Socialism: A Level Politics Edexcel

Marx & Engels: State

Runs in the interest of the bourgeoisie (a tool); exploits & oppresses workers.

Will wither away once communism's established a classless society.

Historic materialism ∴ the base of capitalism must be removed.

Revolution is necessary bc privileged wont give up their position easily. Replace state with dictatorship of the proletariat & common ownership & equality of outcome.

Giddens: State

Future= small state.

Social investment state; infrastructure, education; 'contract'= growth benefits state & investment benefits people.

Targeted welfare (otherwise dependency culture).

Evolutionary change to improve position of disadvantaged.

Civil culture.

Webb: State

Future= big state.

'State had changed from "police power to national housekeeper"'

'Inevitability of gradualism'; (evolutionary) use existing institutions for the state to deliver socialism (rejected Marxism).

Crosland: Economy

Keynes; profit-driven market can't allocate wealth & resources fairly ∴ state intervention is necessary. Ensures low inflation & promotes continuous growth.

Taxes to pay for welfare.

Managerialism; proletariat part-own business (not complete nationalisation or workers control).

'Full employment'; everyone who can, should, work.

Luxemburg: Economy

Agrees with Marx; capitalism= 'A tendency of monopolisation'.

Economic production should be determined by human need; imperialism (gaining economic control).

Centrally planned, common ownership.

Evolutionary/Revisionism would leave capitalist system of exploitation intact, ∴ revolution= necessary.

Giddens: Economy

Free market= most efficient system of production (also provides incentive to work harder); also economic growth benefits everyone.

Encourages desirable qualities (e.g responsibility).

State intervention discourages investment.

A 'U.N' to control free market.

Marx & Engels: Human Nature

Essentially social beings; influenced more by nature than nurture. Socially determined & can only be expressed under communism; will be restored under the dictatorship of the proletariat (necessary bc we are so corrupt by capitalism ∴ need revolution= optimistic of human revolution).

Rational & co-operative= capacity for personal developments.

Humans= productive & capable of learning; but can't be under capitalism; bc humans alienated (bc don't own means of production & capitalism=competitive ∴ can't enjoy or fulfil capabilities & potential.

Communism= more leisure time which allows humans to realise their full potential.

Luxemburg: Human Nature

Optimistic; people are rational & cooperative.

Class consciousness would develop naturally; spontaneous mass strike, need revolution bc capitalism has exploited & entrenched division.

Not a Marxist bc: don't need elite to lead the revolt (dictatorship of the proletariat).

Capitalism divides; not race etc.

Webb: Human Nature

People have potential.

Pessimistic view of human nature; people= selfish uninformed & limited (bc of capitalism); but humans also philanthropic & ∴ will realise evils of capitalism.

Need top-down socialism; technocrats will rule with expertise in everyone's best interests.

Marx & Engels: Society

1848 Communist manifesto; "Two great hostile camps facing each other"; antagonistic class relationships; everything revolves around class.

Historic materialism ∴ society= capitalist.

Both capitalism & communism inevitable; but only communism delivers a stable & united society.

Giddens: Society

Civic culture; pride in your community.

Inclusion is equality; social harmony.

Some hierarchy is inevitable.

If state provides healthcare & education that= equality of opportunity, not 'handouts'.

Webb: Society

Founded LSE; technocrats should deliver socialism. Some hierarchy as the people with skills & knowledge at the top will safeguard society.

(Inevitability of) Gradualism; Fabian society (Crosland a member, co-founders of Labour party).

Accepts class differences; these should be reduced via peaceful means.

Rochdale Pioneers 1844

Ran voluntary co-op's.

Owned & run by workers (collectivism).

Designed to provide economic assistance for its members (cheaper goods)

Edward Bernstein

Revisionist.

Opposed by Luxemburg.

Still a Marxist but opposed historical materialism bc; proletariat aren't becoming increasingly poor & society isn't growing int to "2 great hostile camps"( ∴ nor increasingly radical); middle class is growing & workers=happy.

Peter Mandelson

"[New Labour is] intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes"

Thomas More

'Utopia' 1516. Community, co-operation, common ownership, equality.

Charles Fourier

19th century.

1620 people = perfect community. =Scientific ∴ not utopian.

"Cooperation is the secret of success"

Gerrard Winstanley & the levellers

Created collective farms; oppressed by state.

Utopian or just ahead of his time?

17th Century.

Collectivism

Potential most efficiently achieved through collectivism. Competitive individual effort= wasteful.

Group interests take priority.

People defined by social group & ∴ membership of social group offers fulfilment (also humans natural tendency= to work together).

Collective action via state ensures fairer distribution of goods & services (than free market).

Marx "From each according..."

Revisionists: accept some free market but still pursue collectivism (Atlee & nationalised health service, but left economy in private hands).

BUT: suppresses individuality and diversity.

Common Humanity

Humans= social ∴ rational & co-operative; human behaviour is determined by place in society (individual can't be understood without reference to society).

