Socialism Flashcards
what did antony crosland argue for social democracy
post war revisionist “the future of socialism” 1956 argued that capitalism had radically changed no longer resembles system described by marx “marx has little or nothing to offer the contemporary socialist” growth of kenysian economics industrialisation of key industry rise of professional managers in business CAPITALISM PRODUCED HIGHER LIVING STANDARDS FOR ALL aim of socialism should be to deliver greater social equality and justice through state managed socialism
cooperation
working together collective effort intended to achieve mutual benefit
what do syndicalists offer as an alternative to state socialism
soviet style socialism failed NOT bceause of common ownership, but because of the centeralised state
syndicalists propose property should be owned collectively by groups of workers instead
the workers in each industry are collective owners of their own enterprises
for socialists what are the key traits of human nature
plasticity
sociability
cooperation
how has socialism moved away from collectivism
social democracy accepts private property and economic incentives shift from collectivism to individualism third way privatisation and welfare reform due to increasing concerns of welfare dependency desire to weaken the influence of trade unions
marx quote on the state
the managment committee of the ruling class
what form of common ownership do syndicalists take
industries are owned and run collectively by their own workers
what role does social class play in third way analysis of society
The Third Way instead advocates social inclusion; welfare should target the socially excluded and help people help themselves.
Comfortable with a degree of class division due to support for meritocratic values.
revolution
a fundamental and irreversible change often a brief but dramatic period of upheaval; systemic change typically brought about by the exercising of force
what is the third way difference to neoliberalism
accepts economic theories rejects moral and social implications
explain why democratic socialists believe in the inevitbaility of gradualism
Belief in this led the Fabians to believe that the formation of a socialist political party was necessary, instead of violent revolution.
This is because the extension of the franchise would progressively lead to the establishment of universal adult suffrage, and political equality.
Political equality would work in the interests of the majority – those who decide the outcomes of elections.
This places power in the hands of the working class, traditionally the numerically dominant class in any industrial society.
As capitalism is a system of class exploitation, oppressed workers would be drawn to socialist parties.
These parties reflect working class interests, being committed to eradicating poverty, promoting redistribution: socialist parties are the natural ‘home’ of the working class.
electoral success of socialist parties is guaranteed by the numerical strength of the working classes.
Once in power, socialist parties will be able to carry out a far-reaching reforms, transforming capitalism and creating a more equal and socially just society.
Eventually, socialism would outgrows capitalism.
This is based on the liberal belief that the state is a neutral umpire in society,
social justice
a morally justifiable distribution of wealth usually implying a commitment to greater equality
why do socialists criticised property as it is divisive
fosters conflict in society eg owners and workers employers and employees rich and poor
explain the third way comitmment to the market over the state
adoption of a pro buisness and pro enterprise stance means that the third way attempts to build on neoliberalism “dynamic market economy” acceptance of globalisation and the belief that capitalism has mutated into a knowledge economy
what do marxists think about the state
it is a workers state not necessarily democratic all production and distribution to be under state control marxists aim to create conditions whet the state can wither away non marxists see the state as a permanent institution
why do socialists believe in equality of outcome
promotes cooperation and strengthens social bonds (whereas inequality promotes conflict and instability) equality ensures justice, while inequality derived from unequal treatment by society equality allows personal fulfilment and peoples basic needs to be satisfied
marx/fundamentalist socialists on capitalism
it is all pervasive system of production relations that dominates the state, politics, religon, culture (due to the base/superstructure idea)
total destruction of the capitalist system
it was fundamentally exploitative and that the interests of its two great classes can’t be reconclied
what views is social democracy associated with
capitalism is the only reliable means of generating wealth but is morally defective so wealth should be redistributed the defects of capitalism can be rectified by social and economic intervention, state is custodian of public interest social change brought about peaceful and constitutionally
leninism
lenin’s theoretical contributions to Marxism, notably his belief in the need for a revolutionary or “vanguard” party to raise the proletariat to class consiousness
why do socialists criticised property as it is unjust
wealth is produced by the collective effort of human labour should therefore be owned by the community not by private individuals
explain how marx re-worked hegel’s dialectic
Marx’s analysis of the ‘dialectic’ is based off of Hegel’s theory, that history amounted to the unfolding of a ‘world spirit’ and self-realization.
Engels put it that Marx ‘turned Hegel on his head’ by infusing this Hegelian dialect with a materialistic interpretation.
