Socialism

Question 1

Key beliefs of socialism?

Answer 1

Community 
Common ownership 
Class politics 
Equality 
Social justice

Question 2

Describe Utopianism?

Answer 2

A critical term
Implies an ideology is not based on rationality or scientific proofs but on hopes and aspirations alone.
Unrealistic- cannot be achieved nor sustained

Question 3

What 3 things do all socialists agree on about equality?

Answer 3

1) we are all born with equal rights
2) reject a natural order of society- accepts potential of the individual to take any place in society they aspire to
3) equality of opportunity

Question 4

How were the first recognisable socialists described?

Answer 4

As utopian

Question 5

Why were the first socialists described as utopian?

Answer 5

1- they lacked scientific rigour
2- impractical and eccentric
3- based on an optimistic view of human kind

Question 6

What caused the desire of utopians?

Answer 6

To return for a simpler form of production

A reaction to the problems caused by industrialisation and mass production

Question 7

Examples of utopian socialists

Answer 7

Robert Owen (1771-1854)
William Morris (1834-96)
George Cadbury - Bournville
Charles Fourier- French Social theorist

Question 8

What was Charles Fouriers’s aspiration?

Answer 8

Small self supporting communities based on primitive form of labour rather than mass production

Question 9

Why was Charles Fourier a utopian?

Answer 9

It was an unlikely goal to roll back the progress of industrialisation and urbanisation

Question 10

What caused Robert Owen to have the ideas he did?

Answer 10

Understood that mass production was here to stay, also understood the extent that workers could be exploited

Question 11

What were Robert Owen’s ideas?

Answer 11

Provided his workers with housing, education for their children, health care provision and cheap subsidised goods

Question 12

How did Robert Owen describe himself?

Answer 12

As a benevolent capitalist

Question 13

What was a success of Robert Owen?

Answer 13

He was instrumental in the co-operative movement-
Distributed profits to members
Still survives today

Question 14

Why was Robert Owen utopian?

Answer 14

Capitalism is out for profit
Paying for these things takes cuts out of profit
Relies on more “benevolent socialists”

Question 15

What did utopian socialists have in common?

Answer 15

Had a common desire to hold back the progress of capitalism and industrialisation.

Question 16

Why was utopian socialism not a successful as other forms of socialism?

Answer 16

Other forms of socialism accepted that economic progress (capitalism) was inevitable and would have to be accommodated. - monitored and regulated

Question 17

When were labour founded?

Answer 17

1900

Question 18

What were the original aims of labour?

Answer 18

To get a working class representative in parliament 
Not looking for revolution- overthrow monarch/ capitalism 
Suspicious of class war

Question 19

What did Blair say about class?

Answer 19

“The class struggle is over”

Question 20

Etymology of socialism?

Answer 20

Latin sociare (to share)

Question 21

What battle did labour have in the 1950’s?

Answer 21

The direction to take the party- to a more social democratic position over a democratic socialist

Question 22

Labour in the 1960’s?

Answer 22

A movement away from class based politics to a consensus and cross class appeal

Question 23

What caused the changes to labour in the 50’s and 60’s?

Answer 23

Emboigoisement
Class dealignment
Emerging middle class
Less partisan and more rational

Question 24

Blair is not a socialist

Answer 24

Free market economics “because it works” Education- PFI

Private enterprise- filthy rich

Question 25

Blair is a socialist

Answer 25

Social justice
Workers rights- minimum wage- tax credits
Education and NHS spending

Question 26

The Labour Party has always been a pragmatic party

Answer 26

Y