Socialism essays and KTs

Question 1

Marx and Engels

Answer 1

Founders of the Communist League, published Communist Manifesto 1848.
Class based analysis of political economy as what drives conflict, argued capitalism would become so oppressive there would be a revolution, there would be no classes or conflicts and the state would ‘wither away’ process called ‘dialectical materialism’, only under communism can common humanity reveal itself because nature socially dictated, Marx: ‘from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs’.

Question 2

Webb

Answer 2

Beatrice and Sidney Webb key in development of the Labour party, key books like ‘Decay of Capitalist Civilisation’.
Rejected class struggle and revolution for ‘the inevitability of gradualness’ that slow political change could lead to socialism due to reasoned argument and a mass of evidence, although still believed in a communist collectivised state as the final result.

Question 3

Luxemburg

Answer 3

Revolutionary socialist co-founded the German Communist Party, books such as ‘Social Reform or Revolution’.
Rejected evolutionary socialism as argued impossible within a capitalist system, revolution needed, class discontent would lead to a ‘mass strike’, disagreeing with Lenin who believed it could be brought about by a ruling elite.

Question 4

Crosland

Answer 4

Labour MP and cabinet minister, wrote ‘The Future of Socialism’ 1956.
Argued capitalism no longer as harsh, nationalisation less important but focus on social justice, and redistribution, still ‘equality of outcome’ rejected rewarding talent and ability as largely nature and nurture, mixed economy, still need growth to improve lives of the poor, pledged to ‘destroy every grammar school’ and expanded access to higher education.

Question 5

Giddens

Answer 5

Associated with Third Way and New Labour, wrote ‘The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy’ 1998 as a revision in response to globalisation and increased services and knowledge.
Argued for combination of social democratic and neo-liberal approaches, rejected state intervention, free-market produces wealth for all, instead equality of opportunity and responsibility and community over class, state should invest in education and infrastructure not economy, markets should still be fair and government should prevent inequality widening.