Socialist Key Thinkers

Question 1

Marx and Engels Key Ideas

Answer 1

• Social Class is central to socialism

- Human nature is socially determined and can only be expressed under communism

Question 2

Marx and Engels on social class

Answer 2

• Historical Materialism
• Dialect change
• Revolutionary class consciousness
  ‘ the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles’

Question 3

Historical materialism

Answer 3

Marxist belief that historical and social development can be explained in terms of £ and class factors

Question 4

Dialectic change

Answer 4

within each stage of human history dialectical change is propelled by the struggle between the exploiters and the exploited

Question 5

Class Consciousness

Answer 5

the set of beliefs that a person holds regarding their social class or economic rank in society, the structure of their class, and their class interests.

Question 6

Marx and Engels on human nature

Answer 6

Humans are social beings, whose behaviour and potential is influenced by nurture rather than nature. Under capitalism workers are alienated from
- the product of their labour
- their work colleagues (competitiveness)
- the production process
-their human capabilities
under communism workers are freed to realise their true human potential by engaging in many activities

Question 7

Beatrice Webb Key Ideas

Answer 7

• ‘Inevitability of gradualness’ establishing socialism peacefully by passing democratic reforms through parliamentary institutions
• The expansion of the state will deliver socialism

Question 8

Webb on Human nature

Answer 8

• Workers were limited, selfish and uninformed and thus democracy should be representative
• A RD would lead to a skilled ‘socialist’ governing class subject to democratic restraints

Question 9

Webb on the state

Answer 9

The gradual growth of state power showed that collectivism would bring in a new socialist age

Question 10

Webb on society

Answer 10

The state’s ability to deliver socialism would depend heavily on highly trained specialists to organise society and the economy

Question 11

Rosa Luxemburg key ideas

Answer 11

• Social reform , 3rd way and SD is not possible as cap is based on economic exploitation
• Class Consciousness is needed to overthrow capitalist society and state

Question 12

Luxemburg on the economy

Answer 12

• Believed that any evolutionary or revisionist socialist strategy would leave the cap. system intact. Revolutionary was therefore necessary to effect true change

Question 13

Luxembourg quote

Answer 13

’ the masses are the decisive element.they are the rock on which the final victory of the revolution will be built’

Question 14

Luxemburg on human nature

Answer 14

• In The Mass Strike, the Political Party and the Trade Unions Luxemburg argued that class consciousness would develop naturally from within workers themselves
• Unlike Lenin, she didn’t believe that a small disciplined party was needed to lead workers in revolutions

Question 15

Anthony Crosland Key Ideas

Answer 15

• Modern capitalism lacks inherent contradictions , managed capitalism can deliver greater social equality
• State managed capitalism

Question 16

Crosland on the economy

Answer 16

Governments pursuing Keynesian economics could
- maintain high employment
- ensure low inflation
- promote continuous growth
£ expansion is required to fund welfare and social spending to improve living standards for those at the bottom of society, while preserving those of the most affluent

Question 17

Crosland on the state

Answer 17

High levels of government spending is required on welfare services and the redistribution of income and wealth

Question 18

Crosland on the equality

Answer 18

Economic efficiency
Creation of a more communitarian society
The need for social justice

Question 19

Anthony Giddens Key Ideas

Answer 19

• The rejection of state intervention

- The ‘Social investment’ state

Question 20

Giddens on the economy

Answer 20

The free market is the most efficient system of production and it encourages desirable person qualities, such as responsibility

Question 21

Giddens on the state

Answer 21

• Equality of opportunity over equality. Government action would be required to control the inevitable widening inequalities of outcome
• State welfare and redistribution foster a culture of dependency. The state needs a ‘contract’ between them and its citizens

Question 22

Giddens on human nature

Answer 22

Community and responsibility, rather than class conflict, are important to offset the negative effects of the free market and promote social cohesion, shared values.