SOCIALISM Flashcards
1
Q
describe the broad socialist view of human nature
A
- optimistic view of human nature
- belief that society shapes human nature
- human nature is malleable and able to be improved, to ensure individuals fulfil their true potential
- the individual cannot operate without society, because individuals are not atomistic
- humans are naturally co-operative, generous and altruistic
- there is this notion of fraternity, which is linked to the notion of humans being tied / linked through the burden of common humanity
- human beings crave collective action (collectivism), and humans are willing to pursue goals by working together, meaning humans condemn individualism
- humans will naturally co-operate with one another rather than compete with one another in order to promote a society of sympathy, care and affection, and squash selfishness (mirroring that of the bourgeoisie)
- humans naturally have a sense of social responsibility and want to contribute to the common good (and help those who are the least advantaged in society)
- humans are motivated by moral incentive not material wealth
- humans think and act together with those in which they have a common interest
2
Q
describe the broad socialist view of society
A
- society is a construct which shapes and determines the behaviour of the individuals within it
- if society can be made more equal and fraternal, individual improvement will follow
- individuals are the product of their society, meaning there is a greater emphasis on society than the individual (individuals are not the masters of individual destiny, society is)
- promote having a collectivist society
- class is central to the fate of the individual, and classes are agents in history, not individuals
- because the class system is so unequal, the ability to reach potential is centralised with upper classes, which makes society so divided (because of exploitation of lower classes), and so therefore class systems should be overhauled to promote unity in society
- collective action is more practical and effective than individual action - place a significant emphasis on unity and social cohesion (collective action will allow for a larger social and degree of change to be implemented, not individual change)
- there is an overarching power of society in shaping individuals and dictating their future
3
Q
describe the broad socialist view of the state
A
4
Q
bullet point the 5 core ideas of socialism
A
- collectivism
- common humanity
- equality
- social class
- workers’ control
5
Q
describe the socialist view of collectivism
A
- the notion that humans should work together and promote unity + co-operation in order to bring greater value to society and the economy
- collectivism strengthens group positions against oppressors in society
- believe that working together encourages co-operation, equality and will lower socio-economic inequalities
- idea that society is greater than the sum of its parts
- if individuals are too self-focused and self-interested, individuals will fail to develop meaningful connections, causing atomism and inhibiting change
6
Q
describe the broad socialist view of the economy
A
7
Q
ideas of marx on human nature
A
- human nature is naturally altruistic
- capitalism installs people with a sense of false consciousness
- capitalism has encouraged humans to be selfish, ruthless and greedy
- capitalism deters from original human nature of fraternity and co-operation
- a new economic system is required to bring back true, community based human nature
8
Q
ideas of marx on society
A
- there is a class conflict in society, as the elite oppress the working class
- capitalism corrupts society and places some in higher positions, which they use to degrade others
- feel a communist society is needed to have equality
- capitalism created a bourgeoisie, ruling class, and a proletariat working class, of which this difference created social inequalities and exploitation
- a proletariat revolution would be needed to shake the fundamentals of society and impose communism
- a communist society would have equality and harmony
- revolution in society is essential and INEVITABLE
9
Q
ideas of marx on the state
A
- the state is not politically neutral, it is merely an extension of bourgeoisie influence and power
- argued the state serves in the interests of whichever class has economic control
- capitalism must be destroyed by revolution, and when it is, there will be a dictatorship of the proletariat which will rule to represent the masses, which will erode when communism develops
- this proletariat state would erode to create a classless society and be replaced by communism
10
Q
ideas of marx on the economy
A
- belief in common ownership to benefit and help the masses in society
- belief that capitalism is corrupt and inefficient
- an economy is needed whereby resources are collectively owned and distributed according to need
11
Q
ideas of luxemburg on human nature
A
- humans are damaged by capitalism, but humans are not perfect
- capitalism contradicts the natural fraternal instincts of humans
12
Q
ideas of luxemburg on society
A
- capitalism corrupts society and promotes exploitation
- capitalism creates a class conflict which oppresses and exploits the working classes
- feel the need to have a democratic, communist state for harmony, no dictatorship of proletariat
- evolutionary social change is impossible, a revolution is NEEDED
- revolution will arise due to class consciousness
- belief in mass social change and action to undermine a capitalist state
- socialism is a transnational and international thing
- quick and immediate revolution
- ordered revolution in society to bring democracy
- favours social revolution, not reform, to induce wider change, as revolution creates permanent reform - reform is only continuing what was there before
- democracy is indispensable to reduce power of bourgeoisie, democracy brings class consciousness
13
Q
ideas of luxemburg on the state
A
- a parliamentary democracy is needed to prevent tyranny
- capitalism should be destroyed by a revolution, and replaced by democracy
- does not want a dictatorship of the proletariat, she wants a new democracy (of debate + elections)
- feels that a democratic society is the most needed, and not centralised power
- public control, away from elite, private control
- state must act in the interests of the masses
14
Q
ideas of luxemburg on the economy
A
- capitalism doesn’t need to reach and end state before revolution, you need a revolution NOW
- belief in common ownership to revitalise society
- communist revolutions can occur in any society, even in less developed ones
15
Q
ideas of webb on human nature
A