Marx believed that historical progress is brought about through a dialectical process due to fundamental class conflicts within society, between the owners of the means of production and the workers who sell their labour power.
Marx explained historical change by referencing the internal contradictions within each mode of production, rooted in the existence of private property
social class
a social division based on economic or social factors a group of people who share a similar socio economic position
why do socialists endorse collectivism due to the principle by fraternity
JOHN DONNE “no man is an island” humans work together for the common goods and don’t have selfish individual striving or competition humans are tied together in bonds of humanity as comrades and are united under it humans are inseparable from society neither self sufficent or self contained
explain the third way commitment to competition or market state
concentrate on social investment meaning improving infrastructure, strengthening the skills and knowledge of the country’s workforce education rather than social security education valued because it promotes employability and benefits to the economy governments putpose is to reshape populations attitudes values skills etc rather than economic and social engineering for
why do socialists criticised property as it is morally corrupting
private property breeds acquisitiveness and so is morally corrupting private property encourages people to be materialistic to believe that human happiness or fulfilment can be gained through the pursuit of wealth those who own property wish to accumulate more while those who have little or no wealth long to acquire it
why do socialists criticse foundational equality
Everyone is born equal and so everyone is entitled to equal formal equality (legal, political etc). No one should be discriminated or given privileged.
. Socialists would argue that with this prohibition of state intervention, there will be a deeply unequal society emerging.
Foundational equality ignores the problem of inherited privilege – people do not in modern industrialized society, do not begin life at a level starting point. The privileges that you inherit through family history and the ability to access certain advantages due to financial wealth will always allow some to rise, others to suffer.
Individual is blamed for struggle that is not their fault, rather than structural or institutional problems.
what do democratic socialists think about the state
the state to be democratic and largely pluralist in nature with the assumption that a democratic state would also be just in its outcomes large scale production to be state run
what role does social class play in marxist analysis of society
In the Marxist tradition, class is linked to economic power, as defined by the individual’s relationship to the means of production.
From this perspective class divisions are between the owners of the productive wealth (bourgeoisie) and those who live off the sale of their labour (proletariat).
This conflict is irreconcilable, meaning class conflicts can’t be resolved in the context of capitalism, suggesting a proletarian revolution is necessary to overthrow capitalism.
This leads to social amelioration and class harmony; in emancipating itself from capitalist exploitation, the working class emancipates itself from its own class identity, becoming a fully developed human being.
what do marxists think about freedom
individual freedom is a bourgeois concept collective freedom to be created through equality
why do socialists criticise private property
Firstly it is unjust; wealth is produced by the collective effort of human labour and should thus be owned by the community, not by private individuals.
it encourages people to be materialistic, making people believe that human happiness or fulfilment can be gained through the pursuit of wealth. Those who own property wish to acquire more, whilst those who have little or none long to acquire it – it breeds acquisitiveness and so is morally corrupting.
Lastly, it is divisive: fostering conflict in society e.g. by owners and workers, employers and employees and rich and poor.
capitalism definition
economic system in which wealth is owned by private individuals or businesses goods are produced for exchange according to the dictates of the market
background to social class
Social class is a social division based on economic or social factors; a social class is a group of people who share a similar socio-economic position.
Socialism prior to the mid 20th century was arguably dominated by this, largely due to declining levels of class solidarity and the shrinking of the traditional working class or urban proletariat.
This is as a consequence of deindustrialization and the decline of traditional labour-intensive industries such as coal, steel, etc.
why have socialists justified revolution: it establishes an absolute new system
Revolution has also been advocated by fundamentalism socialists on the grounds that it is the best way in which capitalism can be abolished and replaced by a qualitatively different socio-economic system.
There would be no remainders of capitalism; any would be destroyed in the dictatorship of the proletariat, quelling any possible counter-revolutions by the bourgeoisie.
Thus, if a socialist political party took power through electoral means, it would not be able to enact any real socialist change.
This is because powerful pro-capitalist elites (the owners of big businesses, media barons, the upper echelons of the military and civil service) would be able to frustrate the efforts of any elected socialist government to dismantle capitalism.
