SOCIALISM POLITICS ALEVEL EDEXCEL (from 2022 advanced info)

Outline what revolutionary socialism is, what it wants and how to achieve it

- Socialist values cannot coexist with capitalist ones, therefore a revolution must happen to transform society and the economy.

- It is derived from the ideas of Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels

What is evolutionary socialism?

A form of socialism advocating a parliamentary route to deliver a long-term, radical transformation in a gradual, peaceful way through legal and peaceful means.

What are the three types of evolutionary socialism?

1) Democratic socialism, capitalism should be gradually reformed via parliament to achieve a socialist state. complete rejection of capitalism

2) Social democracy, inspired by ideas of Anthony Crossland, values social justice through redistribution of welfare state

3) Third Way

What are the five key ideas and principles in socialism?

- Collectivism

- Common Humanity

- Equality

- Social Class

- Workers control

What is collectivism?

It maintains that humans can achieve their political, social and economic objectives more effectively through collective action rather than through individual effort.

What is collectivism rooted in?

The socialist view of human nature.

That humans are social animals and it is more important to persue the interest of a society or a community rather than self-interest

What do socialists call for to encourage collectivism?

more government intervention, and state planning to promote collectivist goals.

expansion of state services, responsibility and increase in state spending

what is a criticsm of collectivism?

Collectivism focuses on the importance of group action and commonly shared interests, and so prevents diversity and individuality amongst humans.

What are the most common forms of socialist collectivism

- Housing, subsidised by local government

- Education ran by the state which is free and available to everyone

- industry, controlled by the state

- Health Care, funded from taxation

- Industrial relations, workers trade unions with barganing rights over terms and conditions

What is meant by common humanity?

Common humanity believes that humans prefer naturally to co-operate with one another rather than compete.

Why is cooperation so important in relation to common humanity?

As it reinforces and reflects the socialist ideas of a common humanity.

Individuals working collectively to achieve a mutual benefit is important to socialists as they have a fraternal view that people work better together.

Why is equality important for socialists?

Equality is important as it ensures fairness, reinforces collectivism and is a means of satisfying basic human needs.

As everyone has the same basic needs, equality ensures that people recieve those needs.

If inequality isn't adressed, what will happen according to socialists?

A revolt by the poorest people, in protest against their conditions.

Such as what happened in Russia in 1917 and Mexico in 1910-20.

what do debates about equality between socialists entail?

- How social and economic equality should be achieved, or whether it can be achieved.

What is common ownership?

When the means of production is commonly owned, so that all are able to participate in its running and will be able to benefit from the wealth of society.

What is equality of outcome?

everyone in a society should end up with the same "rewards" regardless of starting point, opportunities, or contributions

Rewards are based on an individuals contribution

What is absolute equality?

Absolute equality is when everyone achieves the same rewards- associated with marxists.

What is equality of opportunity?

the idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life.

Important to the Third Way and Social Democrats

What is equality of Welfare?

The idea that every person is entitled to a minimum standard of living guaranteed by welfare.

What did the key thinkers think about different types of equality?

Marx and Engels- Believed in equality of opportunity after a revolution, common ownership for absolute equality

Luxemburg- Economy on common ownership for absolute equality

Webb- Equality of opportunity can only be achieved by reforming capitalism.

High taxation is needed to flatten the divide between the classes.

Crossland- Progressive taxation, even distribution of opportunities via the welfare state

Giddens- Wage equality of outcome was a disinsentive. In the third way, benefits used for those who need them most.

What does the existence of social classes explain for socialists?

The most important divides within society.

Social classes, rather than individuals, have been the principle agents of change throughout history.

Why is social class important to socialists?

As they argue that people act with other people in their class, which forms divisions in society.

Where do all socialists agree on social class?

They all agree on minimising the gap between the classes.

They all agree that there is a status difference between manual and non-manual occupational groups

Where do socialists disagree in relation to social class?

- Social democrats want to narrow class divisions

- Marxists want to get rid of class so that everyone is equal

Define proletariat

working class people

They have to sell their labour to survive.

Important to socialists as conflict between them and who they work for is inevitable

Define bourgeoisie

the upper middle class, including merchants, industrialists, and professional people.

They own the means of production.

They use state apparatus to maintain their dominance over the proletariat.

What does 'workers control' refer to?

The complete or partial ownership of an enterprise by those employed there (such as a business or factory)

Why is workers control preferred by socialists?

Since the workers are the key factor in the production process, they should have the right to control the means of production.

What are socialists overall view of human nature in relation to the key themes?

- Humans are sociable creatures who work better in a group. Capitalism has corrupted positive aspects of humanity.

- Human nature has been damaged by capitalism

- Human nature is malleable and improvable

What are socialists overall view of society in relation to the key themes?

- Our social environment is crutial in determining our personalities

- Capitalist societies depresses human potential

-Social classes were constructed by the capitalists/ bourgeois to exploit the workers

What are socialists overall view of the economy in relation to the key principles?

