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uk politics > socialism: core ideas and principles > Flashcards

socialism: core ideas and principles Flashcards

1
Q

socialism core principles

A
  • collectivism
  • common humanity
  • equality
  • social class
  • workers’ control
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2
Q

fraternity

A
  • socialists believe fraternity exists in a society where wealth is equally shared by everyone
  • for socialists, a shared feeling of brotherhood between people will cause co-operation and peace in a society
  • socialists do not believe that there is fraternity in a capitalist system as people compete with each other to succeed
  • socialists believe fraternity will end capitalism
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3
Q

cooperation

A
  • working together for the same end (for example the common good) Socialists believe in a society where humans co-operate with each other
  • socialists argue that there is no co-operation in a capitalist society because there is a conflict between the different social classes which exist in a capitalist society
  • socialism believes a socialist economic system will promote co-operation.
  • for socialists, the society’s economic system influences human behaviour.
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4
Q

capitalism

A
  • capitalism is an economic and political system where the resources and property in a society are owned privately by businesses
  • capitalists believe that goods and services should be produced to make a profit.
  • under capitalism, the price of goods and services is determined by the market forces of demand and supply
  • capitalism does not believe that the government should own and have control over any business or industry in society
  • socialism is opposed to capitalism
  • fundamentalist socialism rejects capitalism and wants it to be abolished and replaced by socialism.
  • Marxists are an example of fundamentalist socialists because they believe socialism can be achieved by a revolution against capitalism.
  • revisionist socialists believe in reforming capitalism by the government providing welfare and redistributing wealth in society - social democracy is a form of revisionist socialism
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5
Q

common ownership

A
  • common ownership is when all property and resources in society are publicly owned and run by the government so that all people in society can benefit
  • common ownership is often called nationalisation
  • socialists believe common ownership will reduce inequality because resources can be allocated by the government to meet the needs of many people in society
  • fundamentalist socialists are in favour of common ownership
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6
Q

arguments against common ownership

A
  • common ownership could mean an increase in taxation to fund publicly owned services.
  • common ownership could also increase the national debt because of increases in public spending. This means that future generations will have to pay off the debt
  • free market: A case against common ownership is the argument that the free market will make sure the economy is run more efficiently than it would under government control, only the free market is able to resolve the basic economic problem (meeting the infinite want of humans with a limited number of resources)
  • common ownership could lead to an inefficient allocation of the economy’s scarce resources
  • Friedrich Hayek (1944 ‘Road to Serfdom’) supported the free market and was opposed to the government controlling the economy
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7
Q

communism

A
  • communism believes that wealth in society should be commonly owned by all individuals
  • a communist economic system has a planned economy and public ownership of industries
  • in a planned economy, the state owns and controls all means of production such as land, capital and labour
  • Karl Marx’s ideas are important within communism
  • Karl Marx believed capitalism would be brought to an end by the exploited working class revolting and overthrowing the owners of capital in society
  • for Marx, the revolution by the working class would cause capitalism to end
  • for Karl Marx, communism exists when there are no social classes of people in society, and all individuals cooperate and live peacefully
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8
Q

socialism does require revolutionary change (supported by most fundamentalists)

A
  • Marx – revolution is inevitable; the pre socialist state reflects the interests of the dominant economic class and would not allow the promotion of socialist values
  • Lenin – revolution is necessary to stifle the ‘false consciousness’ of the masses
  • Luxemburg – revolution would inevitably and spontaneously develop
  • Trotsky - ‘permanent revolution’ was needed until capitalism disappeared
  • Mao – economic revolution needs to be followed by long term cultural revolution
  • neo Marxists, e.g., Ralph Miliband argued that attempts at parliamentary socialism had failed and therefore revolution was necessary
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9
Q

socialism does not require revolutionary change (revisionists)

A
  • Bernstein – with universal adult suffrage, the existing state could allow socialist governments and steady socialist change
  • Crosland and Giddens – with the welfare state, the existing political system could ensure steady increases in public spending and progress towards a fairer system
  • Giddens – the existing system can be reformed (via devolution, for example) to produce greater political equality
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10
Q

socialism must involve the abolition of private property and capitalism (fundamentalists)

