Socialism Flashcards
Who supports revolutionary socialism?
Marx and Engels
Who developed Marx and Engels’s ideas on revolutionary socialism?
She didn’t agree with all the views, believing that in a post-revolutionary communist society, there must be democracy and free elections.
Why was 3rd way developed and who is inspired by it?
3rd way was inspired by the work of Giddens renewing democracy with an added twist of neo-liberal ideas. The 3rd way inspired Blair and brown (UK) and Clinton (Usa)
Collectivism
political, social and economic objectives that can be achieved more effectively via collective action rather than by the individual. Morally they believe this interest of the group should take priority over the individual, economically - collectivism uses the whole of society - less waste
Examples of collectivism
health service funded by taxation, providing free care, free eduction, subsidised housing by local governments
M: state as a tool for
> state as a tool of the bourgeoisie, which reinforces the inequality and selfishness of capitalism
M: suggest what for the state
> Marxist suggest all production and distribution should come via the state. example: in Mao’s China 1949-76 state control of the economy was used to pursue state controlled collectivism.
Revolution allows for the creation of a new social system.
M: what will happen to state without revolution?
> The state will wither away once a classless society has been established
eliminating private property to establish a classless, communist society as an alternative to capitalism.
They advocated collective ownership of property for the benefit of humanity, although they provided few details on practical implementation.
M: what do Revolutionary socialists demand?
Revolutionary socialists demand absolute equality for material rewards and life opportunities. This can be guaranteed by controlled sitruibition of goods, services, abolition of private property and common ownership -> redistruibition of resources
Stalin brought the entire economy under state control in the 1930s.
M: what will happen after revolution?
After a revolution, Marx and Engels saw a transitional period where workers were in control. While destroying capitalist values, cooperative, collective and fraternal values would thrive
M: reject democratic solution to
Rejects use of democratic methods to gain socialism - the gov was dominated by aristocracy and workers were unable to influence fov - state = bourgeois instrument of class oppresions
SD’s: attempt to combine
Attempts to reconcile free market capitalism with state intervention
SD’s: views on limited gov
More limited state intervention to achieve equality via welfare measures, gov spending and progressive taxation
SD’s views on collectivism
Pursue collectivism in a limited way between 1945-1951: labour nationalised key industries e.g. Uk coal, steel, iron but left most of the economy private -> pursue collectivism in a limited way
SD’s views on capitalism
> Although capitalism provides wealth it is distributed unevenly, state intervention can protect the public and remedy the weaknesses of capitalism -> welfare state can achieve equality and a certain level of inequality can be tolerated if absolute poverty is removed.
Capitalism was therefore no longer a system of harsh class oppression - reform rather than abolish capitalism
SD’s: croslands view on states role
Social democrats like Anthony Crosland argued that it is the state’s job to deliver social equality and social justice.
SD’s economy:
Social democrats argue that the state, utilising Keynesian economics, will manage the economy to ensure continual high employment, low inflation and growth.
They advocated for gradualism and evolution towards socialism
Sd’s: crosland dsitribute wealth
Crosland - Emphasised the need for social justice, suggesting that progressive taxation should be used to redistribute wealth
Crosland - demanding fairer distribution of wealth and equality of opportunity - education re-inforced class division so grammar school should go and be replaced with fair comprehensive schools
Sd’s: worker’s control
Workers control and class struggle is outdated - crosland argues for a mixed economy where the entrepreneurs could thrive and pay taxes to fund the welfare state. Any further nationalisation threatened liberty.
SD’s supports what gov/state intervention?
Trade unions with strong bargaining rights to stop exploitation, A NHS provides universal care according to need for free, widespread comprehensive state educate is available equality of opportunity.
Third way: views on ‘top down’ state intervention
The Third Way argues against ‘top-down’ state intervention, preferring free-market participation in the delivery of public services.
TW: what should state do instead of ‘top-down’ state invention
> The state should undertake ‘social investment’, investing in social infrastructure such as education and training -> new labour introduced academies and life long learning courses, but expected uni students to held fund the cost via tuition fees
Develop the national workplace skills and knowledge through social investment
TW: economic views
> The Third Way embraces aspects of the free market, It envisages private enterprise being involved in the delivery of public services, as in the private finance initiatives instigated by New Labour.
TW: worker’s control
Giddens - education key to reduce class divisions
Giddens saw workers controls as impracticable - the average worker lacks the skills and expertise to lead or manage the workplace
