Socialism - Topic 2 Flashcards
The differing views and tensions between the branches of socialism
Where do all branches of socialism agree on human nature?
All branches have a broadly positive/optimistic view on human nature. Most believe that individuals possess a common humanity and gravitate towards cooperation and sociability. Humans are malleable and are moulded by social circumstances. Socialists believe that humans are rationally capable of creating new forms of society and economy that can create ‘socialism’ and don’t believe that all individuals have identical abilities or needs.
Where do all branches of socialism disagree on human nature?
Webb is the least optimistic, arguing that the working class lacks rational and intellectual sophistication.
Communists argue capitalism has corrupted human anture to the extent that only a revolution and a communist society could restore a positive state of human nature.
Third Way argue that capitalism hasn’t corroded human nature, instead that equality of opportunity would lead to greater fraternity. Giddens foucses on communitarianism, viewing human nature from both an individual and communal sense, different to all other socialists.
Where do all branches of socialism agree on the state?
All socialists agree that an unreformed state facilitates the naturally exploitative nature of capitalism. An exploitative state cannot exist.
Where do all branches of socialism disagree on the state?
Revolutionary socialists agree the state is a tool to reinforce bourgeois capitalism while democratic socialists argue that the state can remodel society without revolution.
Democratic socialists believe the state can change its character to promote equality, cooperation and community. How to remodel the state and how that impacts society and the economy is different however. Webb argues for parliamentary democracy, Crosland argues for Keynesianism, Giddens argues for invetment in society and infrastructure.
Where do all branches of socialism agree on the economy?
All forms of socialism are critical of the negative effects of capitalism and are, to differing degrees, critical of wasteful competition inherent within capitalism and emphasise cooperation. All socialists are committe to an economy that creates a fairer society. All socialists envisage equality of opportunity within society.
Where do all branches of socialism disagree on the economy?
Revolutionary socialists think capitalism is beyond reform while democratic socialists think capitalism can be reformed. Marx and Engels think only mature economies can experience revolution while Luxemburg disagrees.
Revolutionary socialists think the state will wither away; democratic socialists disagree on how active the state must be in managing the economy. Webb favours nationalisation, Crosland a mixed economy, Giddens a neo-liberal free market.
Third way argues for far less equality of outcome than social democrats.
Where do all branches of socialism agree on society?
Society should be based on equality as this ensures economic fairness, reinforces collectivism and satisfies everyone’s basic human needs. Socialists see individuals as the products of the society in which they live.
Socialists broadly agree that society must respond to the negative effects of capitalism and be remodelled. All agree that society directly affects the individual and that the working conditions and unequal distributions of wealth have a harmful effect upon human nature.
All socialists believe that society can be remodelled so that it embraces greater equality.
Where do all branches of socialism disagree on society?
Revolutionary socialists argue with social democrats over whether the state can reform capitalism and society as capitalists society is too exploitative to be reformed.
Webb argues revolutionary were chaotic and sociey can be gradually reformed. Crosland though Webb’s vision limited invididual freedom and would be counterproductive.
Giddens argues for a narrow focus of equality of opportunity, concentrating on social investment. Free-market capitalism could be positive for society when reconciled with social justice.
