Socialism

where did revolutionary socialism come from, and what are they key ideas?

-Derived from the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
-Argues that socialist values cannot coexist within capitalism, and there must be a revolution to transform society/economy.

evolutionary socialism
compared to revolutinoary socialism, what is evolutionary socialism? what strands fit into this?

evolutionary socialists argue that change should happen gradually. democratic socilaism, social democracy and ‘the third way’ fall into this.

evolutionary socialism
where did democratic socialism come from?

democratic socialism came from ideas of beatrice webb and the fabian society.
-influenced labour party from its birth in 1900 and Atlees post war consensus.

evolutionary socialism
where did social democracy come from?

Social democracy emerged in the 1950s, viewing marxism and democratic socialism as outdated.

-inspired by ideas of Anthony Crossland.

-Values social justice above common ownership and seeks to achieve this by reforming existing capitalism with a wellfare state.

evolutionary socialism
where did the ‘third way’ come from?

The third way developed in the 1990s and was inspired by Anthony Giddens.

-Giddens renewed social democracy and added a neo liberal tone to socialism.

-inspired new labour and Clinton’s democrats.

Common humanity
what is the socialist view on human nature ?

socialists have an optimistic view of human nature
-argue that individuals are rational and naturally cooperate

-human nature is influenced by an individuals enviroment.

Common humanity
what is the socialist idea of cooperation ?

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Pleasure and fulfilment of life is found in work that focuses on cooperation and collectivism rather than individualism and competition

Common humanity
what is the socialist idea of fraternity?

Socilaists argue that humans must regard eachother as siblings, rather than rivals. (fraternity)

-relationships are not based on commpetition but genorisity and solidarity.

Common humanity
what is the socialist view of capitlism?

Socialists are united (to different degrees) to their concern on the impact of capitlaism on the individual, and common humanity.

how do the strands differ in terms of histility towards capitlism?

revolutionary socialists and democratic socilaists are the most hostile to capitalism.

-social democrats and the third way argue that capitalism can be reformed for the greater good.

Common humanity
what did marx and engels argue about capitlism?

Marx and Engels argued that humans have been ‘deformed’ by capitalism, as money corrupts.

-capitalism must be abolished via a proletariat revolution.

-after a transitional period, a classless communist society would emerge, based on absolute equality.

all socioeconmic activity will be done collectively.

Common humanity
what do democratic socialists/webb think about capitlism?

democratic socialist Beatrice Webb argued that socialism can be achieved via elections.

this would include common ownership of the means of production, and extensive state nationalisation ran by a socialist, bureaucratic elite.

Common humanity
what do social democrats/Crossland think about capitlism?

Social democrat Anthony Crossland argued that capitliasm should be reformed, rather than replaced.

-argued for a mixed economy of state industry and private industry.

-Keynesian economics and state intervention.

-welfare state redistributes wealth to challenge economic inequality.

Common humanity
how does the th0ird way/giddens view capitilism?

-Giddens emphasised on equality of opportunity via public services and education

-neo liberal ideas of free market and individualism

-moving away from universal welfare to means tested welfare.

Collectivism
what is the democratic socilaist view of collectivm?

Beatrice Webb / Fabian society informed many of the collectivist policies of Attlees labour governments
-nationlisation and state management.

Collectivism
in terms of industrial relations, what is the Social Democrat view, vs the third way view?

Social Democrats argue that workers belong to strong trade unions to stop exploitation

-Third Way argues that unions should only exist to maintain fair practice in work spaces.

Collectivism
in terms of healthcare, what is the sociali democrat view vs the third way view?

Social democrats argue that nationlised healthcare is needed for the population, paid for by general tax.

-third way argues for healthcare reform, arguing that universal healthcare is unsustainable. it supports prescription charges and private healthcare for the rich, leaving more space for the poor.

Collectivism
in terms of education, what is the social democrat view, vs the third way view?

Social democrats argue for comprehensive state education for all, providing equality for opportunity.

-third way argues for more equality of opportunity via education spending. New labour introduced academies and life long learning courses, but expected university students to help fund tuition.

Collectivism
in terms of key industry, what is the social democrat view, vs the third way view?

social democrats argue that key industry should be brought under government control.

-Third way argues that the freee market si the most efficacious way to run business. no support for nationalised state utilities.

Equality
what are the 3 key principles of equality that all socialists agree on ?

Foundational equality - socialists argue that all individuals are born with natural rights.

rejection of natural hierarchies - each individual has the potential to take on any posistion in society that they aspire

-equality of opportunity - all individuals should have access to the same chances.

equality of opportunity
what is equality of opportunity, and how do revolutionary socalists view it?