This view was summed up by Karl Kautsky, who although he did personally advocate revolution recognized the limits that would be imposed on any socialist government seeking to abolish capitalism. Kautsky argued that ‘the capitalist class does not govern, it contents itself with ruling the government.’
describe the two step process that would occur between capitalism and communism
1 each worker recieves rewards according to the differential value of his or her contribution. This recognises that workers have unequal power and skills and so recieve unequal rewards.
from each according to his ability, to each according to his contribution
2 in the second or higher phase, inequalities between contributions would no longer be recognised and every individual would recieve rewards according to need, not contribution
this implies absolute equality
from each according to his ability, to each according to his need
why is class important to socialists
fundamental divide in society driver of history
why is social class used by socialists as an analytical tool
pre socialist societies socialists believed human beings tend to think and act together with others with whom they share a common economic position or interest social class rather than individuals are the principal actors in history and thus provide the key to understanding social and political change historical change is a product of class conflict - dialectic
bourgeoisie
a marxist term denotes the ruling class of a capitalist society the owners of productive wealth
communism
the principle of common ownership of wealth or a system of comprehensive collectiviszation often referred to as “marxism in practice”
explain lenins concept of a revolutionary vanguard party
Lenin advanced the concept of the revolutionary vanguard party. He argued an elite of professional revolutionaries – the vanguard – could compensate for the weakness of the workers movement within Russian society by assuming a leadership role in the revolution.
Rather than abolish the state, the vanguard should adapt the best parts of the capitalist state to suit the purposes of the new revolutionary order.
This ensures the survival of an administrative apparatus, which Lenin viewed as essential for the construction of post revolutionary order.
what are the differing views on material incetnives
few modern social democrats would contemplate the outright abolition of material incentives
they nevertheless insist on the need for a balance of some kind between material and moral incentives
e.g. socialists would argue that an important incentive for achieving economic growth is that it helps to finance the proviison of welfare support for the poorest and most vulnerable elements of society
why do socialists support equality on the basis of justice of fairness
explain the inequality of wealth simply in terms of differences of ability reflects the largely unequal structure of society people aren’t born exactly identical with the same capacities and skills however, the most significant forms of equality are because of society not nature justice demands people are treated more equally in terms of reward and material
collectivisation
the abolition of private property and the establishment of a comprehensive system of common or public ownership usually through the mechanisms of the state
why does bernstein reject historical materialism
the predictions marx had made had proved to be incorrect - no longer a system of naked oppression
capitalism has shown itself to be bothstable and flexible
the classs divide has not intensified; instead it has become more complex and differentiated
ownership of welath has widened due to the decline of the single powerful industrialist
rise of the middle classs
explain Hevel’s dialectic
two opposing forces conflict of thesis and antithesis producing a higher level, a synthesis which in turn constitutes a new thesis Marx had a materialistic interpretation
how do marxists and anarchists agree on the eventual establishment of a stateless society?
no state is the ultimate goal due to positive view of human nature Marxists: “no man is an island” John Donne; human beings are bonded in the principle of fraternity, making them comrades as they are fundamentally social creatures This belief in community means no need for state due to spontaneous cooperation Individuals have bonds of sympathy care and affection receiving mutual benefit Anarchists: an optimistic even utopianism view of the perfectibility of human nature belief in collectivism, stressing the human capacity of social solidarity (BAKUNIN 1973 social solidarity is the human law; freedom is the second law government makes this social solidarity impossible humans have the ultimate she capacity to order their affairs without the need for political authority
what role does social class play in democratic socialist analysis of society
Democratic socialists adopt a class analysis of society; a socialist order would aim to reduce class conflict but balance power in favour of the working class… form government that will operate in the interests of the working class.
The most common form of socialist system that has been promoted by such socialists is one in which most production and distribution is organized by a central state.
why do democratic socialists support the abolition of capitalism
it can never be suffiecdntly humanised so must be replaced by socialism reforms socially and economically only cause more problems elsewhere in the economy
what role does social class play in social democrat analysis of society
define social class in terms of income and status differences between non-manual workers or ‘white collar’ workers (middle class) and ‘blue collar’ or manual workers (the working class).
Social democrats downplay the importance of class.
From this perspective, the advance of socialism is associated with the narrowing of divisions between the middle class and working class brought about by social and economic intervention in a Keynsian economic stance of injections into the economy, and a welfare state e.g. NHS.
example of UK revisionist socialism in practice?
the third way blair influenced by crosland introduced minimum wage at a level of 5.05 when blair left office legal protection to the working class
other than the inevitbaility of gradualism, why do socialists support evolutionary means
The alternative approach, revolutionary socialism, may lead to violence and an authoritarian state which suppresses dissent in support of the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’.
This is seen in Stalinist Russia during the 1930s. The inevitability of gradualism makes revolution unnecessary.
