Socialism views on the state and society

Question 1

Socialism key thinkers = ?

Answer 1

-Karl Marx
-Friedrich Engels
-Beatrice Webb
-Rosa Luxembourg
-Anthony Crossland
-Anthony Giddens

Question 2

What do revolutionary socialists think about the state?

Answer 2

The existing liberal-bourgeois state is a tool of capitalism, it will be destroyed in a revolution and be replaced by a dictatorship of the proletariat before withering away to a communist society.

Question 3

Does Rosa Luxembourg believe in a revolution?

Answer 3

Yes, similar view to Marx and Engels

Question 4

What does Rosa Luxemburg think about the state?

Answer 4

The editing capitalist state must be destroyed by a revolution, one that arises from strike action.

The replacement state should be a genuine democracy, complete with free speech and free elections.

Question 5

What do democratic socialists think about the state?

Answer 5

Through a democratically elected government most of the property is held by the public including major industries, utilities and transportation systems.

Question 6

What do democratic socialists think about state intervention in the economy?

Answer 6

there should be state regulation on the economy and a limit of the accumulation of private property.

Question 7

Does Webb believe in the a revolution?

Answer 7

NO

Question 8

What does Beatrice Webb think about the state?

Answer 8

Webb doesn’t believe in a revolution to topple the existing state instead she thinks that if harnessed to universal suffrage the state could be used to affect a gradual transition to socialism.

Question 9

What do social democrats think about the state?

Answer 9

State should play an active role in people’s lives whether be in the management of the economy or with the welfare state.

Question 10

Example of a social democracy?

Answer 10

Britain under Labour 1945-51

Question 11

What are the ideas of John Maynard Keynes which are popular amongst social democrats?

Answer 11

The state actively sought to manage market focus, guarantees full or high employment and a steady rate of economic growth.

Question 12

What is a welfare state?

Answer 12

The welfare state is a way of governing in which the state or an established group of social institutions provides basic economic security for its citizens.

Question 13

Do social democrats believe in a revolution?

Answer 13

NO

Question 14

Who are social democrats close to ideologically?

Answer 14

Democratic socialists

Question 15

What does Anthony Crossland say about the state?

Answer 15

Democratic socialist government such as Labour under Clement Attlee prove that the existing state can be used to effect radical socialist change.

Question 16

What do Third way socialists think about the state?

Answer 16

There isn’t a need for a revolutionary change of the state instead the existing liberal state should just be improved.

Question 17

How can the liberal state be improved?

Answer 17

-Re distribution of wealth
-Decentralising political power [devolution]
-Greater political participation

Question 18

What does Anthony Giddens think about the state?

Answer 18

The existing liberal state should be improved, redistributing wealth and decentralising political power all whilst encouraging greater political participation.

Question 19

What separates third way socialism from democratic socialism?

Answer 19

Democratic socialism is also distinguished from Third Way social democracy because democratic socialists are committed to the systemic transformation of the economy from capitalism to socialism

Question 20

What Branch is third way socialism closest aligned too?

Answer 20

Social democracy

Question 21

How are social democracy and third way socialism alike?

Answer 21

Both use capitalism to their advantage in order to create a strong and large welfare state for all.

This leaves many businesses under private ownership.

Question 22

Overall view of socialists on the issue of the state?

Answer 22

All socialists believe that the state is vital to the promotion of core socialist values. But they differ dramatically about what kind of state is needed. Marx believes in a revolution to end the capitalist state This is completely contrasting to the views of Beatrice Webb [Democratic socialist] and third way/revisionist socialists such as Crosland and Giddens who believe there is no need for a revolution to overcome the state.

Question 23

How do socialists agree on the state?

Answer 23

All socialists believe that the state is vital to the promotion of core socialist values.

All believe in the need for a large state that takes an active role in peoples lives whether that be through the economy or through the welfare state?

All Socialists believe in the rejection of the monarchical state.

All Socialists believe in a state where political power as well as economic power has supposedly been redistributed.

Question 24

Key differences of socialism on the state?

Answer 24

-Revolution VS Improvement of the state [Marx/Engels/Luxemburg VS everyone else].

-Some socialists believe that a revolution isn’t needed [Giddens, Webb and Crosland]

-Some socialists believe in a managed capitalist state [Crosland and Giddens].

-Some socialists believe that the state will ‘wither away’ [Marx and Engels]

Question 25

What do revolutionary socialists think about society?

Answer 25

Capitalist society is bad as it defined by class interests and class conflicts.

Question 26

What does Marx say about society?

Answer 26

Capitalist society is sickeningly, yet fatally, defined by class interests and class conflicts. A communist society will be the perfect ‘end of history’.

Question 27

What is Rosa Luxemburg view on society?

Answer 27

Capitalist society is class-ridden and morally indefensible yet alternative societies do exist. These societies or sub-cultures exist within downtrodden proletarian communities.

Question 28

What do social democrats think about society?

Answer 28

Capitalism leads to inequality in society and leads to a depression of human potential.

Question 29

What does Beatrice Webb say about society?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What do democratic socialists think about society?

Answer 30

Society has become increasingly difficult and complicated this has led to the emergence of new social groups that have altered society.

Question 31

What are these new social groups?

Answer 31

• ‘Meritocratic’ managers
• ‘Classless’ technocrats

Question 32

Technocrats = ?

Answer 32

Technocrats are individuals with technical training and occupations who perceive many important societal problems as being solvable with the applied use of technology and related applications.

Question 33

Meritocratic = ?

Answer 33

Relating to or characteristic of a society in which power is held by people selected according to merit.

Question 34

What does Anthony Crossland say about society?

Answer 34

Society is increasingly complicated, altered by the emergence of new social groups compromising ‘meritocratic’ managers and ‘classless’ technocrats.

Question 35

What do Third-way socialists think about society?

Answer 35

Society has undergone embourgeoisement egalitarians must harness this power instead of denying these forces.

Question 36

Embourgeoisement = ?

Answer 36

The growth in a society of values perceived as characteristic of the middle class.

Increasing middle class group.

Question 37

Egalitarian = ?

Answer 37

A person who advocates or supports the principle of equality for all people.

Question 38

What does Anthony Gidden’s say about society?

Answer 38

Society has undergone embourgeoisement – egalitarians must harness, rather than deny, these forces.

Question 39

What is the general view of a socialist on society?

Answer 39

Capitalism has altered society.

Question 40

What is a differing view on society for socialism?

Answer 40

We can use capitalism to benefit society [third way] VS Capitalist society is sickening we must transition to a socialist/communist society immediately [Revolutionary socialism].