Socialism

Question 1

3 ways Human Nature is signifiant to Socialist Thinkers?

Answer 1

Marx & Engles - damaged by capitalism which revolution will repair

Rosa Luxembourg - not damaged to the extent described by marx, fraternity flourishes within working classes.

Anthony Giddens - capitalism has negative effects on fraternity. pro-fairness competes with individual aspiration.

Question 2

3 ways The Economy is signifiant to Socialist Thinkers?

Answer 2

Marx & Engles - capitalism is corrupt & self-destructive, replaced by economy based on collective ownership.

Anthony Crossland - mixed economy w limited ownership & keynsian economics to finance public spending = ensuring economy.

Anthony Giddens - neo-liberal economy (privatisation & deregulation) to fund public spending = greater equality of outcome.

Question 3

3 ways Society is signifiant to Socialist Thinkers?

Answer 3

Marx & Engles - cap society defined by class system

Rosa Luxembourg - cap society is class-ridden

Beatrice Webb - cap society leads to inequality & poverty = competition

Question 4

3 ways The State is signifiant to Socialist Thinkers?

Answer 4

Marx - current state must be destroyed through revolution & replaced w dictatorship of the proletariat, will layer wither away

Question 5

3 ways Socialism supports collectivism?

Answer 5

Humans are best able to fulfil their potential where cooperation reign over greed and individualism; cooperative society, not an individualistic one

Human Nature; cooperation is the most natural of human relationships.

Individuals are motivated by social reward, which always comes from collectivism.

Question 6

Arguments for an economy based on private property?

Answer 6

Revisionist socialism (pro capitalism) 
Eduard Bernstein (classic revisionist) socialism could co-exist with an economy based on private property

Question 7

Arguments against an economy based on private property?

Answer 7

Fundamental Socialism
opposite of common ownership
key aspect of capitalism

Question 8

Fundamental goal of socialism

Answer 8

Establish a cooperative economy through the creation of common/state ownership.

Question 9

Types of Fundamental Socialism

Answer 9

Classical Marxism 
Democratic Socialism 
- Early 
- Late 
Euro-Communism 
Neo-Marxism

Question 10

Types of Revisionist Socialism

Answer 10

Classical Revisionism
Social Democracy
The Third Way

Question 11

Differences between Revolutionary Socialism and Social Democracy?

Answer 11

Social Democrats - moderate the global economic benefitting workers not bosses
Revolutionary - Replace global order with a new way of running the economy

Question 12

The state?

Answer 12

Strong state to ensure a fairer equal society reflecting the principle of equality

Question 13

The economy?

Answer 13

Economic collectivism to focus on societies needs - provide for workers & distribute wealth

Question 14

Society & Individual Prospects?

Answer 14

Individuals are product of society they’re born into = improvements to society improves individual prospects

Question 15

Human Nature?

Answer 15

Optimistic, naturally cooperative and generous seeking fraternity & comradeship
Can be adjusted to ensure potentials are reached whilst also contributing to a cooperative community.

Question 16

Origins of Socialism

Answer 16

1789 - French Revolution
1848 ‘Communist Manifesto’ by Marx & Engels
C19th - rise of social democratic parties in Europe

Question 17

Key socialism thinkers?

Answer 17

Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels
Rosa Luxemburg 
Beatrice Webb 
Anthony Crossland 
Anthony Giddens

Question 18

Poem regarding Human Nature?

Answer 18

‘no man is an island’ - John Donne

Question 19

How does Socialism differ to Liberalism?

Answer 19

Human Nature - Lib = self reliant & sufficient

Question 20

Society & Social Classes?

Answer 20

consequence of the Industrial Revolution - distinctive social groups emerge - define individuals status, prospects. 
Socialists wish to narrow this gap between rich & poor & ultimately eliminate the class system

Question 21

Society & Social Justices?

Answer 21

e.g. education, healthcare = accessible to all to ensure equality of opportunity & outcome

Question 22

Example of Socialism & Society?

Answer 22

Finland - High education free, giving same opportunity to succeed to all, regardless of financial status

Question 23

5 forms of Economic Collectivism?

Answer 23

Progressive Taxation 
Progressive Public Spending 
Public Services
State Regulation
State/Common ownership

Question 24

What state do socialists reject?

Answer 24

Monarchal, Aristocratic state

Question 25

Classical Revisionism

Answer 25

1) REVISIONIST; appose revolution, working class conditions improve under capitalism = history not unfolding like Marx, can instead coexist. 
endorsed democratic socialist ideas regarding extension of trade unions and education for working classes.

Question 26

Classical Marxism

Answer 26

1) FUNDAMENTAL; Capitalism must be abolished for socialism to emerge as it promoted the oppression of social classes - conflicting with idea of equality.
Capitalist society would be replaced (through revolution) by a communist society based on common ownership = ‘end of history’

Question 27

Democratic Socialism

Answer 27

2) FUNDAMENTAL; Beatrice Webb & Fabian Society - Opposed Revolutionary change as it is ‘chaotic, inefficient and counter-productive’ - favoured gradual change towards a planned rational society.

Question 28

Later Democratic Socialism?

Answer 28

3) FUNDAMENTAL: Post war labour governments introduced welfare state, nationalisation to promote a fair, post-capitalist society.

Question 29

Necessary adjustments to pursue fundamental (democratic) socialism?

Answer 29

Withdrawal from EU ‘capitalist club’ to restore parliamentary sovereignty
Parliamentary reform = abolishment of unelected house of lords to ensure clear passage for socialist reform.

Question 30

Euro-Communism

Answer 30

4) FUNDAMENTAL: capitalism gradually decommissioned via parliament & evolutionary socialism - radical & respectful forces occupying positions of power to overthrow capitalism - promoting new ideas within an existing ‘liberal-bourgeouis’ state that could accommodate for socialist change.

Question 31

Neo-Marxism

Answer 31

5) FUNDAMENTAL: Capitalism infects economy as well as arts, media & education and would require violent revolution to overthrow capitalism system, rejecting the idea it would gradually disappear.

Question 32

Book demolishing idea that socialism would appear through gradual reform? what would it take instead?

Answer 32

‘The State of Capitalist society’ 1973 by Ralph Miliband

Revolution during a time of economic crisis i.e. a financial crash.

Question 33

Social Democracy

Answer 33

2) REVISIONIST: hostile towards capitalism and pro-revolution, equal rights & opportunities and a state run welfare system.

Question 34

The Third Way & Labour?

Answer 34

Tony Blaire - New Labour promotion of left-wing ideologies e.g. tax rises to fund welfare programmes. BUT embraced capitalism & deregulation/privatisation = no progress towards a more even distribution of wealth.

Question 35

The Third Way

Answer 35

3) REVISIONIST: Developed by Antony Giddens; encouraging centralist ideas influencing New Labour who’s policies became more conservative.

Question 36

What is collectivism?

Answer 36

achieve valuable goals on a shared rather than individual basis = more effective e.g. joining a trade union