Additionally, the Fabians believed that elite groups could be converted to socialism through education.
These elite groups would be permeated by socialist ideas, recognising socialism is morally superior to capitalism, as it is more rational and efficient.
what do democratic socialists think about social class
adopts a class analysis of society a socialist order would aim to reduce class conflict but balance power in favour of the working class
proletariat
a marxist term denoting a class that subsists through sale of its labour power strictly speaking the proletariat is not equivalent to the manual working class
surplus value
a marxist term denoting that value is extracted from the labour of the proletariat by the mechanism of capitalist exploitation
why have socialists supported collectivism?
their vision of human beings as social creatures capable of overcoming social and economic problems by drawing on the power of the community rather than simply individual effort human beings are thus comrades brothers or sisters tied to one another by the bonds of common humanity this is expresssed in the principle of fraternity, the bonds of comradeship between and amongst human beings
what are the key concepts of third way
social inclusion community and responsibility competition state market over state
Why do socialists use class as an analytical tool
Socialists use social class as an analytical tool, viewing classes as the principal actors in history and the main source of economic and social change.
Social classes act as the principle actors in history and political change.
This is most evident in the Marxist belief that class conflict is the motor of history, capitalist society being doomed because the property less proletariat are destined to rise up and overthrow the ‘ruling class’, the property-owning bourgeoisie.
why do socialists support equality due to need-satisfaction as a basis for human fulfilment?
a need is a neccesary it demands satisfaction food water shelter companionship fundamental to the human condition satisfaction of this is freedom people broadly have similar needs distributing wealth on this basis has egalitarian impacts
explain the third way opposition to market fundamentalism and moral neoliberalism
generated free for all that undermines the moral foundation of society eg blair project in the uk attempt to fuse communitarian ideas with liberal ones
what mechanisms do social democrats favour
Firstly, a mixed economy is a blend of public and private ownership standing between free-market capitalism and state collectivism. For example, the social democratic Atlee Labour Government nationalized the major utilities – electricity coal gas steel etc.; but left most of UK industry in private hands.
Secondly, economic management allows capitalism to be regulated in order to deliver sustainable growth. After 1956 most social democratic parties were converted to Keynesianism, as a device for controlling the economy and delivering full employment.
Thirdly, social democrats viewed the welfare state as the principal means of reforming or humanizing capitalism. Its attraction was that it acted as a redistributive mechanism that help to promote equality and eradicate poverty.
how is socialism linked to utopianism
equality collective human endeavour idealistic
why do socialists view human nature as cooperating
Because of a belief in that human beings are social animals, socialists believe the natural relationship among human being is one of cooperation rather than competition.
Cooperation makes moral and economic sense: individuals who work together rather than against each other develop bonds of sympathy, care and affection.
Socialists believe humans can be motivated by moral incentives; as human beings innately desire to work hard out of responsibility for fellow human beings, especially those in need.
Third Way thinkers like Giddens believe that capitalism can be beneficial to human nature – economic development can be put to good use for all of society if it is channelled through other socialist values like co-operation, hence the communitarianism of the Third Way.
fundamentalist socialism
a form of socialism that seeks to abolish capitalism and replace it with a qualitatively different kind of society
how did new labour interprete a class analysis of society
absolutely rejected this
it accepts that we mainly see ourselves as individuals pursuign our own goals and that we may be members of smaller groups such as religons
thus supported communitarianism: socitey is individualist in nature but has an obligation to maintain the intergrity of the community as a social entity
fraternity
brotherhood bonds of sympathy and comradeship between and among human beings
explain why cooperation makes moral and economic sense
individuals who work together rather than against eachother develop bonds of sympathy, caring and affection
the energies of the community rather than those of the single individual can be harnessed
human beings can be motivated by moral incentives and not merely by material incentives
capitalism requires indiviudals for the work they do: the harder they work, the more evident their skill, the greatest their rewards will be
the moral incentive to work hard is the desire to contribue to the common good, which develops out of a sympathy or sense of responsibility for fellow human beings, especially those in need
how have socialists supported collectivism
• A preference for the common or collective ownership of wealth • Support for trade unionism • Support for state intervention and particularly welfare provision designed to assist the weak and the vulnerable.
why do democratic socialists beileive in the inevitability of gradualism
1) the extension of frenachise leads to political equality and universal adult suffrage 2) once political equalktu had been achieved this acts in the interests of the majority of the electorate political democracy puts power in hands of working class - largest group in society 3) socialist parties use political power to fundamentally transform society
how have socialists supported collectivism
Common ownership of wealth through nationalisation, to the extent of supporting communism in some instances; or a stateless, classless society. Ths is achieved through a centralised state as a vehicle for collective action, organising all or most production and distribution.
