Different types of socialism

three main types o

revolutionary

evolutionary

third way

aim of revolutionary socialists

complete equality of outcome which can only be achieved by the overthrow of capitalism

social democrats

known as evolutionary socialists who believe socialism can be achieved peacefully via democratic reform which gradually eradicates capitalism

who are the revolutionary socialists

Marx, Engels and Luxemburg

Who are the social democrats

Webb and Crossland

Third way

seeks to find a middle ground between socialism and capitalism and more emphasis is placed on eliminating poverty than aiming for economic equality

third way key thinker

Giddens

Views that all socialists share

• humans are fundamentally equal

• unregulated capitalism is exploitative and causes unfair levels of inequality

• eradication or substantial reduction of class differences

• society is more powerful collectively

third way view on achieving socialism

rejects the traditional socialist aim of equality of outcome and they believe that capitalism can be used by the state as a tool for improving public services and living standards

revolutionary view of the role of the state

a temporary dictatorship of the proletariat needed to create a truly egalitarian state and economy after capitalism has been overthrown via violent revolution which will eventually wither away

social democrat view on the role of the state

strong, interventionist state is a vital and permanent tool for achieving socialist goals, no revolution needed as voters will chose socialist governments

third way view on the role of the state

more limited state that is heavily involved in social policy but less interventionist in the economy

class conflict

the tension between bourgeoise and proletariat which would eventually destroy capitalist society according to marx

how did the bourgeoise exploit the proletariat

by owning the means of production and most of the property despite being the minority in society

Marx and Engels on why the bourgeoise are exploitative

not inherently bad, capitalism compels them to act in an amoral way due to its relentless emphasis on profit

false consciousness

capitalism gives workers a distorted outlook at odds with their real interests

ultimate flaw in capitalism for marx and engels

it failed to provide sufficient material resources for the majority and had a cyclical tendency to stagnate

why did marx and engels not believe capitalism could be reformed

because it meant that the bourgeoise were in control of political power so social and economic change to end class tension could only be done by overthrowing existing system

famous line in the communist manifesto

‘workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains’

class consciousness

a by product of capitalism that would eventually develop amongst the downtrodden proletariat and would be the engine of the socialist revolution

dialectical materialism

the idea that history is defined by a clash of economic interests and then a compelling challenge which would eventually prevail

stages of historical materialism

primitive society

feudal economy

capitalist economy

proletariat and class consciousness

revolution and the destruction of capitalism

dictatorship of the proletariat

communism

end of history

marx and engels goal for the economy

common ownership of the means of production and the abolition of private property, instead it would be owned by all society

communism

a radical form of socialism in which all property is owned by the community

why would the state eventually become unnecessary

once humans had returned to their true fraternal, cooperative selves

how did marx and lenin differ on revolution

Lenin was concerned with Marx’s insistence that revolution could only occur in societies where capitalism was advances (Luxemburg shared this view)

what disturbed lenin and luxemburg about marxism

less economically developed nations would have to endure decades of oppressive capitalism before salvation

what did lenin recommend

pre industrial societies should use revolution to pre empt the development of capitalism so industrialisation took place under a socialist state

Vanguardism

a revolutionary party thought up by lenin who would perform the crucial tasks to fully establish socialism

Luxemburg criticism of lenin

saw the vanguard as a new form of elitism and called for the workers to rise up spontaneously and also didn’t see existing state as completely pointless, she believed that socialist candidates winning democratic elections was an important way to raise class consciousness

what came after revolution for luxemburg

a state that was neither dictatorship of the proletariat like marx or a one party state like lenin but instead was a new democratic state underpinned by state ownership of the economy but free elections

Spartacist uprising

Germany 1919

inevitability of gradualness

what Webb believed democratic activity would lead to

example of Webb’s belief that the bourgeoise could be persuaded to accept socialism

co founded LSE

What did webb advocate for establishing

coperative movements to represent worker’s rights and distribute profits more fairly

cooperative movements

organisations that make goods or offer services in the same way a traditional business might, but whose profits are shared between the workers and wider communities

cooperative individualism

where individuals and communities form cooperatives themselves

cooperative federalism

where federal cooperatives made up of smaller consumer cooperatives are formed, they would purchase and run things like farms and factories

Crossland and the economy

embraces Keynesian economics and a mixed economy where capitalist profits would be redistributed through taxation and public spending whereas other socialists including Webb argued nationalism should be central goal

Crossland on capitalism

it had evolved and improved by the 1950s allowing social mobility for some working class people so class differences were less pronounced than Marx and Engels had envisaged so equality of outcome no longer a necessary aim

what did webb and crossland both advocate for

state funded public services like education, healthcare and housing `

How did Giddens go further than Crossland

he accepted benefits that capitalism had to offer in achieving socialist aims

what did Giddens reject completely

nationalisation, instead he argued that the state should unleash the dynamism of markets to focus on reinvesting tax yields into public services

Who was Giddens a major influence on

Tony Blair and New Labour who combined left wing social ideas with right wing economic ones

what did Giddens say the state should focus on

Eradicating poverty rather than economic inequalities, the goal of the state should be a post scarcity society

Fabian society

an organisation committed to evolutionary socialism via reforms made at westminster

what did Webb help draft

Clause IV of the 1918 labour party constitution which committed them to nationalisation

so who believes in destruction of capitalism

Marx

Engels

Luxemburg

Webb (through gradualist democratic means)

Crossland and class

new managerial class had arisen after the world wars who directed the means production without owning it, which therefore broke Marx’s link between control and ownership of production and this new class was neither exploitative or exploited

Crossland and Clause IV

should be repealed as he believed in a mixed economy

What did Crossland feel Keynesianism would guarantee

full employment and constant economic growth which would allow growth in public spending

Crossland’s misplaced faith in Keynesian economics

caused stagflation that engulfed UK economy which he didn’t foresee and led to the rise of thatcherism

what caused social democracy and third way to be different

fall of soviet union had showed capitalism was no longer threatened by communism

globalisation made it harder for national governments to fully control their own economy

lasting impact of new right governments

decline of traditional blue collar society

how are social democracy and third way different to do with the economy

the third way should extend capitalism and by exploiting new opportunities for economic growth from globalisation

Giddens in practice

reregulating financial services, enlarging the role of the private sector through public private partnerships in education and healthcare

Mandelson quote about third way view on the economy

‘we are intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich.. as long as they pay their taxes’

Giddens and society

cultural equality should be embraced so New Labour passed laws like the equality act

the state and third way

more willing to share power than other branches so did devolution but for critics like corbyn, this only made the implementation of socialist polices harder

Giddens v Marx on human nature

Marx thought it is susceptible to whatever economic system it is under but Giddens instead thought that human nature can prosper under capitalism and still appreciate core socialist beliefs like fraternity and cooperation