Socialism - State

Question 1

The state is vital to promote core socialist values and bring about a socialist society

Answer 1

Marx – a Workers’ State was necessary before transitioning to a stateless society
Giddens – wanted to use the power of the state to tax the rich and invest in equality of opportunity

Question 2

Whether the state was permanent or not

Answer 2

Marx – envisaged that the state would eventually ‘wither away’
Luxembourg – wanted a permanent workers’ state with genuine democracy
Webb, Crosland, Giddens – see the state as necessary to gradually steer society towards socialist values by economic and social reforms

Question 3

Support some degree of workers’ control

Answer 3

Marx – expected that after a revolution, a workers’ state would replace capitalism
Crosland – envisaged a large role for Trade Unions in planning and regulating the economy

Question 4

Revolutionary change to state or gradual reform of the state

Answer 4

Luxembourg – believed that the workers would start a revolution to overthrow the state
Webb – ‘The inevitability of gradualness’ democratic, evolution of the state to bring about socialist values