Socialism - Topic 2

Question 1

What does revolutionary socialism argue for?

Answer 1

Socialist values cannot exist within capitalism and there must be a revolution to transform society and the economy.

Question 2

What does social democracy argue for?

Answer 2

It values social justice above common ownership and seeks to achieve this by working within the capitalist systems through a redistributive welfare state.

Question 3

What does the Third Way argue for?

Answer 3

Seen by Giddens as a renewal of social democracy, Third Way adds a neo-liberal element to socialism. They are in some ways similar to social democracy.

Question 4

What schools of thought come under revolutionary socialism?

Answer 4

• Utopian socialism
• Marxism

Question 5

What schools of thought come under social democracy?

Answer 5

• Evolutionary socialism
• Democratic socialism
• Social democracy

Question 6

How did Luxemburg differ with Marx?

Answer 6

• She disagreed with Marxist historical materialism. She argued that less economically developed societies could have communist revolutions and did not need to wait until capitalism had reached a final stage. These ideas would be especially influential with socialist internationalism
• Luxemburg disagreed with the Marxist view that there would be no need for democracy after revolution, arguing: ‘Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of the press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies in every institution’.
• Luxemburg is often praised for anticipating the dictatorship of the party that occurred in countries that had Marxist-inspired revolutions