Socialism

KEY KNOWLEDGE

What did socialism emerge as a response too?

Attempt to find an alternative to capitalism.

What did socialism seek to achieve?

seeks to find a more human economic system

Seeks to remove class division

seeks to remove inequality produced by capitalism

What is the concept of collectivism ?

People are unified by the concept of community.

What can a community achieve?

You can use communities to overcome economic and social difficulties

Why is community central to socialism?

• As a group we are more powerful than as individuals

• Follow group goals not self interest

• People share commonality and have common goals and therefore share fraternity

How does the belief in collectivism/community relate to nationalisation?

• If many people work on a property/project then they should all share ownership of it not just one person

• Private property leads to individualism and greed

• Leaves working class exploited

when do socialists believe human nature is formed?

• human nature is not formed at birth and is entirely flexible

• human nature is shaped by the environment and experiences of life.

What does Marx say about human nature?

Human nature has been corrupted by capitalism by making us greedy and individualistic

How does human nature relate to society?

• People are inseparable from society and it creates all aspects of someone’s identity

• People are not self sufficient individuals and can only be understood in relation to society

What do socialists associate private ownership with?

• competition, individualism and selfishness

How does Marxism say collectivism is best achieved?

• Collectivism is best achieved through abolition of private property

• Property should be collectivised through being owed by the state- nationalisation

• These results in communism and no class division.

How do social democrats believe collectivist goals can be achieved?

• Collectivist goals should be promoted though progressive taxation, welfare and public services.

• use a mix economy

• achieve social justice not equality

• Capitalism is retained however the inequalities caused by it are addressed.

what do fundamentalist socialists argue?

• capitalism must be abolished to achieve a socialist state

• There are differences on how it should be abolished

What is the belief of evolutionary socialism?

The belief that socialism will be achieved gradually within current systems.

What is revisionist socialism?

The belief that socialism is not incompatible with capitalism

What is fraternity?

The relationship between the people.

What are four things that revolutionary socialists belief?

1. destruction of capitalist system

2. Creation of a socialist state

3. Total state control over the economy- common ownership

4. Socialist or communist state should be governed by a dictator or proletariat dictatorship

What key thinkers are associated with revolutionary socialism?

• Karl Marx

• Rosa Luxembourg

What are the key beliefs of democratic socialists?

• replacement of the capitalist system by socialist system.

• Socialist stat can evolve from current systems without revolution

• Can be achieved through socialist parties winning electoral majorities

• Nationalism and common ownership

Who are the key thinkers associated with democratic socialism?

Beatrice Webb

What branch of socialism is social democracy?

revisionist socialism

What are the core beliefs of social democracy?

1. rationality

2. Evolutionary socialism

3. Operating within current political structures

4. Major state involvement in economy- mixed economy with capitalist framework

5. Nationalisation

6. Persuading voters of inevitable benefits of socialism through social justice

Who is the key thinker associated with social democracy?

Anthony Crossland

What are the key beliefs of the third way?

• focus on equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome

• Liberalising of economy to provide more money for public spending

• Privatisation over nationalisation

• Social and political equality as well as economic equality

Who is the key thinker associated with the third way?

Anthony Giddens

Who says that classlessness is “social engineering”?

Anthony Giddens

Who advocates for meritocracy?

Giddens