any attempt to work within capitalism leaves exploitation intact
• You can try to minimise the effects but the fundamental problem is still there

Question 25

What is Luxemburg’s view on human nature?

Answer 25

• Class consciousness will develop within workers
• Discontent would eventually erupt into strikes and then revolution

Question 26

What is Crosland’s view on the role of the state?

Answer 26

• State must manage capitalism
• Demand side economics - high employment and low inflation
• Provide more equal distribution of rewards, status and wealth

Question 27

What is Crosland’s view on equality?

Answer 27

• The equality Marx wrote about is no longer present
• Managed capitalism can deliver social equality
• High levels of welfare spending can help those at the bottom, without disrupting the lives of those at the top

Question 28

What is Crosland’s view on capitalism?

Answer 28

• The version of capitalism we have now takes care to deal with inequalities
• Therefore tension (dialectic) is no longer enough to drive change
• Capitalism can be managed by the state

Question 29

What is Crosland’s view on the route to socialism?

Answer 29

• The worst inequalities of capitalism are now ameliorated by modern liberalism
• There is no need for a revolution
• A mixed economy will provide equality within society

Question 30

What is Crosland’s view on the economy?

Answer 30

• The state can use demand side (Keynesian) economics
• This manages employment, inflation and continuous growth
• Rather than collapsing capitalism has improved living standards and funded welfare