Socialism - ideologies Flashcards
what are the 5 core ideas of socialism
collectivism, workers control, equality, social class, common humanity
what are the three strands of socialism
revolutionary socialism
social democracy
third way
Marx and engles human nature
capitalism instills a ‘false consciousness’ and makes humans nasty, selfish and greedy. a new economic system would revive fraternal and cooperative human characteristics.
Marx and engles the state
Liberal state ‘merely a committee’ for the ruling class, never provide an evolutionary road to socialism. Capitalist societies unstable, and would eventually be overthrown by a ‘historically inevitable’ proletariat revolution
After revolution, a new state would emerge-‘the dictatorship of the proletariat’, then this alternative state would wither away and be replaced by a stateless, classless society, involving common ownership.
Marx and engles society
capitalism creates to conflicting classes, the ‘bourgeoisie’ and the ‘proletariat.’ this creates harsh inequalities of wealth and power and exploits proletariat.
Marx and engles economy
revolution needed to destroy capitalism with alienates individuals. individuals need to develop ‘class consciousness’ to overthrow capitalism
Marx and engles key quotes
“From each according to his ability…
to each according to his needs”
Marx and Engels key quotes
“The executive of the modern state is…
but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie”
marx and engles key quotes
“The history of all hitherto existing societies is
“the history of class struggle”
Webb human nature
capitalism was a “corrupting force” for humanity and the principal cause of “crippling poverty and demeaning inequality.”
Webb state
Capitalism the principle cause of inequality and poverty.
Reform gradual not revolutionary; - should be achieved through universal suffrage ‘the inevitability of gradualism’
Neither paternalism or philanthropy could solve poverty and inequality; could be solved through trade unionism and state intervention.
Webb key quote
“Capitalism is the principle cause of
“crippling poverty and demeaning inequality”
Luxemburg human nature
Capitalism promotes exploitation and is as is with human’s natural, fraternal instincts
Luxemburg state
Evolutionary Socialism impossible
Internationalism; revolution should be a revolt against capitalism and nationalism gladly.
Didn’t believe that for revolution to occur, capitalism needed to reach an advanced stage of development.
Advocated for an immediate construction of a new democracy and individual freedom - democratic socialist
Crosland human nature
human nature is innately fair, inequality of outcome and opportunity hinder collective human progress
new comprehensive education would
Break down class divisions whilst ensuring equality of opportunity
Crosland society
state management will affect societal change and create social justice and equality of welfare
Crosland state
the state should be managed by ‘meritocratic managers’ and ‘classless technocrats’
expansion of welfare state, community inequality advocate more public spending and better public services
Crosland economy
rejects Webbs gradualism and argued for a mixed economy and Keynesian capitalism. as he believed capitalism had been largely reformed of exploitative tendencies in Marx’s time.
Crosland key quote
‘if its the last thing I do, I’m going to destroy every fucking
grammar school in England and Wales and northern Ireland
Crosland key quote
“The socialist seeks a distribution of rewards
status and privileges egalitarian enough to minimise social resentment, to secure justice between individuals and to equalise opportunities”
Giddens human nature
human nature is shaped by socio-economic conditions. more focus on humans as both individuals and collective beings
Giddens state
the state should invest in social investment and infrastructure, refraining from economic and social enginerring.
Giddens society
society will embrace equality of opps and communal responsibility instead of class conflict
Giddens economy
Neo-liberal economy with a free market is more efficient and tax revenues they generate can finances greater equality of opps.
Giddens key quote + what does it mean
“no rights
without responsibilities”
that unemployment benefits should carry the obligation to actively look for work
Blair key quote
third way
” a hand up not a hand out”
Giddens key quote
“the state needed to promote investment
in education and infrastructure to facilitate the competition state’
Human nature, all socialists believe… (4)
- collectivism
- equality of opportunity
- foundational equality
- human nature is cooperative
Society, all socialists believe… (4)
- collectivism
- society is unequal and can always be improved
- fairness and social justice
- class divide is the important divide in society
State, all socialists believe … (3)
- welfare state
- the state is necessary
- state should distribute wealth and create more fairness
Economy, all socialists believe … (4)
- capitalism is the catalyst for socialism
- recognise the negatives of capitalism, distorting ones human nature as is makes us greedy and individualistic
- state intervention is needed
- believe in workers rights
Human nature
main divisions
and reason why and extent
RS - capitalism is alienating, freedom from capitalism, moral and ethical incentives will replace material ones
SD - salaried managers are not as exploitative and profit driven as 19th c owners, collectivism doesn’t necessarily = free, equal, democratic society
TW - focus on individualism and collectivism, believe that the welfare state can influence human nature just as much as capitalism
somewhat agreement, opinions differ on the affect of capitalism has on human nature and collectivism and this is largely due to time difference in strands development
society main divisions
and reason why and extent
RS - historical materialism and dialectical materialism as historical change is driven by class conflict, class is a KEY division in society
SD - material incentives can still benefit society, equality at core and improving education can lead to establishing real equality of opps, to narrow BUT NOT ABOLISH class divisions
TW - class less relevant in increasingly individualistic society, increase focus on social inclusion over egalitarianism, importance of rights and responsibilities as welfare can harm markets.
minimal agreement, as although all believe society should be less unequal the extent is disputed and their is disagreement over levels of equality and relevance of class. due to time and development of class system and suffrage
state main divisions
(include evolutionary soc)
and reaason why and extent
RS - revolution state must be overthrown, the state is the dictatorship of the proletariat, state will wither away under communism
ES - ‘inevitability of gradualism’
SD - not all industries would benefit from public ownership, state can reform capitalism with a mixed economy, state should own and run public services such as education so there is less inequality
TW - market state should facilitate growth, social investment state that provides positive welfare, state should play a regulative role in both economy and society.
mibnimal agreement KEY division between RS and other strands as RS believe in completely abolishing capitalism whereas others believe that the state can be reformed as an advantage and can reinforce capitalism. disagreement TWE states should be involved in our lives. Impacted by Neo-liberal influence on third way and social democracy strands
economy main division
RS - exploitation in economy of proletariat, private property is morally corrupting
SD - capitalism provides the economic growth that can raise standards of living, 19th capitalism Marx critiqued NO LONGER EXISTS
TW - new mixed economy utilises markets in public interest, knowledge economy and metocracy to develop entrepreneurial culture.
somewhat agreement, strands divide on TWE capitalism is bad and how it can be reformed in collective interests. due to time and Neo liberal influence from thatcher and Blair on third way thinking
