socialism ideology

Who are the socialism key thinkers?

Karl marx and Friedrich Engels

Rosa luxembourg

Beatrice webb

Anthony giddens

Anthony crossland

What are the strands of socialism?

- Revolutionary socialism

- the third way

- social democracy

How did socialism emerge as a result of the Industrial Revolution?

A response to economic inequality and class divisions brought by the Industrial Revolution

- factory workers had harsh conditions and low wages

Early so cialists (like Marx and Engels) criticised the capitalist for exploiting the working class and proposed the overthrow of it

What were Marx and Engels ideal of the perfect system?

One where equality was achieved through the redistribution of wealth and where workers controlled the means of production.

Who is associated with revolutionary socialism?

Marx and Engels, Rosa Luxembourg

How did they share their ideas?

Books e.g. Das kapital and the communist manifesto

What was their primary belief ?

communism would eventually rise as the proletariat was being oppressed by the bourgeoise and suppressed the collaborative nature of humans.

What was the final stage of society?

After a brief period. of dictatorship of the proletariat, the state would "wither away" creating a classless, stateless society where production was communally owned and inequality was eliminated

What is the difference between communism and socialism?

Socialism only supports communist principles.

What are the six key principles of socialism?

- Collectivism

- common humanity

- equality

- social class

- workers control

- opposition to capitalism

Collectivism

Cooperation > individualism, the common good dis better and more important than needs of the individuals.it also prevents competition and. Conflict, and results in greater productivity. Welfare state and trade unions.

Common humanity/ good

Humans are social and altruistic beings and that we are the product of our environment

Fraternity (family) and against nationalism

Equality

- Belief in equality of outcome

- capitalism and private ownership has caused inequality and exploitation

- the system is unequal and equality of opportunity isn't enough

- equality leads to freedom

- the strands disagree on this

Third way belief about equality

Must focus on reducing social exclusion without bringind down the rich e.g. working class students going to top universities

Social democrat belief about equality

(Anthony Crosland) Welfare state and progressive taxation could lower the gap between rich and poor without dismissing capitalism

Fundamentalist socialist beliefs on equality

Capitalism should be abolished and be replaced by common ownership

Social class

- marx and engels argued that the explotation of the proletariat would lead to a sense of class consciousness. Class effects outcome which is unfair

Social democrats stance on social class

Class conflict is unhelpful and aims to create class harmony and social justice

Third way stance on social class

Dont talk of class war

Want to appeal to middle class voters as well as working class

Workers control

Private property can lead to inequality so workers should participate in management and share in profits.

E.g. Cooperative movement in the UK - democratic, controlled by members, profits shared.

Revolutionary socialism on human nature

- Humans are social beings

- collectivism - collective effort, interest and ownership

- fraternity

- equality (of outcome)

- reject equality of opportunity and welfare

- classless society

Social democrats on human nature

- meritocracy

- equality of opportunity

- equal minimum standard of living

- see class as fluid

Third way on human nature

- reject equality of outcome

- equality of opportunity

- meritocracy

- deindustrialisation reduces roll and importance of social class

- harmony & social inclusion

Revolutionary socialism on state

- state achieved through revolution

- bourgeoise and class oppress

- state withers away and proletariat dictatorship momentary

- dictatorship and ruthless parties

- collectivism and interventionist approach in economy

Social democrats on state

- free market capitalism

- limited but targeted state intervention

- reform capitalism

- narrow class distinctions

- state is not oppressive but provides welfare

- rejects revolution and peaceful change

Third way on state

- reject "top down" state intervention economically and socially

- employment and self reliance

- limited collectivism

- deindustrialisation

- limited nationalisation

- state focus on everyones issues

Revolutionary socialists on society

- class inequality, economic divisions disparity in property ownership

- communism can only bring unified society

- society replaced with revolutionary institutions

- humanising capitalism undermines socialism

Social democrats on society

- inequalities fixed through peaceful, gradual change

- welfare state, progressive tax

- social justice

Third way on society

- harmony and consensus

- community

- social responsibility

- competition and investment socially

Revolutionary socialism on economy

- State control

- collectivism

- workers have control over places of employment

- replace capitalist control of the economy.

