Socialism - Key Principles

Question 1

What is Socialism?

Answer 1

The ideology of socialism’s distinctive feature is its opposition to capitalism; socialism seeks to provide a humane alternative to society founded on collectivism, cooperation and social equality
It is idealistic and optimistic of human nature and society
- Derives from Latin word ‘sociare’ -
To combine / To share
- By 1830s, followers of Robert Owen in UK and Saint-Simon in France referred to their beliefs as socialism
- Opposition to capitalism
- Humans = social - Groups, communities
- Cooperation, not competition
- Equality - Provides stability, freedom

Question 2

What is Capitalism?

Answer 2

An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled privately by owners for profit rather than being state-owned.

Question 3

What is Communism?

Answer 3

A theory or system of social organization in which all property is communally owned and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.

Question 4

What is nationalism?

Answer 4

Nationalisation - becomes state owned

Question 5

What is collectivism?

Answer 5

One of the most important ideas underpinning socialist ideology
It informs other socialist values and principles including equality, welfare and common ownership

Question 6

What is a fraternity?

Answer 6

A group of people sharing a common interest or profession; a support system in society.

Question 7

What is common humanity?

Answer 7

Socialists see humans as social creatures with a tendency to co-operation, sociability and rationality
Humans naturally prefer to cooperate with rather than compete against each other

Question 8

What is equality?

Answer 8

The pursuit of social equality or equality of outcome is, arguably the fundamental value of socialism
Socialists argue that this form of equality can be justified in several ways

Question 9

What is common ownership?

Answer 9

refers to holding the assets of an organisation, enterprise or community indivisibly rather than being held in the names of individuals. It exists in every economic system

Question 10

What is social class?

Answer 10

A division of society based on social and economic status

For socialists, the existence of social classes explains the most important divides in society

Question 11

What is Marxism?

Answer 11

The bourgeoisie owns the modes of production, and they exploited means of production, the proletariat
Abolishment of capitalism, establishment of a society in which the modes of production are communally owned
Worker control - the complete or partial ownership of an enterprise by those employed there
It can also be used in a wider sense to mean workers control of the state

Question 12

Socialism

Answer 12

Socialism is a left-wing political ideology that promotes collective social responsibility for others in society and the belief that we should invest more into society and be less selfish with our resources in order to aid those lower in society towards social class equality. Dislikes the constructs of class and the inequality promoted by capitalism. Social justice is the aim of socialism, in providing equal opportunity across a society.

Question 13

Socialism v Communism

Answer 13

• Both exist to limit exploitation and eliminate capitalism
• Marx - capitalism is not a sustainable option; it produces massive amounts of wealth and is a good system, but it is not good for the workers, and capitalism would eat itself (religion is the opium of the people, and capitalism uses the same premise to help keep the workers working) - organic change in which a revolution would just happen
• Socialism is the next logical step after capitalism and the precursor of communism
• Socialism - contribution to greater good and they all equally benefit
• Communism - classless, moneyless and stateless society where people simply takes what they need

Strands of socialism:
- They disagree with the means of achieving change - radical / revolution socialists need revolution vs gradual reform of capitalism through the ballot box (evolutionary)
- They disagree about the ends - socialist society should be complete equality for radicals v narrowing of inequalities through welfare for evolutionaries

Question 14

Key Principle 1) Common Humanity

Answer 14

• Socialists have an upbeat and optimistic view of human nature - the individual is naturally
  cooperative, generous and altruistic
• Rather than seeking autonomy, independence and supermacy like Liberals suggest, human
  beings naturally want solidarity, fraternity and comradeship
• However, out true nature has been diluted by time and circumstance, and so they are more
  optimistic about how it could be, not about how it is like Liberals say
• Socialism, unlike liberalism, sees human nature as malleable rather than permanently fixed
  at birth - it can be adjusted, allowing men and women to fulfil their true, fraternal potential while
  contributing to a more cooperative community

