evolutionary socialism: democratic socialism

Question 1

who are the deocratic socialists?

Answer 1

-Beatrice Webb, a member of the Fabian Group.
-1853-1943.
-Evolutionary Socialist + Democratic Socialist.
-“Women and the Factory Acts” (1896), “The Co-operative Movement in Great Britain” (1891).

Question 2

what do democratic socialists believe?

Answer 2

-She was an evolutionary socialist, believing that parliamentary democracy, not revolution, would deliver the inevitable socialist society. This ‘inevitability of gradualness’ would be a result of universal suffrage, which would enable government to serve the interests of the working class.
-Thought that the working class would vote for socialist parties, which would work for socialist reform.
-Equality of ownership (Clause 4 of the Labour Party constitution), would equate to extensive state nationalisation, not workers taking direct control.
-Equality of ownership would involve high taxation of the wealthy so that the state could redistribute through welfare.
-In 1909, Webb was the lead author of the Minority Report of the Royals Commission on the Poor Laws, which examined the state’s attitude to poverty. This anticipated the Beveridge Report of 1942, and the subsequent welfare state.
-Equality of outcome would incentivise high taxation of the wealthy so the state could redistribute income.

Question 3

key quotes?

Answer 3

-“Silently change its character from police power to housekeeping on a national scale.”
-Revolutions are viewed as “chaotic inefficent and counter-productive.”
-Capitalism causes “crippling poverty and demeaning inequality.”
-Revolutions are “upheavals marred by mayhem, violence and bloodshed.”
-Labour’s clause iv: “By the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone.”