Politics - socialism

What is collectivism?

humans are inherently social beings who thrive in a community. Collective action overcomes economic and social challenges (equitable and cooperative society)

What is fraternity?

humans are bound together by common interests and share a sense of responsibility towards one another.

what do socialists believe about human nature and social unity?

humans are naturally inclined to work together and support each other - interconnection with broader social community → opposes capitalist ideologies

What does the phrase ‘no man is an island’ mean?

individuals do not exist in isolation but are part of a larger, interdependent community. Collectivism is a reflection of the natural state of human relations.

How do socialists believe we can overcome social inequalities?

Pooling resources, sharing wealth and working towards common goals can help to tackle poverty, unemployment and social injustice. The needs of the community must be prioritised over individual profit

Why is the collective good considered more important than individual gain?

when people work together towards a common objective, they can achieve far more than they can individually.

In what ways can collective power underpin socialist policies?

nationalisation, cooperative enterprises and public services - benefits of shared ownership and decision-making are key to achieving social justice and equality.

commonality fosters cooperaiton and mutual support - essential to building a society where everyone’s needs are met, individuals contribute to the welfare of community

What is collective ownership of the means of production?

factories, farms and other key resources should be owned and managed by the community or the state on behalf of the people, rather than by private individuals or corporations

• redistribution of wealth without private ownership - prevents exploitation of workers - ensures all members of society benefit from economic activity

What do socialists believe about social welfare and public services?

They want robust social welfare systems and public services such as healthcare, education, housing which should be provided by the state and funded through taxation - everyone must have access to essential resources regardless of individual wealth.

Collective provision > market where access would be determined by the ability to pay.

What is the idea of common humanity?

all human beings share essential qualities and are fundamentally connected through their social experiences. Shared humanity is the basis for solidarity, cooperation and the pursuit of collective goals over individual self-interest.

What do socialists believe about human nature (flexibility and malleability)?

Human nature is not fixed at birth but is instead shaped by the environment and shared experiences of life. Humans are naturally inclined to cooperate and work together for the common good

Why do socialists believe individuals do not htrive when seperated by society?

individuals cannot be understoos in isolation from society, humans are inherently social and identity/values/behaviours are shaped by interactions within their community. True freedom is found in communities that support and nurtures the individual.

What do socialists belive about intersectional differences that prevent people from recognising their common humanity?

Religion/race/gender/class divides people and barriers can be overcome through collective action and social reform. By breaking down these divisions, society can foster greater solidarity.

How do socialists believe human nature can shift?

human nature can change and improve. In different economic systems, one that prioritises collective well-being over indivdual profit, people would behave differently → become more fraternal, community-oriented

What do socialists argue about the state?

should be an instrument for promoting the collective welfare of citizens. The state should ensure resources are distributed equitably and indivduals should have access to necessities e.g healthcare, education

• legislation, social programs and public services → the state can promote social cohesion, equal treatment and opportunities

What is the socialist view on the state’s role in democratic control and participation? (state)

Advocate for democratic control of the state - decisions made collectively, reflects will of the people. Accountability to the people maintained so actions align with the common good.

What do socialists say about collective ownership? (economy)

Structured around collective ownership of the means of production, community management of resources, services etc. Economy should serve interest of all rather than profit motives of a few

What do socialists argue about the redistribution of wealth? (economy)

wealth distributed equally, everyon must have the resources to have a dignified life and addresses economic inequalities and promote social justice

What do socialists believe about planning and cooperation? (economy)

socialist economies characterised by economic planning - state has a central role in the production and distribution - meet community needs. Can lead to more efficient and equitable outcomes as resources are allocated on collective needs not market.

how does the principle of fraternity link to economy?

common humanity fosters fraternity in economic relations where cooperation and mutual support are prioritised over competition. Approach encourages collaborative efforts where economic decisions are made democratically and profits are shared among all members.

What does equality mean for socialists?

humans should have equal access to resources and opportunities which leads to a more harmonious and just society.

What do socialists want in relation to equality?