- The economy needs to be based on collectively owned resources which are distributed according to needs (marx)

- Neoliberal economy with a free marker is the most effective as it creates the most equality of opportunity (Giddens)

- Keynesian capitalism with greater public spending is necessary to ensure equality

What are socialists overall view of the state in relation to the key principles?

As the state stands at the moment, they don't like it because of capitalism.

- Want a large role of the state, based on keynesian style economics.

- The state needs to redistribute and decentralise political power whilst encouraging political participation

What do all fundamentalist socialists believe?

That capitalism must be abolished, but there is disagreement on how.

Generally this is achieved through revolution or gradually via evolution.

What is revolutionary socialism

Rejecting use of democratic means to achieve a socialist society, resorting to violence and direct action.

What are revolutionary socialists justification for revolution?

1) The bourgeois state is an instrument of class oppression, which capitalist interests are upheld by state opression.

2) Gradual change won't lead to a socialist society because the ruling classes values are too entrenched in society

3) A total transformation of society is required as the ruling class wont give up their power without a fight.

4) Attempts to reform a capitalist society would undermine the principles and objectives of socialism, as capitalism is based on inequality and exploitation.

What is social democracy?

Social democracy is a revisionist form of democracy and attempts to reconcile free market capitalism with state intervention.

What are four principles of social democracy?

1) Capitalism is a dependable creator of wealth that distributes wealth unfairly

2) State intervention in economic and social affairs protects the public and remedies capitalisms weaknesses

3) Peaceful constitutional methods should be used to bring about social change

4) Socialism is morally superior to capitalism and should focus on social justice.

Which key thinker do we associate with social democracy?

Anthony Crossland

What are some examples of social democracy in practice?

- A mixed economy, with only key strategic industries nationalised (as what happened with Atlee's government 1945-51)

- Keynesian economics as a means of regulating the capitalist economy and maintaining full employment.

- Reform of capitalism (not removal) using the welfare state to redistribute wealth and tackle social inequality and poverty.

What are three types of revisionist socialism?

- Classical revisionist

- Social democracy

- The Third Way

What is the difference between revisionist socialism and fundamental socialism?

- All fundamental socialists believe that capitalism should be abolished (either through evolution or revolution)

- Revisionist socialists believe that capitalism should be reformed, and seek to make use of the best aspects of capitalism and get rid of the negative aspects of capitalism (non-violent)

What is the third way?

- aka 'neorevisionism'

- represents a middle ground between social democracy and free market neoliberalism.

- more sympathetic toward capitalism- further dilution of socialism

When was the third way introduced?

Under Blair's 'New Labour' in the 1990.

Who was the chief academic person behind the Third Way?

Anthony Giddens

Strengths of the third way?

- The third way has influenced various left of centre parties such as the german SDP and south african ANC

- Under New Labour, neo-revisionism introduced important measures that promoted social justice and improved the position of the most disadvantaged in society

Weaknesses of the third way?

- It lacks real socialist content (for example, its watered down committments to equality and redistribution of wealth)

- Neorevisionism was essentially a Labour rebranding exercise to attract the middle ground voters and businesses after being in opposition for so long

Who are the five socialist key thinkers?

Karl Marx and Fredreich Engels

Rosa Luxemburg

Beatrice Webb

Anthony Crossland

Anthony Giddens

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Wrote the communist manifesto.

Provided a radical interpretation of history and a revolutionary model for a utopian society

What sub tradition of socialism can we link Marx and Engels to?

Fundamental socialism.

What were Marx and Engels' key ideas?

1) Social Class

2) Human nature is socially determined

What are the three key elements of Marxism that social class underpins?

Historical Materialism- Historical and social development can be explained in terms of economic and class factors

Dialetic- is the process that drives social change, as the struggle between the exploited and the exploiters becomes maximised, which ends in the creation of a communist society

Class Consciousness- the exploited class must realise that they are being exploited to overthrow their opressors.

What does social class divide society into?

The 'haves' and the 'have nots'

What do Marx and Engles believe about human nature?

- That human nature is socially determines and can only be expressed under communism.

- Humans are social beings

- Capitalism corrupts true human nature, therefore a revolution is necessary

- Under capitalism, workers are alienated, under communism workers are free

Marx and Engels on human nature?

Originally fraternal and altruistic, has been contaminated by capitalism, instilling the 'false consciousness' of bourgeois values. Revolutionary socialism will fix this

Marx and Engels on the state?

Capitalism must be destroyed by a revolution, then the state will temporarily be replaced by a dictatorship of the proletariat, but then the state will wither away

Marx and Engels on society?

Capitalism corrupts society.

The elite oppresses the working class.

A communist society will have absolute equality and societal harmony

Marx and Engels on the economy?

In a communist economy resources should be collectively owned and distributed according to needs

Beatrice Webb?

