SOCIALISM ESSAY PLANS - state and economy Flashcards
STATE
1a agreement - state is vital to promoting of core socialist values
ALL socialists believe that the state is vital in promoting socialist values and bringing a socialist society.
Marx and Engels argued that workers’ state was necessary before transitioning to the stateless society.
The transition phase = the state would control the intro of socialism by common ownership and equality of outcome.
Giddens stressed the power of the state to use the proceeds of capitalism tax and invest in creating equality of opportunity.
Crosland + Webb argued that the state had a powerful role in controlling the mixed economy and social welfare in a way that would increasingly establish socialist values.
STATE
1b disagreement - getting rid of the state V permanency of the state
Most Marxists argue that the state will eventually wither away when mature communism is attained.
Other socialists argue that the state will be needed permanently to promote socialist values.
Even revolutionary socialist, Luxembourg envisaged a continuing role for the state, regardless of the fact it would be under workers’ control, to create a genuine democracy.
STATE
2a agreement - workers’ control
Marx, Engels, and Luxeburg expected that after the proletarian revolution, a state controlled by workers would replace capitalist economy.
Revisionists such as Webb and Crosland saw an enlarged role for TUs in planning and regulating the economy.
Crosland saw worker reps on company boards.
Giddens supports this only to a limited extent, but still allows TUs and workplace protection as important parts of state legislation.
STATE
2b disagreement - revolutionary change to state V gradual reform of state
Revolutionaries believe that only violent revolutions will ensure necessary changes to the state.
Marx, Engels, and Luxemburg suggest that the bourgeoisie will not give up their hold on the state without an uprising of the proletariat.
Marx and Luxemburg disagree with Lenin, who believed that the uprising had to be done by a vanguard - they believed that it could happen via spontaneous mass uprising of the proletariat.
Revisionists such as Webb and Crosland, argue for gradual and peaceful change and they consider that in the West, capitalism is too strong to be overthrown and it shows no sign of collapsing in such a revolution, and only gradual evolution through reform introduced with the consent of the majority will establish socialist values.
Neo-revisionists such as Giddens envisage a smaller amount of transformation with the state using the proceeds of taxes raised on successful capitalism, to finance greater gradual state reforms to strengthen community without damaging economic profitability.
ECONOMY
1a agreement - Criticisms of the effects of unrestricted free-market capitalism
All socialists accept that an economic system based on capitalism and ownership of private property creates problems.
Marx considered that the emphasis on individualism + profit motive distorted the social aspects of human nature and was hugely wasteful in the class conflict that resulted
Crosland agreed that capitalism was morally and economically flawed and created large inequality that has to be addressed.
Giddens suggested that the period of neoliberal free-market capitalism had increased inequality + social divisions again.
ECONOMY
1b disagreement - Abolish capitalism V Accept some capitalism
Revolutionaries are fundamentalists - Marx suggested that capitalism is corrupt and inefficient. It must be replaced by collective ownership.
Luxeburg favoured replacing capitalist economy with an economy based on workers’ control.
This contrasts with Giddens, who took the acceptance of capitalism further, by proposing no re-nationalisation of privatised companies, but using tax proceeds from capitalism to provide improved welfare targeted at getting people back into work.
ECONOMY
2a agreement - Focus on the working class in the economy
All socialists recognise the need to focus on the W.C, because they agree that unchecked free-market capitalism works to the workers’ disadvantage.
Luxemburg favoured workers’ control with all industries in common ownership.
Crosland sought to narrow the gap between the W.C and the rest and recognised the need for greater worker influence via TU involvement in state planning.
Giddens recognised the need for investment in the W.C through tax and public services providing equality of opportunity.
ECONOMY
2b disagreement - Great influence for workers V Diminished influence
Marx and Luxemburg envisaged the proletariat having full control of the economy following the revolution, with workers’ soviets running the industry, and communes jointly running agriculture.
Stalin amended this direct control of workers into local party leaders running industry, under the command of the central committee of the party.
Crosland, saw the emphasis on workers’ control and class struggle as outdated, but still focused on the W.C by trying to improve workers’ living standards through universal welfare provisions + participating by TUs in state planning committees.
VS.
Giddens + Blair went even further and saw TUs as another interest group in society, and focused more on social inclusion to help the disadvantaged achieve equality of opportunity and better job prospects.