- capitalism is a corrupting force in society, because it promotes greed and selfishness
- however, humans are imperfect anyways, do capitalism is only something which reinforces this imperfection rather than creates it
- capitalism damages the human psyche, but there was imperfection anyways
16
Q
ideas of webb on society
A
- social paternalism cannot solve the capitalist problem
- social reform must be gradual - “inevitability of gradualism”
- change to society means elite groups must be permeated by rational and humane socialist ideals
- we should have a socialist society which promotes suffrage
- believes a new elite will develop in society, because the average workers lacks the education
- revolution and change is inevitable
- political elite will take over, through peaceful, democratic ways
- through enfranchisement and class consciousness, change will occur
- believes in experts taking control
- much less radical change in society
17
Q
ideas of webb on the state
A
- trade union power and state intervention will help to eliminate poverty and inequality
- there will be a new educated class which will gradually come through in society
- make reforms within the existing political structure and within parliament
- produced a “minority report” claiming that the state must be more interventionist and involved to help train and nourish people to have a secure livelihood, irrespective of wage, illness etc
- supported increasing intervention and a welfare state to help the vulnerable in society
- through a socialist political system, we can have equality of outcome
18
Q
ideas of webb on the economy
A
- capitalism is the main cause of poverty and inequality
- helped write the 1919 clause IV of the labour party constitution (idea of commitment to common ownership)
- support common ownership, as the free market economy becomes gradually nationalised (state intervention in economy)
- doesn’t believe in worker’s control
19
Q
ideas of crosland on human nature
A
- human nature is innately fair
- inequality of outcome and opportunity hinder collective human progress
20
Q
ideas of crosland on society
A
- society should have adequate social justice systems and equality of welfare
- a degree of inequality in society is beneficial to all
- believe in democratic equality
- socialism can be defined by equality and social justice, it cannot just be defined by class conflict
- society is not as polarized as marx was portraying, as the new class which had emerged had different perspectives than those in traditional marxism
- social justice is more important than common ownership, marxs would disagree with this primacy
- objective in society is equality
- accepts inequality (meritocracy) and inequality of outcome (incentive)
21
Q
ideas of crosland on the state
A
- the state must be managed by those who are “meritocratic managers”
- it should be ruled by a neutral and classless elite
- state intervention will act as a catalyst for social justice
- strong welfare state
- if the state manages capitalism, societies will continue to grow, improve employment and drive a welfare state, which will diminish equality
22
Q
ideas of crosland on the economy
A
- belief in a mixed economy and keynesian capitalism (private enterprise / ownership and state owned industry)
- nationalisation is not just the answer to greater control
- equality can still be achieved in a managed capitalist system (disagree w marx)
- doesn’t believe in full free market economics, but believes in more of a free market and potentially less intervention
- this will mean that the exploitative tendencies of capitalism are reformed and removed
- dismissed marxism and claimed that classical capitalism no longer existed, because it has been altered by the spread of democracy, tax, trade unions and welfare
- state involvement in business
- progressive taxation
- public ownership has not gone far enough
- believe in more public spending and public services (atlee government)
- nationalisation would erode individual freedom
- we shouldn’t take what we need, we should take what we earn
- capitalism is business friendly - we shouldn’t get rid of structures which promote growth
23
Q
ideas of giddins on human nature
A
- socio-economic conditions shape human nature, it is not purely capitalism
- humans are individual and a part of the collective, they are not just a part of society (atomistic approach?)
- capitalism has corrosive effects on community and fraternity, which would not be reversed
- emphasis on individual may undermine cohesive society
24
Q
ideas of giddins on society
A
- society should embrace equality of opportunity and community spirit
- society should not operate on ideas of class conflict
- the individualism of society will only reduce personal freedom - you need community to be free
- a decline in local community will sap confidence
- lack of community spirit makes people more susceptible to the work of elites
- accepted that you can work for greater equality of opportunity, but that doesn’t necessarily mean outcome
- need gradual change in society
- marxist expectations are unrealistic
25
Q
ideas of giddins on the state
A
- the state should be involved - interventionist
- supports a welfare state to help the vulnerable in society (redistribution, but to a different extent to marx*)
- believes in social justice measures and infrastructure
- the state should keep out of the economy to be more efficient, but the state must invest in infrastructure (ie education and transport)
- state and people should work together to promote pragmatic responses and adapt society (triangulation)
26
Q
ideas of giddins on the economy
A
- believes in a neo-liberal economic
- believes in a free market, because it drives efficiency
- business friendly economy - capitalism has benefits and is not always unhealthy
- there is no alternative to capitalism
- free market capitalism has economic benefits
- capitalism only works if there is strong social cohesion
- belief in economic triangulation
- giddins believes that the revenue and economic prosperity generated from this free market will finance greater equality of opportunity, which can also be re-invested back into society and trigger development
- capitalist society with a welfare state
- thought that the modern workforce has been atomized bc of a decline in mass production + similarity
- workers control is impractical, because humans are imperfect and uneducated for these roles (webb)
- rewrote clause IV to promote this notion of common endeavour, not ownership
27
Q
key words when discussing socialism on human nature
A
- collectivism
- malleability
- altruism
- fraternity
- collective good / community spirit
- co-operation, not competition
- cohesion
- social bonds
