To what extent have socialists agreed about the means of achieving socialism?

three agreements

1. society must move away from capitalism
2. capitalism is damaging
3. the state is necessary for change

three disagreements

1. method of change
2. extent of reform
3. structure of state

P1 - why must capitalism be reduced?

capitalism creates inequality

capitalism creates class division which prevents cooperation

capitalism gives a financial reward, socialism gives a moral reward - more satisfying, prevents greed

socialism develops positive traits, competition leads to selfishness, agression

P1 - reduced capitalism - thinker

Kropokin - the human race thrives on ‘mutual aid’

P2 - Marxist method of change?

capitalism must be immediately removed through a ‘class conscious revolution of the proletariat’

proletariat are not enfranchised so must revolt

P2 - Marxist method of change - thinker

Marx/Engels - capitalism is ‘naturally exploitative and toxic’

P2 - SD method of change?

democratic gradualism developed when there was universal franchise

human’s flexible nature is damaged by the violence of revolution

P2 - SD method of change - thinker

Webb - gradualism is ‘inevitable’

P3 - why is capitalism damaging?

human nature is ‘plastic’ - moulded by its surroundings

competition has a negative effect, cooperation/community has a positive effect

capitalism must be at minimum reformed to enhance human nature - creation of common good

P3 - capitalism is damaging - thinker

Giddens - capitalism is ‘corrosive’

Marx/Engels - capitalism instills a ‘false consciousness’

P4 - Marxist view on extent of reform?

abolition of capitalism as it completely prohibits socialism

private property is unjust

socialism cannot take place with class divide, lack of community

P4 - Marxist view on extent of reform - thinker

Marx/Engels - capitalism is a ‘system of naked oppression’

Lenin - removal of private property following the Russian Revolution

P4 - SD view on extent of reform?

capitalism should be ‘harnessed’ to reliably generate the wealth needed to fund socialism

morally ineffective at distributing wealth so state should redistribute through taxation and welfare

support for Keynesian economics

some may justify inequality as not all roles in society are perfectly equal

P4 - SD view on extent of reform - thinker

Crosland - there is a ‘definite limit’ to equality

P5 - why is the state necessary?

support for collectivisation to redistribute wealth and prevent inequality so a support for nationalisation

in Marxism the state is controlled by the Vanguard and all private property has been abolished so state must control all industries

P5 - necessity of the state - thinker

Beverige Report - the state should ‘guarantee a national minimum of civilised life’

Attlee - creation of NHS, nationalisation of railway companies

P6 - Marxist view of structure of state?

democracy within the Vanguard but not in society as a whole as class consciousness has not been achieved

prevents further exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie

P6 - Marxist view of structure of state - thinker

Marx/Engels - ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’

P6 - SD view of structure of state?

state is under the control of a democratically elected socialist political party - e.g. the UK Labour Party

developed when there was a universal franchise so all workers could express their want for change through elections which is then reflected by parties

P6 - SD view of structure of state - thinkers

Crosland believed capitalism should not be abolished

Labour Party manifesto changed from a ‘commitment to nationalisation’ to ‘dynamic market economy’