-revolutionary sociliasts marx,engels and luxemberg argued that equality of opportunity can only be achieved via revolution.

equality of opportunity
what is the democratic socilaist view of equality of opportunity?

webb argued that equality of opportunity can only be achieved via reformation of capitlism.

equality of opportunity
what is the social democrat view of equality of opportunity?

Crossland argued for a mixed economy with state management based on Keynesianism.

-a breaking down of class barriers is needed

-progressive taxation to allow even distribution of opportunities via a vast welfare state.

equality of opportunity
what is the third way view of ewquality of opportunity?

equality of opportunity must target the neediest in society, the idea of an ‘underclass’. giddens argued for the abandoning of universal weflare in favour of means tested benefits.

equality of outcome
what is equality of outcome? what did revolutionary socialists think about it?

Equality of outcome is the idea that economic rewards should be distributed to the value of an individuals contribution.

-Marx, Engels and Luxemebrg dismiss this as it presupposed that capitalism can get rid of exploitatoin.

equality of outcome
what is the democratic socialist view of equality of outcome?

Webb argued for a gradual process in which income would be more fairly distributed.
-this would not be absolute equality, but any income inequality that remains would be more fair.

equality of outcome
what is the social democrat view of equality of outcome?

Crossland was against pure equality of outcome as he felt it would weaken the economy by acting as disincentive to wealth creators.

equality of outcome
what is the third way view on equality of outcome?

like crossland, giddens argued that wage equality of outcome was not practical and a disincentive and would damage the economy.

Absolute equality
what is absolute equality? how do revoutionary socialists view it?

Absolute equality is the idea that all individuals should receive the same rewards as long as the contributions they make to society are made to the best of their ability.

-Marx, Engels and Luxemberg believed that in an economy based on common ownership and collectivism, material rewards would be based on needs.

-each individual would contributed to society and take only what they needed.

Absolute equality
what is the democratic socailist view of absolute equality?

although webb believed in high taxation to flatten the differences between classes, she did not advocate absolute equality, envisiaging some wage differences.

Absolute equality
what is the social democat view of absolute equlaity?

crossland dismissed absolute equality as utopian. he accepted that in a meritocratic mixed ecnonmy, those who contributed more will be rewarded accordingly.

Absolute equality
what is the third way view of absolute equality?

giddens dismissed absolute equality as a flawed concept, and, like crossland, accepted that inequality was a natural consequence of soicety.

equality of welfare
whati s equality of welfare? how do revolutionary socialists view this?

Equality of welfare is the idea that society is inevitably unequal but everyone should be entitlted to an equal, minimum standard of living via a welfare state.

_Marx, Engels,and Luxemberg reject this as it fails to remove capitlalism.

equality of welfare
how do democratic socialists view equality of welfare?

Webb argued that equality of welfare should be achieved via mass nationlisation of industry.
-proper state management would ensure equality of welfare through redistribution of resources.

equality of welfare
how do soical dems view equality of welfare?

Crossland saw the state as a neutral force that could reduce class conflict by breaking down barriers and widening opportunities.
-universal public services would acehive this.

equality of welfare
how did the third way view this?

Giddens argued that high levels of social security/welfare was a disincentive to work and created a dependency culture. beenfits should only target the most needy.

Social Class
how do socialists view class? how do revolutionary socialists aim to fix the issue of class? On the other hand, how do evoltuionary socialists aim to solve it?

-Socialists argue that capitalism reinforces harmful class divisions which creates hierarchies.

-Marx/Engels/Luxemberg argue this can only be solved via revolution.

-Webb/Crossland/Giddens argue against revolution, but reform.

Social Class
what is marx’s idea of surplus value and alienation?

Marx/Engels argue that capitalists in society take surplus value (difference between wages paid to workers and profit taking) which alienates workers from their labour.

Social Class
what was marx’s view of the state?

the state is not neutral, but activley reinforces the oppressive relationship via laws, bureaucracy, police and the army.

Social Class
how did webb differ on Marx’s view of the state in relation to class?

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Webb sahared Marx’s class views, but argued that the state could be altered from serving capitalism to delivering a socialist state.

-this would create equality of outcome, progressive taxation and a welfare state.

Social Class
how did social democrats differ from Marx and webbs ideas on the state in relation to class?

Social democrats like Crossland criticise collectively minded utilitarianism of Webb’s ideas and nationlisation.

-Crossland felt this comprimised the individual.

-Crossland favoured fairer distribution of wealth so that the individual could thrive in a society which would eventually become classless

Social Class
what did Webb say about Marx/webb view of the state?

Full nationlisation would make society a “dull functional nightmare”

Karl Marx (1818-83) and Friedrich Engels (1820-95)
what were the key ideas of marx and engels? (PART 1)

-Claimed their theories are empirical and scientifically determined.

