socialism key thinkers revision

Marx and Engels ideas on human nature

had been corrupted by capitalism which encourages selfishness, ruthlessness and greed

argued humans had evolved away from their

species essence

how does capitalism effect class

created two conflicted economic classes (ruling class and proletariat) which encouraged inequalities of wealth and power

belief on how capitalism would be overthrown

the working class would gain class consciousness and overthrow capitalism

historicism

belie that each historic period is determined by its structure of economic production and that the structure of society develops as a result

‘the state is the …’

‘mere servant of capitlaim’

‘the proletarians have nothing to …’

‘lose but their chains’

what would come after the revolution

a new state governed in the interests of the economically dominant class (dictatorship of the proletariat), once this had cemented socialist values it would wither away and be replaced by communism

Luxemburg views on historicism

disagreed as she did not think capitalism would advance before it failed

belief on how a revolution would come about

spontaneously after class consciousness had been bought about (rejected Lenin’s views on revolution being planned)

concerns on nationalism and war

left her party in 1914 due to their commitment to the German war effort and stated organising anti-war demonstrations as she believed it divided common humanity

views on elections and influence in the German Communist Party

advocated for elections as she said that having a say in the existing political system made it easier for communists to convey the case for revolution to proletariat voters

‘modern workers struggle is a part of …’

‘history, a part of social progress’

Webb main contribution to democratic socialism

inevitability of gradualism

how did she believe poverty and inequality would be eliminated

state intervention and trade unionism

why did she encourage Fabian society to merge with the Labour Party

to allow goals of common ownership to be pursued through the existing political system

work on the Minority Report

examined state poverty arguing the state should guarantee nourishment, work, treatment etc. to all members of society

Crossland ideal economic model

managed capitalism

what would Keynesian principles allow

full employment and growth as well as move towards diminishing inequalities

beliefs on society

becoming less binary and much more complex than Marx could have imagined, new classes have new perspectives on society

new goal of socialist governments

high public spending and investments in public services

influence of state education

would help to break down class divisions and ensure greater equality of opportunity

Giddens ideal economic model

Smith’s free-market capitalism

advantages of free marker capitalism

would empower individuals and provide incentive for people to rise up in class structures

triangulation concept

combine neo-liberal views on the economy and social democratic views on societal perspectives

why was this important in a post-Fordist society

it would resolve the issue of fragmented and atomised workforces and allow for a sense of community once more

beliefs in state intervention

would be important in an era of globalised capitalism

equality of opportunity must be accompanied by

greater inequality of outcome is the free market were to generate the right wealth to fund public services