To what extent do socialists agree over the state?

Question 1

para 1 - agree

Answer 1

All socialists agree that the system of the capitalist state is imperfect. The key odea of Marx and Engels is that this state has served merely a a committee for the ruling class and merely serves this class. This idea is shared by Luxemburg who also agrees that the capitalist state is the reason for much of the poverty among the proletariat

Question 2

para 1 - disagree

Answer 2

More modern socialists move away from these utopian ideal of removing the current state. Webb argues that universal suffrage established the current state could effect a gradual change to socialism. She was strongly aligned with the Labour party, which meant that she wished to work within the current political system. This is shared by Giddens, who shows little enthusiasm to remove the current state, and instead see it as a way of advancing society

Question 3

para 2 - agree

Answer 3

All socialists agree that the state must take a proactive role in society. Luxemburg argued that the new state should be underpinned by common ownership, open debate and elections. This is shared by Webb, who sees extensive state intervention and vigorous trade unionism most likely way to eliminate poverty and inequality, a view also shared my Crosland and Giddens who see aa mixed economy with a proactive state as the way to advance society

Question 4

para 2 - disagree

Answer 4

Socialists don’t agree over the form in which this proactive state should come. Marx, Engels and Luxemburg argue that the state should be destroyed and re-established as a proletariat ran state. Webb and Giddens on the other hand instead argue that the current state should continue to exist, and that instead through extensive state intervention with mass investment in infrastructure socialism can be achieved.

Question 5

para 3 - agree

Answer 5

All socialists believe it is the role of the state to advance socialism and society. Marx and Engels believe it is the role of the state to remove the chains that capitalism placed around the proletariat. More modern socialists like Giddens and Crosland also agree that the state should be the one to allow humans to flourish in society, and should be proactive.

Question 6

para 3 - disagree

Answer 6

What action the state should take is disputed. Revolutionary socialists (marx, engels and luxemburg) argue that the state should be ran by the proletariat and be underpinned by common ownership. On the other hand, modern socialists argue that the state should be more focused on extensive state intervention, Keynesian economics and heavy investment.