A
  • private property generates inequality, individualism and competition, which all go against socialism’s core values of equality, fraternity and cooperation
  • the ownership of private property leads to exploitation
  • the collapse of capitalism is inevitable
  • the working class have a ‘false consciousness’ that their situation is ok, which makes a socialist revolution difficult
  • public ownership is more rational than private ownership (Webb)
  • trying to achieve socialism alongside Keynesian economics has failed (Tony Benn)
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11
Q

socialism does not have to involve the abolition of private property and capitalism (revisionists)

A
  • the debate around private/public ownership focuses on the means to achieve socialism and not the ends – the true ends being equality and fraternity - working class conditions did improve under capitalism (Bernstein)
  • increased public spending rather than public ownership is the key to a more socialist society (Crosland)
  • a neo liberal economy can provide the state with a growing tax yield to finance extra public spending required by socialism (Giddens)
  • in a globalised world, with the spread of home ownership, socialists must accept that the owning of private property is inevitable
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12
Q

marxism is redundant

A
  • communism was intended to ‘mark the end of history’, but history has in fact recently just marked the end of communism
  • the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989-1990 signalled the failed attempt to bring Marxist principles to effective fruition
  • more recent attempts to implement Marxism have not been successful and even catastrophic (USSR – China) - leading to repression, torture, and genocide
  • capitalism has not imploded as Marx forecast, instead, its reach has become ever wider
  • in advanced capitalist states, the working class has not risen to revolution, as Marx predicted. They have instead taken on characteristics of the bourgeoises (e.g., private property), while enjoying the benefits of market economies
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13
Q

marxism is not redundant

A
  • capitalism remains unstable and volatile (e.g., financial crises)
  • capitalism still creates poverty and gross inequality, particularly in developing nations
  • globalisation has weakened the power of national governments, reinforcing Marx’s argument that economic power supersedes political power
  • the ‘disappointing’ record of socialist governments in capitalist states, e.g., Francois Hollande’s government in France after 2012 shows that radical change may be impossible without a revolution
  • regimes such as the USSR and China were never truly Marxist – just because they misapplied Marx’s theories, does not mean these theories were invalid
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14
Q

key disagreements - human nature

A

means: how the capabilities of the community can be realised
- Marxists/revolutionary socialists – true cooperative and communal instincts can be liberated only by the removal of the exploitative and oppressive capitalist system and the creation of a communist society
- Webb – capitalism does not need to be completely abolished but can be gradually changed to suit the needs of the community
types of equality
- equality of outcome – supported by fundamentalists, but not revisionists
- absolute equality – supported by fundamentalists but not revisionists
- equality of opportunity – supported by revisionists but not fundamentalists
- equality of welfare – supported by revisionists but not fundamentalists
positive or negative view of human nature
- Marx – positive view, humans are social beings and work well together in society
- Webb – workers are limited, selfish and uniformed and therefore a representative democracy is necessary
- Lenin – a small party is required to guide the workers in revolution (Luxemburg disagrees with this)

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15
Q

key disagreements - state

A

means: how a capitalist state should be managed
- Marx – revolution; Luxemburg – opposed evolutionary socialism as she does not believe change away from capitalism can be gradual; capitalism is bound to collapse
- Crosland – work within the capitalist state
- Giddens – minimal state intervention (more similar to Marx, to an extent)
end: whether a capitalist state needs to abolished completely
- Marx and Luxemburg – complete removal of capitalism, removal of the state control completely
- Webb – gradual change to a socialist party
- Crosland and Giddens – work within confines of capitalism

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16
Q

key disagreements - society

A

means: how to deal with class inequalities
- Marxists – advocate replacing capitalism with a centrally planned economy based on common ownership of the means of production
- Crosland – high levels of government spending to redistribute wealth and provided welfare, this will help to address the unbalance between the rich and poor
- Giddens – equality of opportunity but less state intervention, people should be encouraged to work hard to achieve

