Socialism

3 views on the economy

1. Redistributive/ rejection of capitalism

   Socialist’s argued that the economic system should have a redistributive function

   Resources, wealth and power to be dispersed equally to provide equality of outcome/opportunity

   Argued by Marx claiming capitalist system multiplies greed and disparity through its production of divergent classes who have access to different opportunities

   Promoting common ownership

2. Mixed economy

   Social democrat Crossland disputed the idea of the abolition of capitalism

   Equality could be achieved through a blend of privatization and and nationalization.

   Keynesian (managerial capitalism involving state intervention) removed the problematic tendencies of capitalisms alone, and provided steady economic growth that could increase public spending

3. Fundamental

   Despite the ambivalent view of capitalism shared by evolutionary and revolutionary socialists.

   They both believe the economy is the foundation of a socialist agenda- a fairer society

   Evident in the vast amount of economic policies passed by various labor governments.

   labor 1918-common ownership

   labor 1997- Deregulating the financial sector

3 views of human nature

1. Rational

   Humans are naturally logical and are able to improve their environment methodically

   Revisionist socialsit Webb demonstrated this through her idea of inevitability of gradualism hounoring a democraic process of change.

   “a better tommorow is conceivable achievable and probable”

2. malleable

   Socialists argue that current defects in HN are caused by the contamination of forces beyond their control e.g. greed and competition

   Revolutionary socialist like Marx argued that these traits were planted by capitalism

   Defects would eroded following the collapse of capitalism

   Socialist's reform prefects HN

3. Fraternal

   HN innately altruistic and individuals are driven by the idea of benevolence and aiding others

   “our instinct is not to win but to share” RL

   This is modelled by Giddens philopshy claiming that those in privelleged positions could be rationally persuaded to pay higher taxes in order to help the unfortunate

   Displaying solidarity

3 views on society

1. Class focused

   Marx and Engels believed society was based on class politics and was a major determinant of future prospects

   Society was divided into to classes the bourgeoise who dictated the life of the proletariat.- emerged from industrialsation and advancement of capitalisms.

   This system must be dissolved

2. Egalitarian

   Society should offer equality to all in terms of resources, wealth and power-Equality of opportunity

   Legal justice is insufficient without social justice as due to the huge discrepancies in wealth and power.

   Social justice defined by the access to adequate health care and education

   This idea was fortified by Crossland and his promotion of a welfarism-network of public services that mitigated inequalities

   Depicted through Atlees gov 1945-51

3. Collectivist

   Socilaists extoll a society which is selfless and altruistic. Society operates best as a cooperative unit where individual interests are considered secondary to the interests of society as whole

   Narrative was promoted by Webb who was involved in drafting clause 4 of the labor 1918 constitution that committed them to common ownership

3 views of the state

1.Rejection of anarchism

Socialist ambitions of equality are shared by anarchists who advocate the abolition of state to facilitate untampered liberty

However socialists believe before any socialist reform a strong state is needed

Socialism= “state sponsored egalitarianism”

Marx- Revolution would cause a dictatorship of the proletariat to instil socialist values

2. Enlarged state

will promote collectivism and lasting equality

Crossland and Giddens called for a state extensive state spending via taxation to provide aid for all and ensure everyone reaped the rewards of a flourishing society

Formal equality can only be asserted by the involvement of the state

3.Rejection of a medieval sate

View shared by fundamentalists and revisionists

Reject monarchical absolutism, theocratic state (based on religious principles) and the aristocratic state -preventing harmful concentration of power

Economic/political power should be equally dispersed to society so instrumental decisions reflect fraternity and egalitarianism