-Class struggle has existed throughout history. socialist revolution would bring out the “end of history”

-capitalism would eventually result in a tiny minority of the ruling class controlling the means of productoin. When the vast majority of the proletariat realise this, they will develop ‘class conciousness’

Karl Marx (1818-83) and Friedrich Engels (1820-95)
what were the key ideas of marx and engels? (PART 2)

-liberal democracy was a “democratic swindle” as the state is controlled by the bourgeise

-society uses religion, patriotism and elections to control the proletariat.

-following a transitional period, the state would disapear and a stateless communist society emerge.

social class
how did crossland view is the prime way to lower class divisions? what did he say about this?

Crossland aruged that education was they key tool to ensure equality of opportunity.

-He is documented to have aimed to “destroy every ******* grammar school in England, and Wales and Northern ireland”

social class
what was gifddens views on education?

Giddens largley agreed with crossland in terms of education. he argued that education is a “key basis of the redistributino of possibiliities”

Workers control

do socialists agree on workers control?

all socialists agree that in an unchecked free market, capitlists will exploit the proletariat. however, the concept of workers control is debated.

Workers control

what is the revolutionary socialist view of workers control?

-Following a revolution, Marx and Engels imagined a transistional period in which formerly exploited workers are in control.

-this would be a short period between the revolution and the stateless communist society in which tehre would be no need for workers control.

Workers control

what did webb say about workers control?

Webb argued that she does not “have faith in the average sensual man” and argued that workers are incapable of workers control.
-Webb had the most negative view of human nature, arguing that the working class is intellectually inferior.

Workers control

what is webbs relation to clause IV of labour?

beatrice webbs husband, sidney webb drafted clause iv for hte labour party constitution, aiming for common ownership. webb never intended for common ownership to entail workers controlling the means of production.

Workers control

what webbs view of a vanguard elite?

Webb argued that the skills of a “vanguard elite” would solve issues of capitalism after the workers vote for socialism.

Workers control

what is webbs view on how the staet would change?

the state would “silently change its character […] from police power, to housekeeping on a national scale”

Beatrice Webb (1858-1943)
what are the main ideas of beatrice webb ? (PART 1)

-the “inevitbility of gradualness” - parlamentary democracy would bring socialism, not revolutoin.

-expansion of the state is vital to deliver socialism. state will develop a “vanguard elite “ to organise socialist society.

-workers control achieved via evolutionary means. revolutions are “chaotic, inefficient and counter productive”

workers control
what is the social democrat view of workers control?

Social democrat / third way viewed workers control and radical class struggle as outdated, as capitalism had changed since the days of Marx.

-Crossland envisioned a mixed economy and did not approve further nationlaisation.

workers control
what is the third way view of workers control?

-Giddens agreed with Webb that average workers lack skills to manage their workplace.

-however, he disagrees with Crossland as he argues against a mixed economy as nationalised companies cannot compete in a free market.

Anthony Crossland (1918-77)
what are the key ideas of crossland? (PART 1)

-Reject’s Marx’s historical materilaism

-Socialism is best served by a state managed capitalism of a mixed economy rather than public ownership.

Anthony Crossland (1918-77)
what are the key ideas of crossland? (PART 2)

-equality of opportunity can be achieved via educational opportunity. Crossland argued the schooling system in Britain is the most “divisive, unjust and wasteful” part of society.

-Keynesian economics

Anthony Giddens (1938- present)

what are the key ideas of anthony giddens? (PART 1)

-Free market capitlaism enriches society, and alongside individualism, is irreversible. Socialism must collect the benefits of free market while neutralising its negative effects.

-equalty of opportunity.

-spending on infastructure and public transport, while improving education.

Anthony Giddens (1938- present)

what are the key ideas of anthony giddens? (PART 2)

greater equality of opportunity funded via taxation of free market wealth

-emphasis on active welfare and social inclusiveness in society. increased access to higher education.

how rosa luxemberg revised the ideas of marx/engels
in what 3 ways did luxemberg disagree with marx?

-disagreed with Marx’s historical materialism. argued that countries can have revolutions and didnt need to wait until the final stage of capitalism.

-disagreed with marxist argument against democracy. argues without democracy, society will collapse.

-anticipated the dicatotrships in russia and china.

Rosa Luxemberg (1871-1919)
what were the key ideas of luxemberg ?

-evolutionary socialism is flawed and capitalism cant be reformed.

-Capitalism does not need to a reach a final stage before revolution.

-lenin’s belief in a vanguard elite is flawed.

-socialism must be international ratehr than nationalist - marx and engels agree.