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17
Q

key disagreements - economy

A

means: extent of state intervention
- Marx – initial state intervention to control means of production but eventually no state, abolition of capitalism and the state structure workers’ control
- Webb – increased state intervention; Crosland – high levels of state intervention
- Giddens – rejection of extensive state intervention as it creates a dependency culture
means: how the economy should be controlled and run
- Marx – collectivism, centrally planned and controlled economy, where the workers eventually own all means of production
- Crosland – Keynesian style economics, mixed economy with free market, private ownership and some nationalisation of key industries
- Giddens – acceptance of capitalist free market economy

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18
Q

key agreements - human nature

A
  • positive view of human nature
  • regard people as social creatures who are cooperative, sociable, and rational
  • people naturally prefer to work together than compete against each other
  • equality
  • Marx and Engels – view humans as ‘social beings’
  • Giddens – importance of community
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19
Q

key agreements - the state

A
  • problems with capitalism
  • growth of the state
  • Luxemburg – a capitalist state promotes exploitation
  • Crosland – capitalism needs to be managed
  • Giddens – it is important to offset the inequalities in society created in a capitalist society
  • Marx – a socialist revolution would require the state to take control of all means of production initially, owned by the workers
  • Webb – the state needs to expanded to help deliver socialism
  • Crosland – high levels of government spending needed (growth of the state) to iron out inequalities
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20
Q

key agreements - society

A
  • class inequalities
  • Marx – society is dominated by class conflict
  • Luxemburg – class consciousness must be developed to lead to an overthrow of the system
  • the other thinkers agree that there are inequalities between classes
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21
Q

key agreements - economy

A
  • some form of state intervention
  • Marx – state to control means of production initially
  • Crosland – high government spending on welfare
  • Giddens – government intervention to reduce inequalities
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22
Q

state intervention - collectivism

A
  • socialists believe that a far greater number of people are disadvantaged by a free market economy than benefit from it
  • so, socialists support collectivism and state intervention through increased state spending and providing more state services
  • in the economy, free market capitalist systems have seen an unequal distribution of wealth (the way wealth is shared among a population is unequal)
  • income inequality in the UK is high: the highest earning 10% earn 24 times more than the lowest earning 10%
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23
Q

criticisms of collectivism

A
  • collectivism focuses on the importance of group action and commonly shared interests, and so prevents diversity and individuality amongst humans
  • social democracy and revisionism are forms of socialism that accept private property which collectivism is opposed to
  • neorevisionist socialism supports privatisation of industry, reforms to welfare and8 believes in weakening trade union power, which suggests collectivism is less important for socialists
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24
Q

endorse collectivism: human nature

A
  • socialists support collectivism because it relates to socialism’s view of humans as social animals that prefer living in groups rather than on their own
  • human nature is argued by socialists to be shaped by social conditions and so people can only be truly understood with regards to the social groups they are part of
  • socialists favour collectivism because they believe membership of a collective group such as a community or society provides humans with freedom and fulfilment
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25
Q

collectivism and community

A
  • collectivists believe that we can only have an ideal society if people work together collectively
  • collectivists believe a society where people look after their own interests instead of society’s wider problems will cause society to decline
  • collectivism prioritises group interests over the interests of an individual
  • this is beneficial as collective effort may encourage social unity and increase people’s feelings of social responsibility towards one another
  • collectivism looks to use all of society’s capabilities efficiently through working together and so limits the wastefulness and negative effect of people competing against each other
26
Q

collectivism

A
  • collectivism is a core principle of socialism which believes that the collective efforts of people, in organised groups and seeking the same goals, are of more economic and moral value than the effort of individuals
  • collectivism – the idea that communal actions and interests are more effective and more important than individual ones. This implies a social element to human nature where people care more for their community and its aims than their own ones
  • this idea is applied to focus on policy that benefits society as a whole rather than the individuals within it. Also, collective action is the only way to improve society. It is the most efficient form of action as it avoids the waste that accompanies competition
  • socialists support nationalisation and common ownership of industry and wealth, trade unions, the co-operative movement and state intervention by providing welfare for the poorest in society
  • Webb – an expanding state would provide more and more for the people
27
Q

