Rosa Luxemburg - Socialism Flashcards
(8 cards)
What did Luxemburg believe about human nature?
Humans are naturally creative, social, and class-conscious when free from exploitation.
Believed capitalism distorts human behaviour by making people compete and suffer. True human nature emerges through collective struggle and class unity.
What was Luxemburg’s view of the state?
The capitalist state is a tool of oppression, used to protect elite interests.
Rejected using existing state institutions for socialism — revolution is necessary. Advocated a worker-led democracy (like soviets or workers’ councils), not top-down reform.
What was Luxemburg’s view of society and authority?
Believed society should be self-governing through workers’ control.
Authority must come from the working class, not a bureaucratic elite. Opposed centralised authority that silences dissent (criticised Lenin’s model).
What did Luxemburg believe about the economy and private property?
Demanded complete abolition of capitalism and private ownership of the means of production.
Supported collective ownership and democratic planning by workers themselves. Believed capitalism was unsustainable, leading to crisis and war — revolution was inevitable.
How did Luxemburg view freedom and rights?
Believed in total freedom of speech and expression, even for political opponents.
Said “freedom is always freedom for the one who thinks differently.” Strongly opposed any form of authoritarian socialism or censorship.
What did Luxemburg believe about equality and class?
Argued that class struggle is the engine of history — capitalism cannot be fixed.
Believed true equality requires total class overthrow and worker-led control. Strongly opposed evolutionary socialism (e.g. Webb), which she thought delayed justice.
What was Luxemburg’s view of tradition and social change?
Rejected tradition — saw it as a tool used by the ruling class to preserve the system.
Advocated radical, immediate change through revolutionary action. Believed reform would never dismantle the root of inequality.
What did Luxemburg believe about power and authority?
Power should lie in mass worker participation, not in a central party or ruling elite.
Warned that elite control (like Lenin’s vanguardism) would create new oppression. Believed in democratic authority built from below, not above.
