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Political Ideologies A2 > Socialism > Flashcards

Socialism Flashcards

1
Q

What are the core tenets of Socialism?

A
  • Equality
  • Collectivism
  • Common Ownership
  • Class Conflict
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2
Q

What are the two main categories of Socialists, for the purpose of this exam?

A
  • Fundamentalist Socialists

- Revisionist Socialism

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3
Q

Explain the Fundamentalist Socialist belief in Equality

A

Belief in Absolute Equality or Equality of Outcome. ‘From each according to his ability, to each according to his need’

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4
Q

Explain the Revisionist Socialist belief in Equality

A

Belief in Equality of Opportunity and Welfare, but acceptance of Inequality of Outcome

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5
Q

What is the ‘long’ definition of Collectivism?

A

The belief that the collective human endeavour is of greater practical and moral value than individual self striving

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6
Q

Explain Collectivism (Socialism Topic)

A

People prefer to work together, and Cooperation is more practically effective than Competition.

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7
Q

What is the Socialist view of human nature?

A

Humans are naturally cooperative but ‘plastic’

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8
Q

Explain the Socialist view of the ‘Plasticity’ of Human Nature

A

The only reason people are selfish and competitive is because they have been moulded that way by Capitalism

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9
Q

Explain the Socialist belief in Common Ownership

A
  • Private property is unnatural and immoral. No one should get to withhold land from others.
  • Links with Collectivism and makes Equality possible
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10
Q

What are the two approaches to ‘Common Ownership’ within Socialism?

A
  • Fundamentalists wants to abolish private property

- Revisionists want key industries to be nationalised

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11
Q

Explain the Socialist belief in ‘Class Conflict’

A
  • Class is the most significant division of society. It should be minimised if not abolished.
  • Class is a meta-narrative
  • Defined by relationships to the means of production
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12
Q

Do all Socialists believe in Class Conflict?

A

After the 70s Socialists in the UK (Social Democrats) turned away from class conflict due to shrinking of working class and shifted focus to overall social justice

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13
Q

Why do Socialists believe that is Class the most significant division of society?

A

Classes have common interests within themselves, which often conflict with the interests of other classes.

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14
Q

What do different kinds of Socialists think about methods to solve Class Conflict?

A
  • Marxists think it will only be solved if capitalism is overturned in favour of communism
  • State Socialists think governments must act in the interest of the working class
  • S.D.s don’t believe in class conflict
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15
Q

What are the subtopics within Marxist ideology?

A
  • Dialectic/Theory of History
  • Social Class
  • Role of the State
  • Nature of Capitalism
  • Development of Capitalism
  • Dictatorship of the Proletariat
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16
Q

Explain Marx’s interpretation of the Dialectic

A

Dialectic process based around economic relationships. Every age has a ruling and exploited class. Exploitation always intensifies overtime until the exploited class overthrows the ruling class and the classes switch roles, restarting the process.

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17
Q

Summarise the key points/stages of why/how Marx thought Capitalism was doomed to fail

A

-Gravediggers +Surplus Value
-Exploitation Escalation
-Economic Crises
-Class Consciousness
-Class Polarisation
-

18
Q

What were the two sections Marx divided social class into?

A
  • Bourgeoisie, who owned the means of production

- Proletariat who did not own the means of production

19
Q

Why, in Marx’s theory, did the working class not have class consciousness to begin with?

A

The ruling class control the ideology of the age, which creates a false consciousness which distorts the view of the exploited class into thinking everything is okay

20
Q

Why did Marx see Communism as the end point of history?

A

-No class means no class conflict means no dialectic, so no more revolutions

21
Q

What was Marx’s view of the state?

A

Viewed it as the ‘management committee of the ruling class’. Serves the purpose of repressing the re-emergence of capitalism after the revolution, before it withers away.

22
Q

What is Marx’s view of the ‘Nature of Capitalism’?

