SOCIALISM

edexel

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

human nature: originally fraternal and altruistic, contaminated by capitalism

the state: capitalist to be destroyed and replaced by a new socialist state - dictatorship of the proletariat

society: capitalist society is sickening yet fatally defined by class interest and class conflict. communist society will be the perfect of end of history

the economy: capitalism inefficient and self-destructive, replaced by collective ownership

• first socialists to offer detailed analysis of how humans were social and economic beings

Rosa Luxemburg

human nature: fraternity and altruism still flourish in working-class communities, punished by capitalism

the state: useless - destroyed with revolution from strike action, replaced with genuine democracy, complete with free speech and free elections

society: capitalism class-ridden and morally indefensible, alternative societies or sub-cultures exist within downtrodden proletariat communities

economy: replacement by economy based on workers control, will require determination and solidarity among the proletariat.

• rejected Lenin’s vanguard, and Marx historicism

• ‘inpatient with injustice, impatient for socialism’

Beatrice Webb

human nature: damage inflicted by capitalism will be made worse by violent revolution, humanity needs to be guided back, gradually to its original cooperative condition.

state: if harnessed to universal suffrage existing state could be used for a gradual transition to socialism

society: poverty and inequalities continue to depress human potential while fostering regressive competition

economy: replaced by one which gives workers full fruits of their labour, based on common ownership

• four principles: 1. capitalism cause ‘ crippling poverty and demanding inequality’ fostering ‘unnatural’ levels of greed. 2. neither conservative paternalism or philosophy will sustain a solution to poverty. 3. problems will be eliminated through trade unions and extensive state intervention. 4. effective reform needs to be gradual than revolutionary.

Anthony Crosland

human nature: powerful sense of ‘fairness’

state: existing state can be used to effect radial, socialist change. e.g. labour

society: complicated, altered by the emergence of new social groups compromises ‘ meritocratic’ managers and ‘classes’ technocrats

economy: mixed economy, limited public ownership and Keynesian capitalism - finance greater public spending necessary to secure equality.

• ‘we cannot separate who we are from the sort of society we have. our perspectives, our prospects, our very personalities, are affected by the society we are born into’

Anthony Giddens

human nature: shaped by by changing socio-economic conditions. pro fairness instinct is still present, sense with individual aspiration

state: existing liberal state should be improved, redistributing and decentralising political power, encouraging political participation.

society: undergone embourgeoisement - egalitarians must harness rather deny these forces

economy: neo-liberal economy, propelled by privatisation and deregulation provide huge tax yields, finance public spending secure greater equality of opportunity.

core view of human nature

• optimistic - destined for vastly improved world, both individually and generally.

• fraternal

• rational

• communal

• malleable

core view of society

• existential - significant to human condition

• collectivist

• class focused

• egalitarian - real equal opportunity, greater equality of outcome

core view of economy

• fundamental

• redistributive

• ambivalent about capitalism

• interventionists

core views of the state

• rejection to anarchism

• rejection of medieval state

• an enlarged state