1. economic equality

2. social equality

3. political equality

what do they mean by economic equality?

reducing the disparities in wealth and income of capitalist societies. Concentration of wealth in the hands of the elite leads to exploitation and social injustice.

redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation, social welfare programmes and public ownership of key industries

what do they mean by social equality?

equality of opportunity, oppose all forms of discrimination and advocate a society based on equal respect

what do they mean by political equality?

demand equal political rights for all (e.g right to vote, rn for office, participate in the decision-making processes) only true democracy is achieved when political power is equally distributed

support systems of participatory or direct democracy where citizens have a more active role in governance rather than electing representatives.

How do socialists agree on the view of human nature?

generally take an optimistice view of human nature, people are inherently cooperative and capable of working together for the common good.

How do socialists view capitalist societies?

not a reflection of natural human tendencies but the result of social and economic structures that promote competition and self-interest.

what is the impact on views of human nature? (equality)

cooperation vs competition - in equal societies, individuals are more likely to cooperate and support each other, nobody is pitted against one another

human potential - individuals can contribute positively if given equal opportunities, inequality stifles this potential by denying people the resources to succeed

Impacts on views of society (equality)

Society is an interconnected whole where the well-being of the individual is tied to the wellbeing of the community. Inequality creates divisions and tensions that harm society as a whole which leads to social instability and conflict

Community & solidarity: society based on solidarity, individuals see themselves as part of a larger community and motivated by a sense of collective responsibility

Social cohesion: reducing inequality would lead to greater social cohesion, individuals more likely to care for one another leading to a harmonious and stable society

Impacts on views of the economy (equality)

advocate an economy that prioritises human needs over profit, everyone must have access to the resources necessary

Public ownership: would ensure the benefits of economic activity are shared more equitably across society

Redistribution: redistributive policies e.g progressive taxation and welfare programmes help to reduce the inequality

Impact on views of the state (equality)

State is a necessary instrument for implementing policies that promote eqaulity and protect rights of all citizens

State intervention: strong, active state that intervenes in the economy and society to redistribute wealth, provide public services and regulate markets

democratic control: the state should be democratically controlled by the people rather than privileged elite - ensures it serves interests of the majority

welfare state: support the establishment of a welfare state, government takes responsibility for ensuring all citizens have access to healthcare, education, housing and other essential services

What is the socialist view on class?

economic inequalities are inherently ties to the capitalist system and these inequalities result in class conflict.

Marx: bourgeoisie exploits proletariats by extracting surplus value from their labour - accumulation of wealth by the elites

Goal of socialism (Marx): abolish the class system by overthrow of capitalism, leading to a communist (classless) society

Class and the state

state under capitalism serves bourgeosie (ruling class), reinforced by laws. policies and institutions

Revolutionary socialists: seizure of state power by wc to dismantle the capitalist system and establish dictatorship of the proletariat as a transition to a classless society

Socialist views on class structure

traditional marxism: class division between bourgeoisie (own means of production) and proletariat (workers)

Democratic socialism: emphasise the importance of class, achieve socialism through reform rather than revolution. Mixed economy, welfare state and the redistribution of wealth to reduce class inequalities

Social democracy: acknowledges class differences but seeks to ameliorate them through welfare policies, progressive taxation and strong trade unions - want to humanise capitalism rather than abolish it

Contemporary socialist perspective on class

decline of traditional working class industries in developed countries, more focus on issues of economic inequality, social mobility and concentration of wealth and power in hands of a small elite

‘Precariat’ emergence - new social class characterised by insecurity and precarious work conditions - reflects changes in labour market and erosion of traditional working class jobs

Critiques of class-based analysis in socialism

• class analysis is overly deterministic, reduces social issues to class and ignored other intersectional disadvantages like race, gender, sexuality

• postmodernist/cultural theorists - class should be understood in a more complex, intersectional way, recognising the multiple and overlapping identites

conclusion of social class (socialism)

advocate for the redistribution of wealth and power to create a more equal society with the ultimate aim in some branches to abolish the class distinction.