politics - socialism

what did socialism develop from?

enlightment

what do liberalism and socialism have in common?

• both optimistic view of human nature

• both support ‘reason’ over faith

• both enforcing progressive politics and challenging status quo

• both enforce foundational equality

what is foundational equality?

rights that all humans by being born that cannot be taken away

what is socialists view of property?

do not agree, with some suggesting the abolition of private property, unlike liberals.

what was key thinker marx revolutionary thought?

overthrow of capitalism is inevitable

what is engles major thought?

A revolutionary socialist who felt Liberalism was grossly inadequate and advocated, alongside Marx, communism.

what is utopian socialism?

Linked to thinkers, such as Robert Owen, this refers to the earliest form of Socialism, based on a vision of the perfect human existence.

what is webbs quote for optimistic human nature?

‘A better tomorrow is conceivable, achievable and probable.’

what is socialism view of human nature?

• as socialism grew from enlightment, they generally have an optimistic positive view of human nature and condition

• socialists dismiss the idea that humans should just accept their fate and be fearful of future

what was Marxs view of human nature and how it affects society?

communism would be a secular (non-religious) paradise, where serious problems were banished, and where human beings were wise, virtuous and happy.

what way do socialists believe human nature excel the most?

human nature is naturally collabrative, human nature is best when people work cooperatively

what is Giddens view of what the richer should do for the poor as part of their human nature?

Gidden’s states that even higher earners in a capitalist economy could be rationally persuaded that their own success should finance greater help for the less fortunate.

what words describe human nature for Socialists?

• rational

• communal

• malleable

human nature as rational?

• we cant act reasonably and collectively making sensible decisions

• webb = an educated society with socialists leanings could gradually and inevitably guide us to an ever improving life

human nature as communal?

• Socialists believe humans naturally seek a community,

human nature as malleable?

• human nature is changeable

• Marx and Engel argue human nature has become contmainted by forces beyond their control

what is social justice?

Socialist argue that legal justice is not enough to secure equality of opportunity. It must be accompanied by social justice

what does socialists believe about society?

Society is existentially significant to the human condition. given their view of human nature being changeable if society can be improved so can individual prospects

what is socalists view of society being collectivsts?

• they encourage the idea of being stronger when working together

• will lead to better society

how is society shaped?

• for socialists they would argue that society is shaped by class.

• individuals are limited to the social class they were born into

• this causes massive inequalities between social classes and therefore in society

what is socalists ideal?

equality of opportunity with equality of outcome

what is orthodox socialism?

A form of Socialism which assumes that, for socialism to be achieved, capitalism must be abolished.

how is economy described for socialists?

• fudamental

• redistrubtive

how is the economy described as fundamental?

all socialists agree economic policy is central to a fairer, more equal society

how is economy redistrubtive?

redistribution of wealth and resources, the aim, to narrow the gap between the richest and the poorest.

how do socialists disagree about captalism?

Orthodox - capitalism is wholly incompatible with socialist economics, is creates disparities of wealth.

revisonists - effective capitalism is the precondition of an effective socialist economic policy, creating wealth socialist governments can distribute.

how is economy interventionists?

• all socialists agree there should be greater government intervention in

  the economy.

• Socialists rejected purely laissez-faire capitalist.

how do socialists describe the state?

• rejection of anarchism

• enlarged state

what is the state as a rejection of anarchism?

Although there is disagreement about the type of Socialist state which is created, there is general agreement that a state is required.

what is an enlarged state?

• there is disagreement between Orthodox socialists (Webb) and Revisionist socialists (Crossland) over whether the state should own the economy (and, if so, how much), they still agree the state should enlarge.

what are features of state collectivism?

• progressive taxation

• greater public spending

• universal public spending

what is revolutionary socialism?

for socialism to be achieved, the current economic and political system needs to be dismantled.

what is evolutionary socialism?

in order for socialism to be achieved,change is best achieved gradually, peacefully and within the existing structures of the state.

what is dialetic?

clashes of ideas and interests that take place within each stage of history

what is revolutionary socialism view of communism? - marx

the destruction of Capitalism was desirable and inevitable, and ultimately leading to communism - a society based on communal living, common ownership of economic resources and the principle of ‘each according to his needs’.

key points of revolutionary socialism?

• captalism rised proletrait and bourgeoise, this made profound inequality, class conflict and a tension rise which ultimately

• Bourgeoisie owned and controlled property and the mode of production in capitalist society

• Bourgeoisie are not born evil, it's the capitalist society which encourages the concept of surplus value

revolutionary socialism - the inevitablity of revolution?

• marx predicted with every crisis caused by captialism it would be worse than before The proletariat would become larger, angrier and more class conscious until workers realised they had ‘nothing to lose but their chains’, igniting a revolution

• Marx and Engels remarked that Capitalism cannot be improved or reformed.

• They argued that each historical stage was a clash of economic ideas and economic interests. Described as historical materialism