REVISIONIST SOCIALISM Flashcards
(26 cards)
What was revisionist socialism sent out to do
To revise marx’s view that socialism in incompatible with capitalism and it requires revolution
What are the 3 variations of revisionist thinking
Classical revisionism
Social Democracy
Third Way
A classical revisionist thinker
Bernstein
What did bernstein note
He noted that the conditions of working class was steadily improving under capitalism and little evidence that history as unfolding as marx said it would
What did bernstein then argue for
That if overseen by a socialist government, capitalist economies could provide a greater improvement to workers conditions, with capitalism’s worst features contained
What would the widen of the franchise do for socialism
as more working class voters, more likely for socialist government
Bernstein shared the belief in gradual parliamentary road to socialism with who
Fabian society
How did bernstein and the fabian society differ in their views
Bernstein didn’t believe that capitalism and socialism could work together
What was the most important form of revisionist socialism
After mid 1900’s - Social democracy
What was social democracy far away from
Marx and lenin
What did crossland argue
The reformed capitalism prescribed by keynes had guaranteed full employment and steady economic growth - capitalism was no longer vulnerable to peaks and troughs and could be relied upon to finance a richer, fairer and classless society
What did social democrats say about socialism
It was not just about common ownership
What other ways did social democrats put forward instead of common ownership to get greater equality
Ending unequal forms of secondary education with 11-plus exams
Was there differences between british social democrats and continental social democrats
YES - crossland was against a europe-wide economic policy whereas others supported the prospect of a federal europe
What is the most recent form of revisionist socialism
Third way
What UK governments followed the | Third way
Brown and blair’s labour govs
What was Gidden’s desire
To “triangulate” social democracy’s wish or more equality with a capitalist economy that was less keynesian and more neo-liberal
What was another aim of gidden’s for parties
To reconcile the task of socialist parties seeking office with an electorate that was increasingly economically liberal
How did gidden’s try to get more votes for socialist parties
Urged modern leftists to go with the flow, encouraging further privatisation and deregulation - modern way of boosting economy and having more gov spending for equality
What did greater equality of opportunity require
Required more inequality of outcome - unequal outcomes went hand in hand with increasing rates of economic growth
What did blair manage to do for equality of opportunity
Get clause IV out of labour
What was the third ways argument for capitalism
“intensely relaxed about people getting filthy stinking rich… just as long as they pay their taxes”
What did critics such as benn say about the third way
It represented little more than paternalistic conservatism
What did happen for new labour versus conservatives
Rise in public spending more than a tory government would
39% of GDP in 1997 and 47% in 2010