common humanity

A
  • common humanity believes that humans prefer naturally to co-operate with one another rather than compete
  • closely linked to the idea of collectivism
  • people are social creatures who prefer living in a community than on their own
  • they also prefer to cooperate rather than compete with each other
  • competition promotes divisions within society and therefore it is negative
  • capitalism encourages people to focus on themselves rather than on their community
  • only by removing the restrictions of capitalism can the real potential of humanity be reached
  • Marx and Engels – when communism is achieved there will be no more class differences and therefore no more conflict
  • Giddens – individualism is a capitalism construction that conceals the true social nature of people
28
Q

human behaviour - common humanity

A
  • common humanity says that an individual cannot be understood without reference to society because human behaviour is socially determined
  • socialists believe that because human behaviour is shaped by forces in society, capitalism will not allow the best of human nature as it is unethical and so a more socially fair alternative is required
  • socialists believe that opportunities should be spread widely for all in society as each individual is worth the same and should be equally valued
  • socialists believe that humans are motivated by moral incentives, and have a sense of responsibility for others, and so will work hard because they wish to contribute to making their society better
  • contemporary socialists believe that material rewards should be linked to moral incentives, such as that boosting economic growth should increase living standards for the population but also provide funds through tax to support welfare measures to help the poor
29
Q

cooperation and common humanity

A
  • socialists are in favour of co-operation because of their positive view of human nature
  • socialists believe that humans naturally wish to work together to achieve positive outcomes for society, and when people co-operate they form relationships based on respect, understanding and mutual support
30
Q

human nature and common humanity

A
  • the socialist belief in a common humanity is also based on assumptions about human nature
  • socialists see humans as social creatures with a tendency towards cooperation, sociability and rationality; humans naturally prefer to cooperate with, rather than compete against, each other
  • in fact, the individual cannot be understood without reference to society, because human behaviour is socially determined
31
Q

human nature and society, community – common humanity

A
  • socialists advocate cooperation based on their positive view of human nature
  • they argue that humans are naturally inclined to work together for the common good and that cooperative effort produces the best result for humanity, in both moral and economic terms
  • people who cooperate rather than compete with each other form connections based on understanding, respect and mutual support
  • they also channel capabilities of the whole group or community, rather than just the potential of a single individual
32
Q

capitalism, society and common humanity

A
  • by contrast, according to the socialist view, competition (particularly within a capitalist economy) is wasteful, promotes social division and generates conflict, hostility and resentment
  • socialists maintain that capitalist economic competition sets one person against another, a process that encourages people to reject or disregard their common humanity (and social nature) rather than accept it
  • socialists believe competition encourages humans to be self-centred and belligerent
  • this emphasis on a common humanity has led socialists to conclude that human motivation can be driven be driven, not just by material considerations, but also by a moral view of people’s role in society
  • people should work hard in order to improve their society or community because they have a sense of responsibility for other humans, particularly the least fortunate
  • the moral incentive to improve society rests on the acceptance of a common humanity
33
Q

incentives and the state – common humanity

A
  • for the economy to function properly, most contemporary socialists accept the need for at least some material rewards to motivate people, but they also stress that these should be linked to moral incentives
  • for example, co-operatives effort to boost economic growth, not only increases living standards for the working population but also provides the funds (through taxation) to finance welfare measures to help the vulnerable and the poor
  • the belief in a common humanity has led socialists to support an interventionalist role for the state
  • Marxists and state socialists argue that the agency of the state can be used to control economic production and distribution for the benefit of everyone
  • social democrats also advocate state intervention, in the more limited form of welfare and redistribution programmes, to help those in the greatest need
34
Q

socialists argue in favour of social equality because

A
  • social equality ensures fairness
  • social equality reinforces the ideas of collectivism
  • social equality ensures that basic human needs are satisfied
35
Q

equality

A
  • all people should be equal in all ways including equality of outcome or social equality
  • economic inequality is simply due to the existing structure of society, rather than inherent human nature
  • equality is beneficial as it supports the idea of collectivism as well
  • equality will also ensure peace in society, since conflict is caused by economic differences between rich and poor
  • Crosland – social justice, or democratic equality, and not just equality of opportunity, should be sought
36
Q