Support for trade unionism (improving wages and working conditions). Social democrats advocate granting significant trade union rights to allow workers to negotiate for more justice
Support for the co-operative movement, designed to replace the competitive and hierarchic businesses that have proliferated under capitalism. For example, the UK cooperative societies emerged in the early 19th century, buying goods in bulk and selling them cheaply to working class members.
Support for state intervention and particularly welfare provision designed to assist the weak and the vulnerable. For example, interference with the wage system to create less inequality e..g through introducing a minimum wage – Tony Blair £5.05; taxation and welfare to redistribute wealth and income from the rich to the poor, equality of opportunity.
dictatorship of the proletariat
a marxist term denoting the transitionary phase between the collapse of capitalism and the establishment of full communism characterised by the establishment of w proletarian state
which philosopher does historical materialism reject the ideas of
Heel who believed that history amounted to the unfolding of a so called world spirit
ruling class
a marxist term denoting the class that owns the means of production and so wields economic and political power
how do Leninists believe socialism could be achieved
revolutionary struggle led by the vanguard party whose role is to bring about proliteriat class consciousness
example of the democratic socialist view on the state
Fabians (1884) saw the local governemnt as the appropriate vehicle for socialis
Municipal socialism was popualr at the end fo the 19th century
this was the theory that some socilalist goals e..g subsidised housing, public healthcare, education proviison best achieved at a local level
this brings the government closer to the people, more democratically based
when did social democrats offical recognise there is no need to destroy capitalism
German Social Democrat Party at Bad Godesberg in 1959
recognised there was no longer a need to destroy capitalism
why do socialists believe in community as opposed to individualism?
humans have the capacity for collective rather than individual action collective action is more naturally harmonious than selfish individualism
why has the link between socialism and class politics declined since the mid 20th century
declining levels of class solidarity and in particular the shrinkage of the traditional working class or urban proliteriatet this is as a consequence of deindustrialisation, reflected in the decline of traditional labour intensive industries such as coal steel etc this forces traditional socialist parties to revise their policies in order to appeal to middle class voters they have redefined radicalism in terms of class emancipation but towards gender equality, ecological sustainability, peace etc
historical materialism
a marxist theory that holds that material or economic conditions ultimately structure law politics culture and other aspects of social existence
dialectic
a process of development in which interaction between two opposing forces leads to a. further or higher stage ; historical change resulting from internal contradictions in society
what is the marxist theory of base and superstructure
base = economic system; the mode of production; class system private property, commodities, capital SHAPES and maintains societies relationships and ideas thag comprise its superstructure base is generally dominant superstructure = legal and political culture politics art ideology religion etc everything not to do with production MAINTAINS and shapes
state socialism
a form of socialism in that high the state controls and directs economic life acting in theory in the interests of the people
how did marx think the collapse of capitalism would occur
For Marx, the collapse of capitalism would come about though a proletarian revolution, which would occur as the proletariat gained revolutionary class consciousness, (awareness of its own exploitation) and so acquired an accurate understanding of the exploitative nature of the capitalist system.
Revolution would be a spontaneous act, carried out by the proletariat class that lead or guide themselves.
This revolution would not merely be a political revolution that would remove the governing elite, but a social revolution that would establish a new mode of production and culminate in the achievement of full communism.
For example, the first successful social revolution in 1917 when the Bolsheviks lead by Lenin seized power in Russia.
why did marx believe capitalism was doomed to collapse
Marx’s theory of the dialectic establishes an there is an irreconcilable class conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, the former being a ruling class that exploits and oppresses the latter.
Marx believed that capitalism would concentrate wealth in an ever smaller number of hands, as the ‘petit bourgeoisie’ of small shopkeepers and artisan craftspeople were swept away by industrial-scale businesses. This would turn an ever greater number of people against capitalism.
also, the pursuit of profit leads the bourgeoisie to steal the surplus value of the proletariat, exploiting them; a process that becomes more pronounced as capitalism enters a sequence of boom-bust cycles; class antagonisms intensify and the alienation of the proletariat increases, eventually resulting in the proletariat gaining revolutionary class consciousness: ‘the gravediggers of capitalism’ (Das Capital).
