Socialism - State

Question 1

what did Karl Marx was needed for true social equality?

Answer 1

for there to be true social equality and for humans to realise their full potential, required the creation of a communist society

Question 2

what would a communist society look like? how would it be created?

Answer 2

• abolish state, class system and private ownership

- only way for this to happen was via a class revolution

Question 3

what kind of theory is marxism? what does this mean?

Answer 3

materialist theory - see economic inequality as the primary cause for everything

Question 4

why do marxists belive state should be abolished?

Answer 4

due to social class beliefs

Question 5

for Marxists, what is the current state an instrument of?

Answer 5

• instrumentt of class rule

- Bourgeoisie use the political and legal systems of the state to maintain dominance over the proletariat

Question 6

what do the state split society into?

Answer 6

the haves and haves not - which leads to revolution

Question 7

what do social democrats believe they should do with the state?

Answer 7

prefer to use the state to get equality - use the parliamentary road

Question 8

what did Beatrice Webb argue?

Answer 8

inevitability of gradualism

Question 9

what does inevitability of gradualism mean?

Answer 9

• socialist govt was inevitable
• working class now had the vote and they were the majority class
• naturally they would vote for socialist parties meaning they would gain power

Question 10

for social democrats, how should the state be used?

Answer 10

• state intervention e.g. welfare programmes and progressive taxation
• narrow class distinctions and remove a lot of inequality

Question 11

what do all socialist agree on about the state?

Answer 11

some form of state intervention is necessary

Question 12

why do all socialist agree some state intervention is necessary?

Answer 12

• promotes collective goals

- make sure distribution of wealth is not left to market

Question 13

what is a core belief of socialism that leads them to advocate state intervention ?

Answer 13

common humanity

Question 14

what do marxists believe about state intervention?

Answer 14

• an agency of the state can be used to control economic product and distribution
• will mean proletariat have means of producing and will rise

Question 15

what do social democrats believe about state intervention?

Answer 15

• want limited state intervention in social and economic affairs
• see it as a remedy for the shortcoming of capitalism and help those in need
• advocate Keynesian economics

Question 16

what do third way believe about state intervention?

Answer 16

• state should intervene in social investment in infrastructure and in education
• will improve job opportunities and encourage self reliance
• will boost economic growth

Question 17

what does the third way reject about state intervention?

Answer 17

• reject top down state intervention in the economy
• want an enterprise culture and market state
• will maximise wealth creation