Question 15

Key Principle 2) Collectivism

Answer 15

• Indiviuals are the product of the society into which they were born, unlike Liberals who see society as a sum of individuals
• Society is an independent construct, formed by impersonal forces and shapes those inside
• Engels and Marx - primarily economic forces with means of production
• The individual depends on the society’s nature, and society is why individuals do not reach their potential - if society improves, so do the individuals

Question 16

Key principle 3) Social Class

Answer 16

• Major consequence of industrial rev. was the emergence of class based on employment and income - these are central to the fate of the individual
• Rejects liberal ideas that we can carve out our own destinies, socialists state the individual’s status, priorities and prospects are shaped by the class
• Crosland - social classes are profoundly unequal in terms of power and influence - the working class are seen to be earning less and exercise less influence in society
• Some individuals will have more opportunities to exploit their potential than individuals in other
  sections of society
• Sceptical of meritocracy
• Determined by the economic system underpinning society

Question 17

Key Principle 4) Equality

Answer 17

• Foundational and formal equality under liberalism are meaningless
  without another form of equality such as greater equality of outcome with greater similarity of material resources and circumstances
• Social justice - socialism and equality are more indivisible than liberalism and equality due to socialism’s emphasis on it, and their place as an egalitarian doctrine
• To have equality of opportunity,
  there needs to be greater equality of outcome, and so they seek a
  narrowing of the gap between society’s poorer and richer classes
• Argue that regardless of character, ability and intelligence, an individual born into a lower class will have fewer opportunities
• A society that allows inequality of
  outcome in one generation which is reproduced as inequality of opportunity in the next generation
• It is not good enough to improve the conditions of the poorest - we have to narrow the gap between classes, or society will lack fraternity, cooperation and solidarity, not envy, greed, resentment and division

Question 18

Key Principle 5) Role of the State

Answer 18

• Without a strong state, it will be impossible to make a fairer and more equal society and it would be difficult in the short term to bring redistribution of wealth and greater social justice without an expansive and dirigiste state
  (actively seeks to direct a society’s economy)
• Some socialists believe the state will simply wither away at a blissful moment of human evolution, Marx calling it ‘the end of history’ - for the moment however, a strong state is necessary
• The monarchical state is rejected (no absolute authority of one person) and it rejects the theocratic state (religion) and the aristocratic state (hereditary ruling class) - instead advocate a state where political and economic power has been redistributed so the decision making reflects the principle or equality and empowerment of the people
• State must also be extensive and any reduction in state power is likely to increase social and economic inequality but some socialists still have significant differences in the structure of the ideal state, the extent of activities and how it emerges

Question 19

Key Principle 6) The Economy and worker’s control

Answer 19

• Structure of the economy addresses the inequality
• Economics based on private ownership and capitalism rather than common ownership is problematic - capitalism threatens human nature by encouraging competition, ruthless egotism and pursuit of self-interest
• Free-market capitalism also generates huge inequalities of outcome which is incompatible with equality of opportunity, social justice and self determination
• Economy that provides greater workers control in employment and a significant redistribution of wealth and resources is favoured - redistributionist doctrine, or Robin Hood politics (Benn)
• Two principles of redistribution -
  1) Emphatic rejection of laissez faire capitalism in which market forces are given free rein by a disengaged and minimalist state in relation to society’s economy - an economy with low taxation and little state interference allows unfairness and social injustice to thrive (Third Way allow LF cap.)
  2) Greater collectivism - focus on the needs of society rather than the abilities of a few enterprising individuals - economic collectivism includes progressive taxation, progressive public spending, extensive public services, extensive state regulation (nationalisation) and common ownership
• A benefit of greater collectivism is that it is an expression of a more fraternal, cooperative society with greater social justice
• Another benefit is that it makes the economy more efficient - Marx and Engels explain that capitalism and market forces are volatile and unpredictable, such as causing mass unemployment and collectivism is more stable and manageable and provide material resources that are needed