Socialist Key Thinkers Flashcards
Marx and Engels Key Ideas
- Social Class is central to socialism
- Human nature is socially determined and can only be expressed under communism
Marx and Engels on social class
- Historical Materialism
- Dialect change
- Revolutionary class consciousness
‘ the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles’
Historical materialism
Marxist belief that historical and social development can be explained in terms of £ and class factors
Dialectic change
within each stage of human history dialectical change is propelled by the struggle between the exploiters and the exploited
Class Consciousness
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.
Marx and Engels on human nature
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
Beatrice Webb Key Ideas
- ‘Inevitability of gradualness’ establishing socialism peacefully by passing democratic reforms through parliamentary institutions
- The expansion of the state will deliver socialism
Webb on Human nature
- 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
Webb on the state
The gradual growth of state power showed that collectivism would bring in a new socialist age
Webb on society
The state’s ability to deliver socialism would depend heavily on highly trained specialists to organise society and the economy
Rosa Luxemburg key ideas
- 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
Luxemburg on the economy
- Believed that any evolutionary or revisionist socialist strategy would leave the cap. system intact. Revolutionary was therefore necessary to effect true change
Luxembourg quote
’ the masses are the decisive element.they are the rock on which the final victory of the revolution will be built’
Luxemburg on human nature
- 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
Anthony Crosland Key Ideas
- Modern capitalism lacks inherent contradictions , managed capitalism can deliver greater social equality
- State managed capitalism
Crosland on the economy
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
Crosland on the state
High levels of government spending is required on welfare services and the redistribution of income and wealth
Crosland on the equality
Economic efficiency
Creation of a more communitarian society
The need for social justice
Anthony Giddens Key Ideas
- The rejection of state intervention
- The ‘Social investment’ state
Giddens on the economy
The free market is the most efficient system of production and it encourages desirable person qualities, such as responsibility
Giddens on the state
- 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
Giddens on human nature
Community and responsibility, rather than class conflict, are important to offset the negative effects of the free market and promote social cohesion, shared values.
