Socialism

Question 1

when did socialism emerge and why

Answer 1

During the 19th century Industrial Revolution, as a reaction against capitalist economic inequality.

Question 2

What is the central aim of socialism?

Answer 2

to distribute wealth and power evenly across the population.

Question 3

Who are the key founders of socialism?

Answer 3

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, authors of the Communist Manifesto.

Question 4

What did Rosa Luxemburg emphasize in socialism?

Answer 4

The importance of democracy and revolution.

Question 5

What is a fundamental principle of socialism?

Answer 5

Economic equality through fair wealth and resource distribution.

Question 6

What does socialism advocate regarding ownership?

Answer 6

Common ownership of production means, rather than private ownership.

Question 7

How does socialism address social inequalities?

Answer 7

By striving to eliminate class, race, and gender discrimination.

Question 8

How is decision-making structured in socialism?

Answer 8

Through democratic control by the people, not a select elite.

Question 9

What are two main variations of socialism?

Answer 9

Democratic socialism (peaceful reform) and revolutionary socialism (overthrowing capitalism).

Question 10

Marx and engels Human Nature Philosophy

Answer 10

• Human nature was originally fraternal and altruistic.
• This has been tainted by capitalism, instilling the false consciousness of bourgeois values.
• Revolutionary socialism will repair this.

Question 11

Marx and engels and The state

Answer 11

• Existing liberal-bourgeois state is a tool of the dominant capitalist class.
• It must be destroyed by revolution and replaced by a new socialist state: the dictatorship of the proletariat

Question 12

Marx and engels and Society

Answer 12

• Capitalist society is sickeningly and fatally defined by class conflict.
• A communist society will be the inevitable end of history after historical materialism realises itself.

Question 13

Marx and engels and the Economy

Answer 13

• Capitalism is corrupt, inefficient and ultimately self-destructive and unstable.
• It should and will be replaced by an economy based on collective ownership.

Question 14

Rosa Luxemburg and Human nature

Answer 14

• Human Nature has not been damaged to the extent Marx describes.
• Fraternity and altruist still flourish in working class communities punished by capitalist economics

Question 14

Rosa Luxemburg and the State

Answer 14

• The existing capitalist state must be destroyed by revolution, but a revolution arising from strike action.
• The replacement state should be a genuine democracy, complete with free speech and free elections.

Question 15

Rosa Luxemburg and society

Answer 15

• Capitalist society is class-ridden and morally indefensible, yet alternative societies exist within downtrodden proletarian communities.

Question 16

Rosa Luxemburg and the Economy

Answer 16

Capitalism is more resilient than Marx allowed.

Its necessary destruction, and replacement by an economy based on workers’ control will require determination and solidarity among the proletariat

Question 17

beatrice webb and human nature

Answer 17

The damage inflicted by capitalism upon the human psyche will be worsened by violent revolution.

Humanity needs to be guided back, gradually to its original cooperative condition.

Question 18

Beatrice Webb and the State

Answer 18

If harnessed to universal suffrage, the existing state could be used to affect a gradual transition to socialism.

Question 19

Beatrice Webb and Society

Answer 19

Poverty and inequalities of a capitalist society continue to depress human potential while fostering regressive competition.

Question 20

Beatrice Webb and the Economy

Answer 20

A chaotic capitalist economy will gradually be replaced by one which secures for workers the full fruits of their labour based upon a common ownership of the means of production.

Question 21

Anthony Crosland

Answer 21

Labor Politician. He argued in the ‘future of socialism’

Question 22

Anthony Crosland and Human Nature

Answer 22

Human Nature has a powerful sense of fairness and an innate objection to huge inequalities of outcome

Question 23

Anthony Crosland and the state

Answer 23

Democratic socialist governments (labour 1945-51) prove that the existing state can be used to effect radical socialist change.

Question 24

Anthony Crosland and society

Answer 24

Society is increasingly complicated, altered by the emergence of a new social groups comprising managers and classless technocrat (a member of a technically skilled elite.)

Question 25

Anthony Crosland and The Economy

Answer 25

A mixed economy, underpinned by limited public ownership and Keynesian capitalism, will finance the greater public spending necessary to secure equality.

Question 26

Anthony Giddens and Human

Answer 26

Human nature has been shaped by changing socioeconomic conditions. The pro-fairness instinct is still present, but it now competes with a sharpened sense of individual aspiration

Question 27

Anthony Giddens and the state

Answer 27

The existing liberal state should be improved, redistributing and decentralising political power while encouraging greater political participation.

Question 28

Anthony Giddens and society

Answer 28

Society has undergone embourgeoisement.

Egalitarians must harness, rather than deny, these forces

Question 29

Anthony Giddens and the economy

Answer 29

A neo-liberal economy, propelled by privatisation and deregulation, will provide huge tax yields.
This will finance huge increases in public spending, which will secure greater equality of opportunity.

Question 30

Classical Marxism theory

Answer 30

• Capitalism must disappear before socialism can be established.
• Necessary to smash capitalism via violent revolution
• Dictatorship of the proletariat ensues after revolution.
• State eventually withers away to leave a utopian society termed the “end of history”

Question 31

Classical Marxism thinkers and books

Answer 31

Karl marx and Freiderich Engels
Das kapital
The Communist Manifesto