Socialism quotes

Giddens on Why capitalism cannot be replaced in a modern world

“Capitalism, inherently and unavoidably, is a global system” Giddens

Giddens on What a future economy would be

“The mixed economy…A synergy between public and private sectors” Giddens

Giddens on equality

“equality must contribute to diversity instead of hindering it”

Giddens on Left aspires to reshape society which isn’t feasible

“every left of centre party that gets into power is doomed to disappoint”

Crosland on Equality is not achievable just with socialism

“The goal of socialism is equality, but it is impossible to achieve equality by socialism alone” Crosland

Crosland on Intervention in capitalism

“State Managed Capitalism”

Crosland on the Model of economics to follow

Keynesianism “legitimises the doctrine of equality” Crosland

Crosland on class in a modern society

“a high proportion of the population enjoys many of the luxuries which until recently were considered a prerogative of the rich”

Crosland on why they are against equality of outcome

“extra responsibility and exceptional talent require a differential reward” Crosland

Marx on How wealth should be distributed in society

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” Marx

Marx on Human plasticity, capitalism moulds HN

HN is the “ensemble of social relations” Marx

Marx on How capitalism creates inequality, the Bougisie profit at the expense of the proletariat

“accumulation of wealth at one pole, is at the same time, accumulation of misery… at the opposite” Marx

Marx on How capitalism alienates the proletariat from their humanity

“when labour becomes life, and life becomes cost, you are no longer human” Marx

Marx On Religion

Religion is “the opium of the people” Marx

Marx on how The state and capitalism benefits the elite

“the state is the executive committee of the ruling class” Marx

Marx on Class Struggle

“The uniting of all these contradictions… will result in a struggle which will itself eventuate in the emancipation of the proletariat” Marx

Luxemburg on Class consciousness/ how exploitation normalises struggle

“those who don’t move, don’t notice their chains” Luxemburg

Luxemburg on the mass strike

“The mass strike is the first natural, impulsive form of every great revolutionary struggle of the proletariat”

Non key thinker social democrat on nationalisation.

nationalisation of the “commanding heights”

Webb on Gradualism

believed in the “inevitability of gradualism”