socialism differing views

Question 1

why do revolutionary socialists reject the use of democratic methods in the pursuit of a socialist society?

Answer 1

industrialisation and capitalism brought poverty, exploitation and unemployment which was expected to radicalise the working class

workers had little ability to influence policies in government systems dominated by bourgeoisie

Question 2

what to revolutionary socialist say about the state?

Answer 2

state is an instrument of class oppression, defending capitalist interest, the dominance of bourgeoisie reinforced by key institutions e.g political system and mass media

gradual change not effective because bourgeoisie too firmly entrenched

existing state must be completely uprooted and replaced, often leads to violence, revolutionary socialists in russia (1918-22) and Mexico (1910-20) fought bloody civil wars to establish their regimes

Question 3

examples of revolutionary socialism

Answer 3

after WWII:
Chinese communists led by Mao
Cuban communism under Castro

they concluded socialist revolution was the only way to remove colonial powers, intended to bring about rapid modernisation and catch up with more prosperous and technological advanced countries

Question 4

social democracy attempts to reconcile free-market capitalism with state intervention, based on three assumptions

Answer 4

• capitalism is a dependable creator of wealth, the way it distributes wealth produce inequality and poverty
• state intervention in economic and social affairs can protect the public and remedy the weaknesses of capitalism
• peaceful and constitutional methods should be used to bring about social change (evolutionary socialism)

Question 5

why did social democracy move away from marxism?

Answer 5

marxists analysis of capitalism was flawed, instead of succumbing to economic crises and promoting class conflict, it was proving resilient and adaptable 
e.g. Bernstein said stock companies had widened ownership of wealth through shareholders

Question 6

key elements of social democracy

Answer 6

• support a mixed economy with only key strategic industries nationalised (atlee labour gov), Keynesianism
• capitalist reform through the welfare state, which would redistribute wealth to tackle social inequality
• socialism is morally superior to capitalism because it promotes social justice

Question 7

what do revolutionary socialists say about capitalism?

Answer 7

any attempt to humanise capitalism, a system based on inequality and exploitation would undermine principles of socialism

Question 8

examples of social democracy

Answer 8

early post-1945
two conflicted features, attempted to deliver both economic efficiency and egalitarianism
this tension was concealed initially but a sharp economic downturn exposed them with demand for welfare services increased as tax-based funding declined

Question 9

why was there a decline of social democracy?

Answer 9

the shift to a post-industrial service-based economy and contraction of working class due to deindustrialisation, reduced social democracy’s electoral base

Question 10

key features of third-way thinking

Answer 10

the primacy of the market over the state
the value of community and moral responsibility
a social model based on consensus and harmony
social inclusion rather than equality
a competition or market state

Question 11

the primacy of the market over the state

Answer 11

accepts globalisation and the ‘knowledge economy’ to ensure competitiveness and productivity to maximise wealth creation (ideological links to Neo-liberalism)

e.g. under new labour the private sector became involved in the provision of public services through private finance initiatives

Question 12

the value of community and moral responsibility

Answer 12

distances itself from moral and social downside of Neo-liberal economics

new labour linked communitarian and liberal ideas, emphasised that personal autonomy operates within a communal context based on mutual dependence and benefit, balancing rights with responsibilities

Question 13

a social model based on consensus and harmony

Answer 13

differs from traditional socialist focus on class differences and inequality

endorses what might be seen as opposing values and concepts e.g. champions self-reliance and mutual dependence

Question 14

social inclusion

Answer 14

rather than socialist commitment to equality

emphasise equality of opportunity and meritocratic school system

doesn’t oppose great individual wealth if it helps to improve society overall prosperity

welfare should target socially marginalised groups and provide the assistance people need to enable them to improve their own situation e.g. Blair said ‘a hand up not a hand out’, target those who are actively seeking employment

Question 15

a competition or market state

Answer 15

aims to develop the national workforce’s skills and knowledge base

focusing on social investment, the competition state emphasises the importance of education as it improves a person’s job prospects and boosts economic growth e.g. new labour slogan ‘education, education, education’

Question 16

what is the third way?

Answer 16

middle ground between social democracy and free-market liberalism hence ‘third
way’

Question 17

how is third-way criticised?