equality and fairness

A
  • social equality can benefit all individuals in society by increasing the life expectancy, happiness levels, reducing poverty and crime
  • Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson (2010 ‘The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone’) argued that societies with high inequality will experience lower living standards than those with less inequality
  • socialists argue for social equality because it ensures fairness
37
Q

inequality and capitalism

A
  • inequality is the result of the structural inequalities within a capitalist society instead of a difference in people’s ability
  • socialists believe that people are born with the ability to be equal
  • socialists argue that social equality reinforces the ideas of collectivism and co-operation within society because humans are more likely to work for a common economic good and exist peacefully if they have similar social and economic conditions
  • socialists believe that social inequality encourages conflict between those in society
38
Q

wealth and equality

A
  • equality ensures that basic human needs are satisfied through an equal distribution of wealth.
  • basic human needs cannot be achieved through a free-market economy where industry is driven by profit and so not able to fairly allocate wealth to all of society
  • from a socialist perspective, only the state and its ability to redistribute wealth will ensure everyone is able to have their basic needs satisfied
39
Q

against social equality

A
  • social equality can lower the ambition of people by lessening the material incentives for hard work, which can result in economic underperformance
  • social equality is unjust because treating all individuals as the same regardless of their performance fails to reward people based on their ability
  • social equality limits the level of diversity in society
  • social equality restricts individual liberties because the way social equality would be achieved is through increased state intervention
40
Q

revolutionary socialists and equality

A
  • revolutionary socialists believe there should be complete equality for all in society both in material benefits and opportunities in life
  • revolutionary socialists believe equality can only be achieved through the state controlling how goods and services are distributed, removing private property and having common ownership of all means of production
41
Q

social democrats - equality

A
  • social democrats aim to remove absolute poverty and achieve equality in society through welfare measures, government spending and a progressive tax system
  • if poverty can be abolished then a certain amount of inequality can be accepted
  • to achieve the abolition of poverty, the state’s role is to adjust distribution so that differences in wealth and life opportunities are reduced
  • social democrats ultimately look to reform capitalism as opposed to abolishing it
42
Q

equality of outcome

A
  • equality of outcome is when rewards are dependent on the contribution of an individual. Whilst some inequality will exist, the inequality won’t be as significant as in a free market system
  • fundamentalist socialists support equality of outcome as a means of removing the influence of the free market but other socialists such as third way and social democrats see this as artificial social and economic ‘levelling’
43
Q

absolute equality

A
  • absolute equality is the idea that all in society should gain the exact same rewards as long as they contribute to society
  • each individual over time should make broadly the same level of contribution
  • Marxists support this approach but social democrats and Third Way socialists see this form of equality as impractical to achieve
44
Q

equality of welfare

A
  • equality of welfare is the idea that while society will inevitably be unequal, all individuals have the right to equal minimum living standards and welfare provision which are provided by the state
  • social democrats and third way socialists support this approach towards equality because it looks after the poorest in society, but Marxists reject it because it does not aim to remove capitalism
45
Q

equality of opportunity

A
  • equality of opportunity is the idea that everyone in society should be given an equal chance to make the most of their ability
  • equality of opportunity is a system where everyone has the same opportunities with no barriers to prevent people progressing who work hard and have an ability
  • social democrats and third way socialists support this approach to equality but Marxists oppose it because it does not aim to remove capitalism
46
Q

types of equality

A
  • equal rights – from birth we are all entitled to be treated the same by the state and to have the same rights and to be able to use them as equals
  • equality of opportunity – all should have the same opportunities at the start of life and action should be taken to ensure this is the case
  • equality of outcome – rewards should be proportionate to a person’s input, also implied is the idea that any differences resulting from this would not be a great as those from free market capitalism
  • absolute equality – regards will be equal for all people, regardless of input so long as each makes the best input they can, implied within this is the notion that everyone will always do their best and that everyone will come to make very similar if not the same inputs
  • equality of welfare – everyone should have the right to an equal minimum standard of living and should have the same opportunity to receive help to achieve this level
47
Q