Thus, capitalism embodies its own antithesis, resulting in a higher stage in history; the establishment of a socialist, and eventually a communist, society. This would be the end of history, where society embodied no internal contradictions or antagonism.
why do socialists endorse collectivism due to the principle as it is of greater practical and moral value than individual striving?
collective human endeavour is more efficient effective and productive society the efforts of a community can be harnessed instead of an i is idual level “each according to his ability” communist manifesto human beings can be motivated morally not just materially desire to work for the common good developing out of sympathy and responsibility for comrades
how do socialists view on inequality differ
marxists and revolutionaries:
all huamns are of equal worth and equally deserve the rewards of their labour, both physical and mental
less radical e.g. democratic socialists:
abhor inequality
recognise that varying abilities and contributions to society must be recognised by differntials in rewards
social democrats:
inequality is natural ; isee to improve effects
1) ensuring equality of opportunity: equal chance to make the most of abilities
2) examine the nature of inequality (what is just and what isnt)
don’t pursue equality, pursue distributve justice
what did antony goddess argue for the third way
rejection of state intervention acceptance of free market in the economy globalisation and he knowledge economy made state intervention ineffective and inefficient equality of oppertunity and responsibility as opposed to clas conflict STATE SHOULD INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATION NOT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ENGINEERING (people had responsibility to help themselves)
why do socialists justify revolution: capitalism is structurally bound to the state
Revolution has been justified by Marxists in particular on the grounds that the state is structurally bound to the capitalist system.
The state is an agent of class oppression, as “an executive committee for managing the affairs of the bourgeoisie”: acting in interests of ruling class against those of the proletariat. Marx analysed that the legal and political superstructure of society (involving, culture, politics, art, religion) arise from the economic base (economic system, modes of production) – the real foundation of society.
For this reason, genuine social change requires a change of economic base, as the state is part of the superstructure.
Therefore, any attempt to introduce socialism through reform or gradualism within the state mechanisms such as voting and parliaments is therefore doomed to failure.
alienation
to be separated from ones genuine or essential nature; used by marxists to describe the process whereby under capitalism, labour is reduced to being a mere commodity
why do socialists justify revolution as there is was an absence of democratic institutions
In the absence of democratic institutions or when political rights are not extended to the working masses, they had very few alternative means of political influence, revolution may be the only practicable way in which socialism can be achieved.
Revolution was the only option in the absence of political democracy.
Where constitutional and representative government had developed, the right to vote was usually restricted by a property qualification to the middle classes.
For Lenin, the purpose of parliaments is deciding ‘every few years which member of the ruling class is to repress and crush the people’.
In practice, socialist revolutions in the USSR, China and Cuba all took place in the absence of any traditions of democratic policies in their country.
why have socialists endorsed collectivism
belief that human beings are social creatures, capable of overcoming social and economic problems by drawing on the power of the community rather than simply individual effort. Human beings are therefore ‘comrades’, ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’, tied to one another by the bonds of common humanity. This is expressed in the principle of fraternity, the bonds of comradeship between and amongst human beings.
why do all socialists think the state is neccesary
Marxists: dictatorship of the proletariat”. This proletariat state would safeguard the gains of the revolution by preventing bourgeoisie counter-revolution.
Social democrats: the state is an enabler; a way of humanising capitalism through redistributive mechanisms such as the welfare state or national health service.
Third way: acceptance of the neoliberal revolution in the 1980s and 90s see the state as a means of social investment, in order to promote employability and benefits to the economy.
capitalism
an economic system in which wealth is owned by private indidviudals or businesses and goods are produced for exchange, according to the dictates of the market
class consciousness
w marxist term denoting an accurate awareness of class interests and a willingness to perdue them; a class conscious class is a class for itself
why do socialists criticise equality of opportunity
This is a much thorough going, deeper commitment; but still isn’t the kind of equality socialists want. Equality of opportunity assumes that qualified state intervention can bring everyone to the same point – you can’t bring everyone to an equal starting point.
No consideration of inherited privilege, unless the state removes this there is never a level playing field. Requisition of property would be the only way to remove inherited advantage, which modern liberals would object to due to support for private property.
This is not only a myth, but equality of opportunity simply encourages a competitive, greedy and selfish approach.
If you believe that this is in place then you will want to push yourself against your fellow human instead of collaborating and cooperating.