- One of the most influential Fabian Socialists

- Wrote many book on governmental and economic matters, served on parliamentary commissions, and agitated for socialist policies

- Supported the 'inevitability of gradualness'

What was beatrice webbs two key ideas?

- Inevitablility of gradualness

- Expansion of the state will deliver socialism

What did Beatrice Webb mean by 'inevitability of gradualism'?

- Socialism would be able to establish itself peacefully by passing democratic reforms through parliamentary institutions

- She rejected the idea of a revolution from the workers, and saw a gradual approach as a more realistic option

What did Webb mean by Expansion of the state will deliver socialism?

The expansion of the state, rather than the overthrow, will deliver socialism.

She wanted expansion of utilities like transport, education, healthcare, gas...

Beatrice Webb on human nature?

She believed in intellectual and moral human imperfection

She through that workers were selfish and uninformed, therefore democracy should be representative- which would lead to a skilled socialist government

Beatrice Webb on the state?

State could be used to get closer to socialism by using universal suffrage. (a gradual process)

Beatrice Webb on society?

The poverty and inequalities of a capitalist society continue to depress human potential while fostering regressive competition.

Beatrice Webb on the economy?

A free market would be gradually nationalised as the workers obtain common ownership of the means of production

Rosa Luxemburg

She was a marxist revolutionary who opposed evolutionary socialism.

She was a key member of the left wing German party of SPD.

What sub tradition of socialism do we link Rosa Luxemburg to?

Fundamental socialism

What were Rosa Luxemburg's key ideas?

-Revolutionary

-Capitalism is inherently exploitative

-Proletariat should be educated as to their oppression

Why did Rosa Luxemburg think that evolutionary socialism was impossible?

As capitalism was based on economic exploitation, revolution is necessary to have effect .

"The masses are the decisive elements. They are the rock on which the final victory of revolution will be built"

What did Rosa Luxemburg think about class consciousness?

- The class struggle will create a greater class consciousness needed to overthrow capitalism

- Radicalisation of the workers was key as it would help bring about a socialist revolution

Rosa Luxemburg on human nature?

Human nature had been damaged by capitalism.

Proletarian discontent against state control would help bring about a revolution

Rosa Luxemburg on the state?

The existing capitalist state must be destroyed by a revolution, but one arising from strike action. The replacement state should be a genuine democracy, complete with free speech and free elections

Rosa Luxemburg on society

Capitalism corrupts society- the elite oppresses the working class which creates a class conflict.

A democratic communist society will provide absolute equality and social harmony

Rosa Luxemburg on the economy

- Capitalism = bad but resilient

- Determination and solidarity needed in the w/c

Anthony Crossland?

Favoured state managed capitalism

Wrote 'the future of socialism' in 1956

Was a major influence on the Labour Party in 60s and 70s

What sub tradition does Anthony Crossland link to?

Revisionist/ classical socialist

What were Anthony Crosslands two key ideas?

1) Modern capitalism lacks inherent contradictions

2) State-managed capitalism

Crosslands 'inherent contradictions of capitalism'

Contradictions are needed to drive social change

Managed capitalism can deliver greater social equality

Crosslands ideas on 'state managed capitalism'

The state must manage capitalism to deliver greater social equality and provide a fairer distribution of rewards.

Crossland on Human Nature

Human nature is innately fair.

Inequalities of outcome and opportunity hinder collective human progress

Capitalism didn't need to be removed

Crossland on the state

high levels of government spending is required on welfare services and the redistribution of income and wealth

Crossland on society

State management will affect societal change and create social justice and equality of welfare

Crossland on the economy

Economic expansion is required to fund welfare and social spending to improve living standards for those at the bottom of society, while preserving those of the more affluent.

Anthony Giddens?

Wrote the 'Third Way'

The renewal of social democracy

Was an important intellectual figure in the development of the third way in Blairs government

What were Giddens 2 key ideas?

1) The third way socialism

2) Rejecting state intervention

What are key features of Giddens 'Third Way'?

- Drew on the strengths of the social democratic and neoliberal free market traditions

- Public ownership cannot generate wealth in the same way that free market can

What did Giddens mean by 'Rejection of state intervention'?

He rejected 'top down' state intervention, especially within the economy.

State welfare can create a dependency culture.

There is a contract between the state and citizens

Giddens on human nature?

Capitalism had a corrosive effect on human nature, he believed that capitalism and individualism were established beyond change

Giddens on the state?

Wanted to strongly invest in social services- with the money from taxation within the free market.

Equality of opportunity over equality. The system needs to be fair so that everyone has an equal opportunity to better themselves through ability and effort.

Giddens on society?

Society will embrace equality of opportunity and communal responsibility to prevent class conflict

Giddens on the economy?

- The free market is the most efficient system of production as it encourages personal qualities such as responsibility

- Free market capitalism generated wealth in a way that public ownership could not