Socialism (Paper 1)

Question 1

Fraternity

Answer 1

Bonds of comradeship between human beings

Question 2

Co-operation

Answer 2

Working collectively to achieve mutual benefits

Question 3

Capitalism

Answer 3

Economic system organised by the market. Goods are produced for profit and wealth is privately owned

Question 4

Common ownership

Answer 4

The people own the means of production so that all are able to benefit from the wealth of society and to participate in its running

Question 5

Communism

Answer 5

The communal organisation of social existence based on the common ownership of wealth

Question 6

Evolutionary socialism

Answer 6

Using parliamentary methods to deliver long term, radical transformation in a gradual, piecemeal way through legal and peaceful means, through the state. The state is not an evil actor

Question 7

Marxism

Answer 7

An ideological system within socialism created by Marx & Engels. At its core, a philosophy of history that explains class conflict and the inevitability that capitalism will be replaced by communism

Question 8

Revisionism

Answer 8

A move to redefine socialism that involves a less radical view of capitalism. Socialism does not need to lead to common ownership or communism

Question 9

Social justice

Answer 9

A distribution of wealth that is morally justifiable and implies a continued desire to limit inequality, recognising the problems sever inequality produces for those least well off

Question 10

Class consciousness

Answer 10

An awakening to the class system, as a hierarchy that purposefully limits and exploits the lower classes. As a collective, the lower classes will ‘realise’ their unfair position in society

Question 11

Historical materialism

Answer 11

Marxist theory that the economic base (the economic system of capitalism) forms the superstructure (culture politics, law, ideology, religion, art and social consciousness)

Question 12

Dialectic

Answer 12

A process of development that occurs through the conflict between two opposing forces. In Marxism, class conflict creates internal contradictions within society, which drives historical change

Question 13

Keynesian economics

Answer 13

Government intervention can stabilise the economy and aims to deliver full employment and price stability

Question 14

Collectivism

Answer 14

Collective human effort is both of greater practical value to the economy and moral value to society than the effort of individuals alone

Question 15

Common humanity

Answer 15

The nature of humans as social creatures with a tendency towards co-operation, sociability, rationality and how individuals cannot be understood without reference to society as human behaviour is socially determined

Question 16

Equality

Answer 16

Fundamental value of socialism. The disagreements among socialists about the nature of equality and how critical it is to the state, society, economy and human nature.

Question 17

Social class

Answer 17

A group of people in society who have the same socioeconomic status. The extent to which class impacts a socialist’s view of society, the state and the economy

Question 18

Workers’ control

Answer 18

The importance and the extent of control over the economy and state and how it is to be achieved

Question 19

Revolutionary

Answer 19

Socialism (common ownership and eventually, communism) can only be brought about by the violent overthrow of the existing political and societal structures through a revolution

Question 20

Social democracy

Answer 20

Capitalism should not be overthrown, instead tamed and humanised through parliamentary methods (evolutionary socialism) to benefit those least well off in society

Question 21

Third way

Answer 21

A middle ground alternative route to socialism, accepting of free-market capitalism