Social democrats on the economy

- Mixed economy

- free market capitalism

- Keynesianism

- progressive tax

- capitalism creates inequality

Third way on economy

- Rejects" top down " state intervention

- free market economy

- some nationalisation

- focus on privatisation

- rejects collectivism due to dependency culture

- Keynesianism

Agreements on human nature

- Positive view

- humans are social creatures

- equality

- collectivism 7 competition

Agreements on human nature key thinkers

Marx and engels - humans as social beings

Gidens - community

Agreements on state

- problems with capitalism

- growth of the state

Key thinkers on the state agreements

Luxemburg - state promoted exploitation

Crosland - capitalism needs to be managed

Giddens - important to offset the inequalities in society created by capitalism

Marx - class conflict

Webb - state needs to be expanded to deliver socialism

Crosland - high levels of government spending needed to iron out inequality

Agreements on society

- class inequality

Agreements on state key thinkers

Marx - class conflict

Luxemburg - class consciousness needs to develop to overthrow the system

- all agree there's inequalities between classes

Economy agreements

- state intervention

Economy agreements key thinkers

Marx - state control means of production initially

Crosland - high gov sending on welfare

Giddens - gov reduce state inequality

Disagreements on human rights nature

- how capability is realised

- types of equality

- positive or negative view of human nature

- equality of outcome not supported by third way, prefer equality of opportunity

- absolute equality supported by revolutionary and sd, third way support equality of welfare

- marx has a positive view

- webb workers are limited, selfish and uninformed and supports representative democracy

- luxemburg believes in revolution

Disagreements on state

- how a capitalist state is managed

- whether a capitaist state is abolished

Disagreements on state key thinkers

Marx - revolution

Luxemburg - cannot be gradual change

Crosland - work within capitalist state

Giddens - minimal state intervention

Marx & luxemburg - removal of capitalism and state control (sate wither away and create classless society)

Webb - gradual change

Crosland and giddens - work within capitalism

Society disagreements

- How to deal with class inequality

Society disagreements key thinkers

Marx - centrally planed economy, common ownership of production - ideal society is classless

Crosland - high levels of government spending to redustribute wealth and provide welfare

Giddens - equlity of opportunity, less state intervention

Economy disagreements

Extent of state intervention

How should the economy be controlled and run

Economy disagreements key thinkers

Marx: Initial state intervention to control means of production but eventually no state,

abolition of capitalism and the state structure, workers' control

- Webb: increased state intervention; Crossland: high levels of state intervention

- Giddens: rejection of extensive state intervention as it creates a dependency culture

- Marx: Collectivism, centrally planned and controlled economy where the workers

eventually own all means of production

- Crosland: Keynesian-style economics - mixed economy with free-market, private

ownership and some nationalisation of key industries.

- Giddens: Acceptance of capitalist free-market economy.

Rosa Luxemburg Society

- fraternity

- humans are social

Rosa luxemburg human nature

- revolution brings change, led to democracy underpinned by common ownership

- capitalism promotes exploitation

Rosa luxemburg society

- socialism is not gradual (revolution)

- class consciousness is natural

- disagreed w lenin in small party needed to lead revolution

Rosa luxemburg economy

- inevitable collapse of capitalism

- capitalism = economic exploitation

- workers determine their own wages

Beatrice webb human nature

- voters are selfish limited and uninformed

- representative democracy

Beatrice webb state

- evolutionary socialism

- state expansion to deliver socialism

- collectivism

- gradual establishment of the state

Beatrice webb society

- Rejected class struggle

- states ability to deliver socialism depended heavily on organisation of the economy and society

Beatrice webb economy

- increase in state intervention

- centralised action to resolve poverty and unemployment

Anthony crosland human nature

- (democratic) equality

- social justice

- communitarian

- people should not be rewarded for natural talents

Anthony crosland state

- managed capitalism to deliver social equality and justice

- government spending on welfare services and redistribution of welfare

- no contradictions about capitalism

Anthony crosland society

- equality achieved through education

Anthony crosland economy

- gov spending on welfare and wealth redistribution

- Keynesianism

- mixed economy

- some nationalisation

- economic expansion to fund welfare

Anthony giddens human nature

- community > class conflict

- class conflict and hierarchy unimportant

- community is essential to offset negatives of free marker and promote social cohesion

Anthony giddens state

- rejects (top down) state intervention

- social investemtn in infastructure and education

-

Anhony giddens society

- equality of opportunity

- modernised social democracy

Anthony giddens economy

- free market economy

- gov intevrention widening inequality of outcome

- reacted extensive state welfare programmes