social class

A
  • socialists believe that individuals who share a similar social and economic position have similar outlooks and aims, and that social classes can explain why society is divided
  • a group that has similar or same characteristics, in economic as well as social terms. People in the same social class have the same or similar interests and aims
  • the existence of social classes is used to explain the most significant divides within society. Social classes are the main actors of change throughout history as the tensions between them cause conflict
  • Marx and Engels – social class is a central concept in socialism and it is the driver of history
  • Luxemburg – the domination of the bourgeoisie is historically necessary but so is the rising of the working class against it
  • socialists believe that social classes are the main drivers of change in society rather than individuals
  • the focus on social class is based on the importance socialists place on representing the working class and their interests
48
Q

social class: Marxists

A
  • Marxists believe that a person’s social class is determined by whether they are an owner of productive wealth, and so a member of the bourgeoisie, or if they are a member of the working class, and so a member of the proletariat
  • Marxists argue that class conflict is inevitable between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat
  • the conflict will grow in intensity and result in a working class revolution which overthrows capitalism and replaces it with an equal society without social classes
49
Q

social class: social democrats

A
  • social democrats view social class as the difference in income and status between those in non-manual jobs and people in manual occupations
  • social democrats believe that socialist goals can be met through state provision of welfare and redistribution schemes which try to reduce the distinctions between social classes within society
50
Q

divisions within social class

A
  • for socialists, the existence of social classes explains the most important divides in society, rather than the actions of individuals or the essence of human nature itself
  • at one level, socialists have used the concept of social class to enhance their understanding of social and political development
  • this approach has led them to conclude that people with a similar socio-economic position in society share a similar outlook and have common aims
  • it follows that social classes, rather than individuals or human nature, have been the principal agents of change throughout history
  • for example, Marxists assert that conflict between ruling and revolutionary classes is the driving force behind such change in society
51
Q

improved conditions for the working class

A
  • at another level, socialism’s focus on social class is based on an ideological commitment to represent the interests of, and improve the conditions for, the working class
  • for socialists, the working class provides the means for bringing about a socialist transformation of society and the economy
  • having said this, social class is not viewed as either an essential or everlasting feature of society because communist societies aim to eradicate all class distinctions, and other socialist societies seek to diminish class inequalities significantly
52
Q

the importance of social class and revolution

A
  • although clearly central to the ideology, socialists disagree over the importance of social class
  • Marxists traditionally emphasise the fundamental role of class politics based on the economic division between capital and labour
  • in this analysis, a person’s class position is economically determined by their relationship to the means of production
  • Marxism maintains that conflict is inevitable between the owners of productive wealth (the capitalists or the bourgeoisie), and those who must sell their labour to survive (proletariat)
  • under the capitalism system, argue Marxists, the state becomes an instrument of class rule, with the bourgeoisie using institutions and agencies (such as the political and legal systems, the bureaucracy, and the police) to maintain their dominance
  • nevertheless, this class conflict, according to Marxist theory, grows in intensity and inevitably divides society sharply into two antagonistic groups – the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’
  • eventually this process leads to a proletarian revolution that overthrows the capitalist state and the bourgeoisie
  • for Marxists, the state will only wither away once the workers’ gains have been consolidated and social class differences are replaced by a classless, equal society
  • by contrast, social democrats define social class in more fluid terms, emphasising income and status differences between non manual and manual occupation groups
  • social democrats also tend to argue that socialist objectives can be achieved through targeted state intervention to narrow (not remove) class distinctions
  • the state, according to social democrats, does not represent an instrument of oppressive class rule but rather provides the welfare and redistribution schemes by which class inequalities can be reduced
  • unlike Marxists, who stress class conflict and revolutionary action, social democrats advocate class consensus in society and peaceful social improvement
53
Q