Answer 17

although new labour was electoral successful in 1997, 2001 and 2005
some socialists say its lacks real socialist content e.g. watered down commitment to equality

neo-revisionism was a labour rebranding to attract middle class voters and business interests

however it introduced measures that promoted social justice e.g educational maintenance allowance and minimum wage

Question 18

branches of socialism: human nature

Answer 18

positive view of human nature, they are social, co-operative and rational

human behaviour is socially determined and people naturally prefer to work together

this co-operative outlook enables humans to form connections and harness and capabilities of the whole community

Question 19

branches of socialism: the state

Answer 19

marxism: regards the state as an instrument of class rule, bourgeoisie use the state to maintain their dominance, state will wither away once communism has established a classless society, in practice socialist regimes used to to organise production and distribution and control population

social democrats: limited state intervention can safeguard the public

third-way: state should focus on social investment in infrastructure and education to improve job opportunities and encourage self-reliance ‘top-down’ approach is inefficient and ineffective

Question 20

branches of socialism: society

Answer 20

characterised by class inequalities and economic divisions
marxists: capitalist society dominated by class conflict between bourgeoisie and proletariat, only communism (classless and absolute equality) can deliver a stable and unified society

social democrats: accept class inequalities exist but social differences reduced through peaceful improvements

Question 21

branches of socialism: the economy

Answer 21

most socialists call for some form of intervention or planning in the economy because free-market can’t allocate wealth and resources fairly

Marxists: replace capitalism with a centrally planned economy based on common ownership and means of production

social democrats: accept a degree of free-market capitalism, favour mixed economy with Keynesian techniques to redistribute wealth

third way: accept free market as its most efficient for economic growth as it benefits everyone, rejects state intervention in economy as it discourages investment

Question 22

who are the socialist key thinkers?

Answer 22

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Beatrice Webb
Rosa Luxemburg
Anthony Crosland
Anthony Giddens

Question 23

Marx and Engels key ideas

Answer 23

social class is central to socialism
human nature is socially determined and can only be expressed under communism

Question 24

social class underpins three key elements of Marxism

Answer 24

historical materialism: historical and social development explained in terms of economic and class factors, economy powerfully influences society

dialectic change: a process of development that occurs through conflict between two opposing forces, through history is propelled by struggle between exploiters and exploited, end with establishment of communist society

class consciousness: needed for oppressed to overthrow their oppressors, before socialist revolution proletariat must be aware of its interests and determined to pursue them

Question 25

what do Marx and Engels say about humans?

Answer 25

humans are sociable, rational, co-operative, capable of leading satisfying lives based on fulfilling work where conditions for free creative production exist, which don’t exist under capitalism so individuals can’t realise true potential

communist society individuals achieve their true potential through creative work in co-operation with others

Question 26

Webb’s key ideas

Answer 26

the ‘inevitability of gradualness’ establishing socialism peacefully by passing democratic reform through existing parliamentary institutions

expansion of the state will deliver socialism

Question 27

what does Webb say about evolutionary socialism?

Answer 27

new age of democratic politics would inevitably lead to policies to secure interest of working class

Question 28

what does Webb say about expansion of the state?

Answer 28

gradual growth of state power is evidence that collectivism would bring a new socialist age e.g. local authorities increasingly providing utilities and amenities e.g. gas

state would ensure the peaceful emergence of socialism, this would depend on highly trained specialists and administrators to organise society and the economy

Question 29

what were Rosa Luxemburg’s key ideas?

Answer 29

evolutionary socialism not possible as capitalism is based on economic exploitation

struggle by the proletariat creates the class consciousness needed to overthrow the capitalist state

Question 30

why did Luxemburg say that proletariat revolution was essential?

Answer 30

evolutionary socialism would leave capitalist system of economic exploitation intact so revolution was necessary to effect true change

Question 31

what did Luxemburg say about class-consciousness?

Answer 31

the struggle by proletariat for reform and democracy was essential for the creation of worker class-consciousness that would overthrow capitalism

consciousness would develop from within the workers themselves, their discontent against state control would radicalise them and bring about a socialist revolution

Question 32

why did Luxemburg disagree with Lenin?

Answer 32

did not believe that a small disciplined part was needed to lead workers in revolution

Question 33

key ideas of Anthony Crosland?

Answer 33

modern capitalism lacks inherent contradictions

state-managed capitalism

Question 34

what does Crosland say about contradictions of capitalism?

Answer 34

Capitalism has radically changed and no longer based on inherent contradictions as described by Marx, modern capitalism lacked internal tensions to drive social change and bring about revolution

Government pursuing Keynesian economic could maintain high employment and promote economic growth, rather than collapsing, capitalism has raised living standards

Question 35

what did Crosland say about the role of the state?

Answer 35

Keynesian management of a mixed-economy, some nationalised industries in a system based on private ownership, was the best way to generate economic growth.

provide funds for welfare and social spending to help disadvantaged, while enabling more affluent to preserve their standard of living

Question 36

what did Crosland say about education?

Answer 36

called for development of comprehensive secondary eduction and expansion of higher education

as education secretary, issued circular 10/65 which converted most schools to comprehensives

‘if its the last thing I do I’m going to destroy every grammar school in England and Wales’

Question 37

Anthony Giddens key ideas

Answer 37

the ‘third way’

the rejection of state intervention

Question 38

what did Giddens say about the role of the state?