Socialism (P-)

Question 1

What are the four strands of socialism?

Answer 1

-Revolutionary (Marxists)
-Democratic socialists (NOT NAMED ON SPEC)
-Social democrats
-Third Way

Question 2

Who are the key thinkers of socialism?

Answer 2

-Marx & Engels
-Luxemburg
-Webb
-Crosland
-Giddens

Question 3

What are the 5 core beliefs of socialism?

Answer 3

-Common humanity
-Collectivism
-Equality
-Social Class
-Common ownership/workers control

Question 4

How do Marxists view human nature?

Answer 4

Fraternal creatures,

Question 5

How do Socialists view collectivism?

Answer 5

Supports our human nature as collective actions are more effective than individual ones, common must rise up against the few, morally and economically superior

Question 6

How do Socialists view equality?

Answer 6

Equality of outcome, and equal society more desirable than unequal but wealthier (apart from TW), resolving relative poverty - not just absolute

Question 7

How do Rev socialists view equality?

Answer 7

Ending class struggle through radical change, which abolishes exploitation of workers in capitalism and the hierarchy it creates. Collective ownership of the means of production

Question 8

How do Social democrats view equality?

Answer 8

Incremental reforms that gradually address inequalities, use of a welfare state, progressive taxation and market regulation to achieve equality through democratic processes.

Question 9

How do the Third Way view equality?

Answer 9

Balance of market and state in free market, so individuals can equally compete. Inclusive growth, and social investments to provide fair opportunity

Question 10

How do socialists view social class?

Answer 10

Somewhat agree that social class is the most significant divide in society, Marxists use this to argue for revolution

Question 11

What does alienation mean? (Socialism)

Answer 11

WC feel disconnected to their products, instead working to live in capitalism system - which corrupts out common humanity and justifies the need for workers control (links to HN, econ)

Question 12

What does exploitation mean? (Socialism)

Answer 12

WC exploited by the surplus value of their products, as they are sold for a profit and undervalue wc - does not uphold equality, justifies need for workers control (links to econ, HN, state)

Question 13

What is historical materialism? (Socialism)

Answer 13

History divided into economic episodes, each defined by the mode of production that creates conflict between proletariat and bourgeoisie, collectivism and equality not shown (links to econ, society)

Question 14

How do revolutionary socialists view class divisions?

Answer 14

Class struggle and exploitation damages our HN and equality under capitalism, so it must be abolished through class consciousness

Question 15

What is false class consciousness?

Answer 15

Proletariat are prevented from realising their own oppression due to increased opportunities and consumerism - Marxists would argue the means of production has not changed while later socialists would disagree

Question 16

How do social democrats view social class?

Answer 16

Recognition of class inequality and reducing it through the welfare state and redistribution policies - greater EoOutcome but not full, aim to reduce discrimination not just class

Question 17

How do Third Way view social class?

Answer 17

Acknowledge class differences and aim to create opportunities to participate in economy (EoOpportunity), enhancing education rather than welfare and importance on social cohesion and communitarianism

Question 18

What is communitarianism?

Answer 18

Giddens - we are individuals but our identity is shaped by community relationships (rather than class as other believe), so HN is not entirely fraternal

Question 19

How do rev socialists propose to solve class division? (means)

Answer 19

Revolutionary overthrow of capitalism system and the state (as a vehicle of capitalism), common ownership of means of production and socialist state that would ‘wither away’

Question 20

What did Marx say work would be like in a communist state?

Answer 20

‘from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs’ - meaning work is based on natural talents, and those disadvantaged would need more help

Question 21

How do social democrats propose to solve class division? (means)

Answer 21

Policies that give equal opp regardless of social class, robust welfare state and progress taxation to redistribute - incremental and gradual changes

Question 22

How do the Third Way propose to solve class division? (means)

Answer 22

Social investment rather than redistribution, retaining laissez-faire in reforms so markets are fair & competitive, reforming existing system with incremental adjustments, encouraged individuals while providing a safety net for disadvantaged

Question 23

How do rev socialists view common ownership?