RH Tawney argued liberalism is a tadpole philosophy – ultimately only some tadpoles survive in the same habitat (far too much prominence to chance, luck). Not enough support unless state is given a tremendous amount of power, which modern liberals are unprepared to do.
explain Marx’s theory of history
Marx saw the whole of human history as determined not by Hegel’s spirit, but by successive modes of production.
History can be divided into successive stages, based on specific modes of production: tribal society, slave owning, feudalism, capitalism.
The transition from one stage of history to another is brought about by the emergence of increasing contradictions between the productive forces and the relations to production.
For example, the laws and ideas which govern society (political/ideological superstructure) no longer correspond with or reflect advances in the development of the economic base.
Marx held that the rate of economic development in society outstrips the rate of economic development because the political system serves to preserve the interests of the ruling class.
This lack of correspondence fuels crisis tendencies, and society becomes destabilised by class conflict.
why do socialists view human nature as sociable
Socialists believe that human beings are social animals, suggesting that the potential for cooperative, sociable and gregarious behaviour lies at the core of their nature.
This suggests that social relationships tend to be characterised by harmony, mutual respect and peaceful interaction, in line with the principal of collectivism.
Fourier hoped for the establishment of small, self-supporting communities based on primitive forms of labour rather than mass production involved in modern capitalism.
revisionist socialism
a form of socialism that has revised its critique of capitalism and s els to reconcile greater social justice with surviving capitalist forms
where did marx first put forward the idea of the proliteriat being the grace diggers of capitalism?
Das Capital 1867
explain the third way commitment to social inclusion
opportunity and meritocracy asset based egalitarianism the right to access opportunities or asset based egalitarianism leads to realisation of potential welfare targets the socially excluded not cradle to grave help people help themselves widen access to work (welfare conditional on willingness to seek work and be self reliant)
why do marxists disagree with formal equality and equality of opportunity?
formal: legal and political sense is clearly inadequate in itself because it disregarded the structural inequalities of the capitalist system opportunity: legitimizes inequality by perpetuating the myth of innate inequality breeds survival of the fittest mentality: tadpole philosophy
why do socialists view human nature as plastic
They believe human nature is ‘plastic’, moulded by the experiences and circumstances of social life.
Human beings are not born evil, accidents of birth and society’s influence cause people to be evil.
For this reason, they believe that human beings have a high capacity for personal and social development, allowing, at times, to advance utopian views.
Fundamentalists would argue that it is capitalism that has distorted human nature into a ‘false consciousness’ that is selfish and greedy.
what would marx’s stateless society look like
no laws as social consiousness prevents possibility of deviant behaviour;
creative aspect of work restored;
some organisational bodies (not political state);
all production in centeral pool: all individuals draw goods and services from pool according to NEED. no money as labour and goods are not exchanged.
from each according to his ability to each according to his need
how and why are marxists comitted to equality of outcome
Socialism in its original incarnation – Marxism – is completely committed. Marx saw capitalism (private property, inequality of outcome).
This shows his desire to create a communist society where there is no private property, everything owned in common, from each according to his ability, each according to his need.
Everyone revieves the same; implemented in practice as those who attempted to put Marxist ideas in place maintained commitment to equality.
Workers houses, workers’ wages regulated by state e.g. in Cuba it was illegal to imply another Cuban allowing them to maintain a complete equality of outcome.
Eastern Bloc nations constructed housing so every unit for every family had equal dimensions e.g. doctors’ vs street cleaners – status is not determined by financial ability.
how and why are democratic socialists comitted to equality of outcome
Democratic socialists between the 1870s and the 1930s maintained this commitment, seeking to dismantle the capitalist system when elected in order to create the conditions in which private property would be collectivized
They believe that many existing inequalities are largely structural and attributable to accidents of birth, social class or family background, rather than down to individual characteristics - moral dimension to a more equal society
explain the social democrat attitude to equality of outcome
In Sweden, one of the most equal nations in the world, the near equality of outcome seen today is a result of social democratic parties prevalent for an extensive amount of time.
Welfare states to supplement income, social housing programs (material level of shelter); funded by progressive taxation in order to redistribute wealth. although social democrats do wish to create a moral equal society and meet material needs to a degree – they accept capitalist inequalities as it is the most effective way of meeting wealth.
HOWEVER
They do not tackle institutions that perpetuate EOO, labour party never introduces substantial amounts of inheritance taxes which entrenches inequality of outcome.