Co-operative effort; produces best results for society; there is respect, understanding, mutual support= superior to capitalism (capitalism insights competition).

Moral motivation; humans can be driven by desire to contribute to society (altruistic).

Equality

Pursuit of 'social equality (equality of outcome) = fundamental value (equal distribution of economic rewards).

Egalitarianism; decrease inequality & ensure everyone has a free chance.

Ensures fairness; economic inequality is due to structural inequalities of capitalism, not inherent differences.

Reinforces collectivism co-operation & solidarity; humans are most likely to coexist harmoniously if they share the same social & economic conditions.

Satisfies basic human needs; more equal distribution of wealth & resources will promote human fulfilment

Social Democrats & Equality

Blair? Giddens?

Relative equalising of society with a reformed, capitalist economy, via welfare, gvt spending & progressive taxation to remove absolute poverty.

Material incentives motivate.

Emphasis on equality of opportunity.

Revolutionaries & Equality

Absolute equality (of material rewards or opportunities), abolition of private property, replace with common ownership of all means of production.

Equality of Outcome

Crosland & Webb

Everyone must have an equal relationship with the means of production.

Because of this there is no need for artificial levelling as equality is inherent (3rd way argue e.o.outcome= artificial levelling).

Gvt will design policies to redistribute wealth and status so economic equality can be achieved.

Absolute Equality

Marx & Luxemburg

Everyone who contributes to society will receive the same rewards.

Overtime each persons contribution will be roughly equal.

Rejected by social democrats & 3rd way as impractical & potentially damaging.

Universal Equality

Society is inevitably unequal; but all individuals have an equal minimum standard of living guaranteed by state welfare provision.

Protects the most vulnerable.

Rejected by Marxists as it doesn't remove capitalism. Rejected by 3rd way bc they support targeted welfare.

Equality of Opportunity

Everyone has equal chance to make the best of their abilities.

There is no artificial barriers for those who work hard, have ability & talent.

Supported by 3rd way bc its meritocracy.

Rejected by Marxists bc allows capitalism to survive.

Social democrats want more social justice.

Social Class

Explains most important decisions in society.

Committed to represent interests of workers.

Members of a class share similar outlooks; ∴ social classes are principal agents of change.

Decline of the socialism/working-class link due to: deindustrialisation (decreased size of working class & trade union importance).

Marxists & Social Class

Someones class is determined by their relationship to the means of production; conflict is inevitable between owners of production & those that sell their labour to survive. Bourgeoisie use the state apparatus to maintain their dominance. Eventually class conflict= consciousness= revolution= communism (classless society).

Social Democrats & Social Class

Define social class more flexibly.

Targeted gvt intervention to narrow (but not remove) class distinctions; provide welfare schemes.

Advocate peaceful social improvement.

Workers control

Influenced by Marxism & Syndicalism.

Term used in two ways; 'ownership of the means of production' or 'control of state by workers'.

Society; trade unions increased influence enables introduction of limited social & economic reforms.

Economy; workers are the most important element in economic production ∴ should have the right to control means of production &∴ dilute/replace capitalists control of economy.

Criticisms; Business' rely on people who are prepared to invest money as well as the workers. Workers may not have entrepreneurial qualities needed to run factories; ∴ would undermine economic prospects of their workplace.

Revolutionary Socialism

Early industrialisation & capitalism = increased poverty, exploitation & unemployment. Therefore expected to radicalise workers.

1917 Russian Revolution. 1966 Mao revolution.

Results in fundamentalism regimes claiming to be based on socialist principles.

Bourgeoisie state= instrument of class oppression. Gradualism won't work bc bourgeoisie values too entrenched & bourgeoisie won't give up without a fight. Capitalism based on exploitation & inequality ∴ reform undermines principle objectives of socialism.

Social Democracy

Post 1945 UK gvt; reforming capitalism; revisionist form of democracy (attempting to reconcile free market capitalism with state intervention.

Socialism= morally superior to Capitalism.

19thC Bernstein's revisionist study (Marxist, but Marx=wrong).

Crosland; mixed economy (key industries nationalised, keynesian economics, fair redistribution of wealth).

The 3rd Way

Neo-revisionism; 'ideological middle ground' (to attract middle class).

Electoral success; 1997, 2001, 2005.

Peter Mandleson "intensely relaxed...as long as they pay their taxes".

Rejects top-down state intervention; endorses dynamic market economy to maximise wealth creation; downplays redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation.

Supports a social model based on consensus and harmony; differs from trad socialists focus on class.

Values continuity & moral responsibility.

Promotes social inclusion, rather than commitment to equality (targeted welfare to achieve e.o.opportunity).

Advocate competition/Market state; focus on social investment & importance of education to develop workforce's skills & knowledge (improves job prospects).

Marx & Engels: Book

1848 'Communist Manifesto'

Luxemburg: Book

1906 'The Mass Strike'

Webb: Book

1891 'The cooperative movement in Britain'

Crosland: Book

1956 'The Future of Socialism'

Giddens: Book

'The 3rd Way'