Answer 23

-Private property should be abolished
-Workers no longer exploited as they own the means of production and are not alienated from surplus value

Question 24

How do social democrats view common ownership?

Answer 24

Public spending, not public ownership - nationalisation of some key industries to protect workers, and reinvest profit into welfare state

Question 25

How do the Third Way view common ownership

Answer 25

Do not agree with common ownership or nationalisation - private sectors will grow and boost productivity, allowing more taxation to redistribute wealth

Question 26

How do rev socialists view workers control?

Answer 26

alienates workers and makes them powerless - should have more control over their work so capitalism must be abolished

Question 27

How do social democrats view workers control?

Answer 27

Control or managing capitalism via trade unions so profit isnt the only factor considered, control can be given through ballot (Webb)

Question 28

How do Third Way view workers control?

Answer 28

improve transparency and accountability with corporate ownership, and employee participation - no mention of trade unions

Question 29

How do rev socialists view the state?

Answer 29

Serves the interests of bourgeoisie because they own the means of production, limits of parliamentary action (Luxemburg) from illusion of power, will eventually ‘wither away’ with socialism after dictatorship of prolet

Question 30

How do rev socialists view society?

Answer 30

comprised of bourgeoisie and proletariat - ‘class consciousness’ needed to remove inequality and focus on collectivism. Marx defined society through historical materialism

Question 31

How do rev socialists view the economy?

Answer 31

Capitalism must be abolished through violent revolution, to avoid exploitation from surplus value, collectivism superior as less wasteful than free market

Question 32

How do rev socialists view HN?

Answer 32

Fraternal, social creatures that are corrupted to be competitive through capitalism, work as a part of our ‘species-essences’ but now alienated

Question 33

What are Webb’s main ideas? (Dem Social - not on spec)

Answer 33

-Expansion of state as a neutral influence
-Inevitability of gradualism through Parliamentary methods
-Consumer and Producer Cooperatives
-Abolition of Capitaism

Question 34

What are Producer and Consumer Cooperatives? name the key thinker (Socialism)

Answer 34

Webb: Both needed to balance
Producer - businesses democratically controller by workers
Consumer - businesses owned by customers, more successful as decisions made by community rather than workers pursuing own interests, but may overlook workers rights

Question 35

How do social democrats view the state?

Answer 35

Welfare state from public spending in a growing economy, central planning from state and steady expansion of power

Question 36

How do social democrats view society? name the key thinker

Answer 36

Crossland argued that workers could no longer own the means of production due to complex products, aim of EoOpp - not nationalisation so people had social mobility, focus on comprehensive education

Question 37

How do social democrats view the economy?

Answer 37

Keynesian economics for full employment and steady economic growth, public spending towards welfare state to achieve equality, state manages mixed economy, only taxes to prevent concentrated wealth

Question 38

How do social democrats view human nature?

Answer 38

Collective effort to create social unity and work against discrimination to provide equal opportunity

Question 39

How do the Third Way view the state?

Answer 39

Smaller role that provides basic welfare, more of a social investment than dependency (hand up not hand out)

Question 40

How do Third Way view society?

Answer 40

Equality of opportunity, market reforms keep public interest in mind to maintain cohesive society, instead of ‘poverty trap’

Question 41

How do Third Way view the economy?

Answer 41

Inequality of outcome is needed to create economic growth, increased privatisation, redistribution necessary while maintaining free-market to empower individuals

Question 42

How do Third Way view HN?

Answer 42

Communitarianism, we are individuals but atomisation had fragmented communities, leaving us alienated - state needs to invest in infrastructure rather than economic management for HN to flourish

Question 43

How did Giddens view communities? (TW Socialism)

Answer 43

In ‘Beyond Left and Right’ (1994) - highlighted corrosive effects of capitalism and individualism on community, yet they are irreversible so free-market was needed to empower individuals to create social cohesion