The social democrat program allows for private enterprise, wage differentials, workers should have financial rewards for success and so inequality should be tolerated.
how and why do the third way reject inequality of outcome
Blair, Clinton do not introduce any degree of progressive taxation. No effort to redistribute wealth. Wealth inequalities rise.
Peter Mandelson’s comment “ridiculously relaxed about people getting filthy rich”.
No attempt to renationalize industries, ultimately allowing inequalities to grow as cooperate profits grow all the time.
The third way does not limit executive pay, allowing large private sector to thrive – always marked by wage inequalities.
Reject neolberal standing on your own two feet but also social democrat cradle to grave
they follow the modern liebral “hand up not a handout”
Blair and Clinton (by not nationalizing certain industries) losing ability to set wage differentials, privately increased wage differentials.
There is a degree of welfarism (or workfarism in the US - support dependent on willingness to work) and a desire to fund healthcare – equality of opportunity not seeking to generate equality of outcome.
contemporary attitudes to equality of outcome
Big change in socialism post 2008, greater commitment to challenging capitalism, back to collectivism and common ownership, equality of outcome.
Key developments in socialism e.g. Jeremy Corbyn’s rise seeks to revitalize debate on equality of outcome.
Gross inequalities of outcome allowed for financial crash to happen in the first place, rewards for the few not the many.
how do democratic socialists favour common ownership of wealth
Democratic socialists continue this tradition, but argue it can occur through the mechanism of the state. Between the 1870s and the 1930s they maintained this commitment, seeking to dismantle the capitalist system when elected in order to create the conditions in which private property would be collectivized.
how do Marxists favour common ownership of wealth
call for the abolition of private property, in a classless communist society.
For Marxists and communists, the collectivisation of private property would enable absolute social equality, as productive wealth is collectivised and distributed “each according to his need”.
For example, in the 1930s Stalin’s “second revolution” witnessed the construction of a centrally planned economy, a system of state collectivisation; common ownership was translated to state ownership.
In addition, Eastern Bloc nations constructed housing so every unit for every family had equal dimensions e.g. doctors’ vs street cleaners – status is not determined by financial ability.
why do marxists support common ownership of wealth
Socialists trace the origins of competition and inequality to the institution of private property, a defining feature of the capitalist system.
They argue private property is fundamentally unjust, wealth is produced by the collective effort of human labour and should thus be owned by the community, not by private individuals.
By contrast, owning wealth in common ensures justice and fairness, as the most significant forms of inequality are as a result of unequal treatment by society, as opposed to unequal endowment by nature.
Therefore justice demands that people are treated equally by society in terms of rewards and material circumstances.
Also, private property divides people, fostering conflict in society e.g. by owners and workers, employers and employees and rich and poor.
This is juxtaposed by the bonds of fraternity and social solidarity that are fostered by common ownership – if people live in equal social circumstances they are more likely to identify with one another and work together for the common benefit
social democrats on common ownership
1940s and 50s, social democracy emerged placing a lesser emphasis on common ownership.
They accept that capitalism is the most effective system of generating productive wealth, defined by private property.
They have therefore distanced themselves from the ‘politics of ownership’, embracing instead the ‘politics of social justice’, in which socialism is defined by the narrowing of social inequality within a still largely privately-owned economy.
Despite this, social democrats maintain the utilisation of he state as an instrument through which wealth can be collectively owned (to an extent)
how have social democrats supported common ownership of wealth to an extent
Social democrats therefore support the more limited nationalisation of the ‘commanding heights’ of the economy (major industries such as coal, steel, electricity and gas): the construction of mixed economies rather than state collectivisation.
These industries were supposed to regulate the entire economy, without the need for comprehensive collectivisation.
However, it is clear social democrats support common ownership as redistributive mechanisms are harnessed in order to provide a more equal society, and meet material needs to a degree.
In this way, welfare states to supplement income, social housing programs (material level of shelter). Sweden’s marked equality has been attributed to the social democratic parties prevalent for an extensive amount of time.
third way on common ownership
neo-revisionists since the 1980s have taken this trend even further, at times supporting privatisation and regarding questions of ownership as of no significance.
Blair, Clinton do not introduce any degree of progressive taxation, making no effort to redistribute wealth.
Therefore wealth inequalities rise in the context of a government: Peter Mandelson “ridiculously relaxed about people getting filthy rich”.
No attempt to renationalize industries, abolishing Clause 4 (commitment to nationalising the commanding heights of the economy), ultimately allowing inequalities to grow as cooperate profits grow all the time.