the development of the perception of social class

A
  • over the last 50 years or so, the connection between socialist ideology and class politics has weakened considerably
  • the decline in class politics, reflected in the social democrats’ more moderate stance, had been an important consequence of significant changes in the economy (notably deindustrialisation and the rise of the service sector)
  • deindustrialisation has led to the decline of traditional staple industries (such as coal mining and steel making), which had previously supported a culture of working class solidarity, pro socialist worker politics and powerful trade union organisations (the rise of the service sector = more moderate views)
  • the contraction of the staple industries has undermined working class solidarity and working class communities, and has reduced the size of the manual workforce
  • deindustrialisation has created post industrial societies with service – and information based economies and expanding middle classes
  • as a result, in recent decades, moderate socialist parties have adapted their programmes to appeal to non manual workers
  • they have also attempted to redefine their brand of progressive politics in terms of ‘classless’ concerns, such as green and feminist issues and have placed less emphasis on the redress of working class grievance
54
Q

workers’ control

A
  • socialists favour workers’ control as it means a fairer and more equal distribution of resources because decisions will benefit all of the workforce rather than shareholders and executives
  • the ownership of the production process by the people who work there. It can also refer to the state being in the hands of the workers themselves, rather than run on their behalf
  • workers should be directly in charge in as many areas as possible, especially their workplaces. This is an active control, where they can make decisions themselves
  • the result of this would be that the production processes would be geared towards providing the best result for those directly involved in them, rather than just providing profits for the owners
  • Marx and Engels – the end result of the proletariat revolution will see the state and economy fully in the hands of the workers themselves
  • socialists also favour workers’ control because it means narrowing distinctions in social class, which is important in achieving the socialist goal of a society which is based on equality and social justice
  • workers’ control within society is evidence of a step closer to a socialist society
55
Q

arguments for workers’ control

A
  • workers’ control can refer to a number of schemes which aim to give workers full democratic control over where they work, and so gives workers the power to make decisions
  • workers are key in the process of production and so should be given influence over the process
  • workers’ control encourages increased employee engagement within the business they work for
  • workers’ control offers a means of combating alienation and the view of capitalists that labour is only a commodity
56
Q

arguments against workers’ control

A
  • worker’s schemes can be argued to be utopian (idealistic but not possible) in nature and fail to understand that enterprises need individuals with the skills to lead business successfully and take risks, which workers often do not have
  • so, greater management roles for manual employees may have a negative impact on the economic success of businesses
57
Q

workers’ control and cooperatives

A
  • the term ‘workers control’ refers to the complete or partial ownership of an economic enterprise (such as a business or factory) by those employed there
  • cooperatives are the closest thing we have in the UK
  • it can also be used in a wider and more political sense to mean workers’ control of the state
  • the concept has influenced different strands of socialist thought, including Marxism and syndicalism
  • workers’ control convers a range of schemes that aim to provide workers with full democratic control over their places of employment
  • these schemes of beyond the right to be consulted and participate by seeking to establish real decision-making powers for workers in their particular industries or occupations
  • such a system is often justified in terms of core socialist ideals and principles
58
Q

workers’ control and human nature

A
  • first, workers control is clearly based on socialist views about human nature, as it promotes collective efforts and the pursuit if group (rather than individual) interests
  • furthermore, some socialists have argued that workers’ control, with its emphasis on fully involving employees in all aspects of the production process, can maximise human potential by combating alienation at the workplace and undermining the capitalist view of labour as a mere commodity
59
Q

workers’ control and the economy

A
  • second, workers’ control has significant implications for the economy
  • some socialists maintain that, as the workers are the key factor in the production process, they should have the right to control the means of production
  • workers’ control ais either to dilute or replace capitalist control of the economy
  • for example, French syndicalists in the later 19th and early 20th centuries called for the overthrow of capitalism and the introduction of workers’ control of the economy based on the trade unions and proletarian political institutions
60
Q

workers’ control and the state

A
  • those endorsing workers’ control hold contrasting views regarding the roles played by the state in socialist transformation
  • syndicalists are hostile towards the state, regarding it as an instrument of capitalist oppressions and inefficient bureaucratic structure incapable of initiating meaningful reform
  • consequently, they call for the state to be forcibly replaced with a form of workers’ control based on a federation of trade union bodies
  • British guild socialism, a pro-workers’ control movement that emerged in the early 20th century, was internally divided over the role of the state
  • although all guild socialists argued for state ownership of industry in the pursuit of workers’ control, some called for the state to remain essentially in its existing form, whereas others called

uk politics (14 decks)

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