Socialism

What do revolutionary socialists believe in social class?

• bouregoisse- those who own the means of the production industry

• proletariat- non-owners of the means of productions

• ownerships of industry by the bourgouisse was the cause of exploitation (marx)

• exploitation is a necessary feature of capitalism

• marx and engles- don’t think that reforming capitalism is enough, instead they want to abolish it

What do revolutionary socialists think about collectivism?

• classless, stateless society

• common ownership and absolute equality

• production according to human needs

• community should be at the heart of decision making

• society should be organised on a communal basis

• everyone should work towards the common good and everyone should be able to access what they need

What do revolutionary socialists think about common humanity?

• humans are moulded into the benefit of a capitalist state

• Marx- competition between people promps selfishness and agression

• humans are naturally socialble and can be murdered by circumstances

• capitalism is a false consciousness

What do revolutionary socialists think about equality?

• Marx and Engels want absolute equality

• abolition of private property, classless society

• common ownership of productive wealth

• equality is life affirming and satisfying due to the contributions made to society

What do revolutionary socialists think about workers’ control?

• Marx and Engels- giving workers control of production is the only way to avoid alienation

• abolition of private property

• essential for workers to be a part of the creation and development of a socialist society (Rosa Luxemburg)

How are social democrats views different to revolutionary socialists?

• They aim to humanise and revise capitalism

• balance market capitalism and state intervention

• peacefully and gradually change the state

What do social democrats think about collectivism?

• Crosland- capitalism was no longer a system of class exploitation and modern capitalism is different to that experienced by Marx

• Crosland- production doesn’t need to be collectively owned as wealth and can be redistributed through tax and a welfare state

• keynesianism economics and mixed economy

• economic growth is needed to achieve socialist goals

What do social democrats think about common humanity?

• agree that human nature is a positive thing

• humans are bound together, human fullfilment is part of a wider community

• recognise corruption of capitalism on human nature

• inequality and class distinctions create resentment

• social equality encourages cooperation and community

What do social democrats think about equality?

• equal society can be created alongside capitalism

• Crosland- wants to reduce inequality rather than strive for an equal society

• want to use the state to redistribute wealth

• aim to eradicate poverty, don’t want to endorse equality of outcome

What do social democrats think about class?

• thinks that marxists belief is outdated (Crosland)

• want to narrow the divisions between the middle and working class

• want social improvement and class harmony rather than social polarisation

What do social democrats think about workers’ control?

• accept levels of private property alongside workers’ control

• nationalisation of key industries with a mixed economy

• want to reduce inequality rather than extend workers’ control

• capitalism is the only reliable way to generate wealth

• poverty and inequality should be reduced through the redistribution of wealth

How are Third Way socialists different?

• Neo-revisionism

• Rational responses to new political, social and economic situations

• rewrote Clause IV

What do third way socialists think about Workers’ control?

• capitalism had positive traits, we should support the most vulnerable in society

• Giddens- wants a new mixed economy with an acceptance for private partnerships

• decisions made by the market rather than the stae

• based on changes from the 1980’s

What do Third Way Socialists think about collectivism?

• community is at heart, people have an obligation to each other

• communitarianism- people’s rights and responsibilities are bound together

• end influence of indivduals and believe everyone must contribute to society

• firmly rejects the basis of individualism

What do Third Way socialists think to class?

• rejects idea society is composed of two classes in conflict

• refuse to recognise capitalism as a system of class exploitation

• support the most vulnerable

• Giddens- consensual, community model of society working on the ties that bind people together

What do Third Way socialists think about equality?

• all institutions must encourage everyone to participate (social inclusion)

• equality of outcome is less important

• support individuals supporting themselves, welfare should encourage people to help themselves

• Giddens- ‘equality of inclusion’

• emphasis on providing citizens to improve themselves via education rather than being reliant on welfare

What were Marx and Engels’ beliefs?

• communist manifesto is a critique of capitalism

• economic factors are the driving force between human history

• humans progressing towards a classless communist society is inevitable

• human nature is not fixed

• workers are alienated in a capitalist society

• proletariat have a false consciousness

• support revolution to reform capitalism

What were Beatrice Webb’s views?

• socialism would naturally occur

• involved in forming UK labour party and writing its manifesto

• believes in achieving socialism through a democratic process

• socialist parties can pass laws to to carry out reform

• critic of the Poor Law system in Britain

What were Rosa Luxemburg’s views?

• critic of the bolshevik revolution

• believed it would naturally occur when workers’ found their voice

• a mass strike would bring down capitalism

• defends marxism and believes in a need for revolution

• society should be organised by the people and should enable freedom for all

• democratic society is essential for a socialist society

What were Anthony Crosland’s views?

• dismissed marxism and believed capitalism had been fundamentally reformed

• capitalism should be humanised

• wanted to redevelop socialist principles

• nationalisation is not the central aim

• wants to equip people with the skills they need to flourish

• taxation, education, welfare, keynsian economics and mixed economy

What were Anthony Gidden’s views?

• society must be organised through the market and global networks as opposed to the state

• globalisation meant economic decisions had to be made with the rest of the world in mind

• want to provide opportunities for individuals to improve themselves

• human capital would increase competitiveness in the economy and improve economic performance

• communitarianism- the need for a more active community which would take greater responsibility for itself