Ideologies (Socialism)

A-Level AQA Politics - Socialism

Who were the REVOLUTIONARY fundamentalists?

Marx, Luxemburg

Who were the EVOLUTIONARY fundamentalists

Webb

Who were the revisionists?

Crossland (Social democrats), Giddens (Third Way)

Revolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on human nature

Fraternal and altruistic but has been contaminated by capitalism (Marx), Fraternity and altruism still flourish in working-class communities punished by capitalist economics - not damaged to the extent Marx believes (Luxemburg)

Evolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on human nature

Damage inflicted by capitalism will only be made worse through revolution, Humanity needs to be guided back gradually (Webb)

Reisionists beliefs on human nature

Human nature has an innate objection to huge inqualities of outcome (Crosland), Human nature is shaped by changing socio-economic conditions - the pro fairness instinct is still present but is challanged by the sense of individual aspiration (Giddens)

Revolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on the state

The existing liberal-bourgeois state is a tool of the dominant capitalist class - must be destroyed and replaced by a socialist state: A Dictatorship of the Proletariat (Marx), existing capitalist state must be destroyed and replaced with a genuine democracy with free elections and free speech (Luxemburg)

Evolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on the state

If harnessed to universal suffrage, the existing state could be used for a gradual transition to socialism (Webb)

Reisionists beliefs on the state

Democratic socialism govs, e.g. labour 1945-51, prove the existing state can be used to effect radical, socialist change (Crosland), Existing liberal state should be improved - redistributing and decentralising political power with encouragement of political participation (Giddens)

Revolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on society

Capitalist society is defined by class interests and class conflict - a communist society would be the perfect ‘end of history’ (Marx), Capitalist society is class-ridden and morally indefensible (Luxemburg)

Evolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on society

Poverty and inequalities of a capitalist society continue to depress human potential while fostering regressive competition (Webb)

Reisionists beliefs on society

It is increasingly complicated and altered by the emergence of new social groups comprising ‘meritocratic’ managers and ‘classless’ technocrats’ (Crosland), Society has undergone embourgeouisement - egalitarians must harness these forces (Giddens)

Revolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on the economy

Capitalism is corrupt and self-destructive - should be replaced by an economy based on collective ownership (Marx), Necessary for the destruction of capitalism and replacement by an economy based on workers’ control - will require determination and solidarity among the proletariat (Luxemburg)

Evolutionary Fundamentalists beliefs on the economy

A capitalist economy will slowly be replaced by one that gives workers the full fruits of their labour, based on common ownership of the means of production (Webb)

Reisionists beliefs on the economy

A mixed economy underpinned by limited public ownership and keynesian capitalism will finance the greater public spending necessary to secure equality (Crosland), a neo-liberal eonomy propelled by privatisation and deregualtion = large tax yields - will finance more public spending (Giddens)

Marx provenance

→ Industrial Revolution - Rapid industrialisation in the 19th century led to urbanisation and exploitation of factory workers - increase of divide between classes - which he he analysed in The Communist Manifesto (1848)

→ Rise of capitalism - saw capitalists were profiting from the labour of workers - alienated from their work

→ Political upheaval - Influenced by revolutionary movements - e.g. the french revolution & failed european uprisings of 1848

Luxemburg provenance

→ Rise of imperalism and the failure of reformist socialism

→ Anti-socialism in Germany - Russian revolution 1905 - regarded as an e.g. of social revolution which would lead to the creating of a socialist party

→ Russian Revolution 1917 - Influenced the Spartacist Uprising led by her, seen by socialists as a contradiction of the socialist ideal of society

→ Her critique of reformism (i.e. gradual socialist change through parliamentary means) came from observing the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), which she believed had become too complacent.

Webb provenance

→ Became a social researcher & came to align herself with the labour gov

→ Her work on the Poor Law and the co-founding of the London School of Economics (LSE) reflected her belief that scientific research and state intervention, rather than class struggle, were the best paths to socialism.

→ Key figure in the Fabian Society - influenced the Labour Party’s development

Crosland provenance

→ Post-war economic boom & success of the Keynesian welfare state in Britain

→ Argued modern capitalism had changed—it was no longer dominated by a small elite but managed by professional bureaucrats and state policies - led him to advocate for redistributive policies rather than nationalization, focusing on education, public services, and wealth equality rather than direct state control of industries

→ English academic @ Oxford and became a senior labour polititian

→ Former Sec of State

Giddens provenance

→ British political advisor & educator - influential advisor to Tony Blair - influenced ‘New Labour’ and ‘The Third Way’

→ Giddens’ socialism emerged in response to globalization, neoliberalism, and the decline of traditional class structures.

→ Wrote during 20th century - social change & thriving industry

→ Focus on investment in education, nfrastructure and social mobility rather than heavy welfare dependency

What is Keynesianism?

Where goverments plan and manage the economy to ensure full employment and steady growth

What is gradualism?

The idea that socialism would be the inevitable result of the advance of democracy

Alienation

Humans are alienated from:

→ The product of their labour - exploited & can’t afford the overall product

→ The process of their labour - only doing their bit of work

→ Their fellow workers - see them as competition

→ Themselves - other 3 combined = loss of welfare

What is surplus value?

The difference between amount raised through sale of a product & the amount is cost the product’s owner to manufacture the product

→ Not being payed enought for the work you put in

→ Economic exploitation essential for capitalist means of production as gain of profit is needed

What is historic materialism?

The idea that history follows a pattern and is moving its was through the pattern

→ can be separated into different ‘episodes/stages of history’

Human Nature → Fraternity, co-operation and plastic

→ Communal - seek to be part of a community

→ Malleable - Getting rid of capitalism means we can be made good again

→ Optimistic & progressive - Humans can make the world better

→ Utopian - vision of the perfect human existance/society

→ Fraternal - people are good to each other

→ Rational - Webb - educated in gov will use reason to gradually make the world better

What is Utopian Socialism?

Idea of a perfect society

→ Robert Owen: everyone works together as a community

Liberalism & Socialism differences over provate property

Liberalism → private property is a natural right

Socialism → if someone has more that another then there will always be tension - abolish private property so people don’t fight over it

Socialism & Liberalism similarities

→ optimistic view on human nature

→ support reason over faith & superstition

→ Endorse progressive politics and a challange to the status quo

→ Promote liberty

→ Uphold the idea of ‘foundational equality’ - men & women born equal & deserve equal opportunities in life