A
  • Based on Self Interest, Efficiency and Growth.
  • Based on Capital which can be continually improved
  • Reduces labour to the same status as Capital
  • Capitalists extract ‘surplus value’ from workers
23
Q

Explain how Capitalism creates its own ‘Gravediggers’ and explain ‘Surplus Value’

A

Capitalists seek to grow and maximise efficiency, so workers are paid minimally and ‘surplus value’ is extracted from their labour to reinvest into the business and grow, increasing the scale and intensity of exploitation, leading to revolt.

24
Q

Explain Marx’s belief in the escalation of worker exploitation in the Dialectic process

A

-As capitalism grows, intensity and scale of worker exploitation grows.

25
Q

Explain the role of Economic Crises in Marx’s Dialectic Process

A

-Capitalism causes overproduction because more is being made than accommodated for by the market (because the workers cannot afford the goods made), causing an economic slump and worsening conditions for the workers even further.

26
Q

Explain the role of ‘Class Consciousness’ in Marx’s Dialectic process

A

As exploitation reaches a high enough degree, the working class develop awareness of their dire situation and band together to stop it.

27
Q

Explain the role of ‘Class Polarisation’ in Marx’s Dialectic Process

A

After Class consciousness, other minor classes such as the ‘petit bourgeoisie’ join forces with the Proletariat, so they can be strong enough to overthrow Capitalism

28
Q

What would happen after the overthrow of Capitalism, according to Marx?

A

-Ushering in of ‘Dictatorship of the Proletariat’, stopping re-emergence of capitalism, building up socialism, and eventually withering away.

29
Q

What is the difference between Revisionist and Fundamentalist Socialist view of the State?

A
  • Fundie: State works for the ruling class

- Revisionist: State can be a neutral arbiter of fairness

30
Q

What is the difference between Fundamentalist and Revisionist Socialists in their view of Capitalism?

A
  • Fundamentalists want to abolish Capitalism

- Revisionists want to reform it to make it as socialist as possible

31
Q

What is the difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy in their view of Capitalism?

A

DS; Means of production should be shared between private and public sector
SD; Mostly Private enterprise with largest industries regulated.

32
Q

What is the difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy in their view of Equality?

A

DS; Mostly Equal, but rewards based on value of contribution rather than need
SD; Equality of Welfare but nothing more

33
Q

What is the difference between Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy in their view of the operation of the State?

A

DS; Pluralist democracy. Nationalised large scale industry

SD; Pluralist liberal democracy, state should NOT organise any production/distribution

34
Q

What is the difference between Revisionist and Fundamentalist Socialist end goals?

A
  • Fundamentalist; Abolish capitalism, absolute equality.

- Reformist; Reduce class inequality and have at least equality of welfare if not more

35
Q

What is the difference between Revisionist and Fundamentalist Socialists in their justification for their beliefs?

A

Fundamentalist; Scientific (Marx Dialectic) justification. Are athiests due to belief in ‘false consciousness’
Revisionist; Ethical justification. ARE religious.

36
Q

What is the difference between Revisionist and Fundamentalist Socialist view of the economy?

A

Fundamentalist; Central planning, state collectivism

Revisionist; Mixed Economy with state management

37
Q

What is the difference between Revisionist and Fundamentalist Socialist view of the government/political system?

A

Soviet/Fundie; One party state, dictatorship of the proletariat.
Revisionist; Pluralist liberal democracy

38
Q

Why do revisionists accept capitalism?

A
  • Pacifism; revolution would require violence
  • Effectiveness; capitalism is an engine for growth
  • Compromise; Socialist goals can be achieved within capitalism
39
Q

What are the key ideas of the ‘Third Way’?

A
  • Economic Neoliberalism
  • Class consensus not conflict
  • Social Inclusion, not equality
40
Q

Why do some socialists prefer revolution to reform?

A
  • Before political democracy, reform was not an option.
  • Plasticity; reform would not work because people are still selfish
  • Current political and economic structures favour capitalism

Political Ideologies A2 (6 decks)

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