socialism

core ideas of socialism

• collectivism

• common humanity

• equality

• class

• workers’ control

collectivism

implies cooperation is morally and economically superior to individualism as it prevents conflict and allows for greater productivity

common humanity + fraternity

by nature, humans are altruistic. we are the product of our society.

fraternity - community

equality

equality of outcome is THE fundamemntal principle of socialism - idea that everyone, regardless of background - ends up with same success/wealth

class

societal groups based on socioeconomic status

• proletariat - working class, exploited

• bourgeoisie - owners of mass production, exploiters

workers’ control

workers to have management of their place of work and share profits

class consciousness

• working class becomes aware of its exploitation and unites to challenge capitalism

false class consciousness

• working class is unaware of its exploitation and may even support capitalist values

dialectic materialism

• in which class struggle would inevitably lead to revolutionary change

• marx’s idea that capitalism contains the seed of its own destruction

marx and engels

• revolutionary and fundamentalist socialists

marx/engels on human nature

• originally fraternal and altruistic, but contaminated by capitalism, with ‘false consciousness’ occuring

marx/engels on the state

• existing bourgeoisie state shows capitalist dominance, must be overthrown to achieve dictatorship of the proletariat (then wither away into classless state)

marx/engels on society

• capitalist society is defined by class conflict

marx/engels on the economy

• capitalism is corrupt and self-destructive, should be replaced by economy based on common ownership

rosa luxemburg

revolutionary socialist

luxemburg on human nature

• altruism and fraternity can still be present in capitalism

luxemburg on the state

• existing state to be destroyed via revolution, replaced with a genuine democracy of free speech and free elections

luxemburg on society

• capitalist society is morally indefensible

luxemburg on economy

• economy based on workers’ control will require strong proletariat determination

webb

democratic socialist, revisionism

webb on human nature

• capitalism has inflicted damage on HN, should return back to cooperative conditions

webb on the state

• inevitability of gradualness

• human suffrage used to create gradual reform, not revolution

• expansion of the state

webb on society

• promoting common ownership

webb on economy

• capitalist economy will be replaced by one of common ownership

anthony crosland

third way revisionist

crosland on human nature

• we have an innate objection to huge inequalities of outcome

crosland on state

• state managed capitalism to regulate and ensure social equality and justice

crosland on society

• Capitalism benefits society - capitalism improved living

  standards for all

• bourgeoisie care about relationships with employees and the reputation of their business.

crosland on economy

• mixed economy

• liited public ownership

• keynesian economics to finance larger public spending for equality

giddens

third way revisionist

giddens on human nature

• shaped by changing socioeconomic conditions

giddens on state

• existing state should be improved, reform NOT revolution

giddens on society

• society has undergone embourgeoisiement (wc develop mc lifestyles etc)

• egalitarians (those believing in equality) must harness and accept it

giddens on economy

• neo-liberal economy

• privatisation and deregulation to provide huge tax yields that will increase public spending and therefore secure equality of opportunity - not outcome…