SOCIALISM Flashcards
(36 cards)
1
Q
Marx and Engels view on human nature
A
- human nature contaminated by capitalist economic system
- encouraged selfishness, ruthlessness and greed
2
Q
Marx and Engels view on society
A
- centrality of social class
- capitalism created bourgeoisie (owned/a managed economy) and proletariat (sold it labour to bourgeoisie in return for wages)
- class differences involved harsh inequalities of wealth/power and exploitation of proletariat
- capitalist societies are unstable and will be overthrown by inevitable proletariat revolution
3
Q
Marx and Engels view on state
A
- challenged liberal notions that state is politically neutral
- always serve interests of class that controls economy
- liberal state is committee for ruling class and never provide evolutionary road to socialism (ridiculing parliamentary socialism eg labour party)
- New state would arise which governs interest of new economically dominant class (dictatorship of proletariat) - society would wither into communism
- justifies oppressive political systems in post - revolutionary societies eg USSR and China
4
Q
Marx and Engels view on economy
A
- create new economic system where characteristic of cooperation, selflessness and fraternity will be revived
- capitalism creates surplus value where employers paid minimum to maximise profits
- capitalism promoted exploitation, alienation and oppression of one class by another
5
Q
Luxemburg view on human nature
A
- accepts Marx’s argument that capitalism promotes exploitation and is at odds with humanity’s natural fraternal instincts
6
Q
Luxemburg view on society
A
- revolution arises spontaneously after class consciousness and will ignite large movement to overthrow capitalist state
- rejects idea of revolutions leading to dictatorship of proletariat
- should be revolt against capitalism/nationalism globally
- capitalist society class ridden and morally indefensible - alternative societies exist within downtrodden proletarian communities
7
Q
Luxemburg view on state
A
- state shouldn’t be involved in war
- existing capitalist state must be destroyed by revolution - but arising from strike action
- replacement state should be genuine democracy - free speech and elections
8
Q
Luxemburg view on economy
A
- upheld Marx’s internationalism by dismissing Lenin’s interest in socialist nationalism
- capitalism more resilient than Marx allowed
- destruction/replacement of capitalism will require determination/solidarity among proletariat
- replaced by economy based on workers control
9
Q
Core ideas view on human nature
A
- optimistic view (progressive)
- Individuals are naturally cooperative, generous and altruistic
- Human nature has been diluted by time and circumstance
- Human nature is malleable
10
Q
Core ideas view on society
A
- Society is an independent construct, shaped by impersonal forces (shapes individuals, not shaped by individuals)
- improvement in society leads to improvement in prospects of individuals
- Social class is fate of an individual
- Equality is meaningless without greater equality of outcome in society - seek to narrow the gap between society’s poorest and richest (otherwise continue to lack fraternity, cooperation and solidarity)
- irrespective of character/ability/intelligence people grown into lower classes will have fewer opportunities that higher classes
- Until there is a society of greater equality of outcome, liberalism and enlightenment will never be realised
11
Q
Core ideas view on economy
A
- Social class is determined by the economic system
- Natural condition of cooperation and fraternity is threatened by private property and capitalism (encourages competitiveness, self interest and egotism)
- Economy that provides for greater workers control in employment and significant redistribution of wealth and materials
- rejection of laissez faire, demand greater collectivism (focuses on needs of society as a whole rather than abilities of few enterprising individuals)
- Progressive taxation - taxes on sliding scale so rich contribute more
- Progressive public spending - uses taxes to enhance les fortunate elements of society
- Extensive public services - if services are left entirely to private enterprise it could be inaccessible for less advantaged sections of society
12
Q
Webb view on human nature
A
- human nature can be changed
- capitalism fosters unnatural levels of greed
13
Q
Webb view on society
A
- against revolution (against Marx’s view)
- inequality caused by capitalism depresses human potential and fosters regressive competition
14
Q
Webb view on state
A
- extensive role of state, paternalism and philanthropy not sufficient to deal with issue of poverty/inequality
- common ownership
- gradualist (gradual change, eventually want state to own everything - voters inevitably elect socialist govts)
15
Q
Webb view on economy
A
- nationalisation to redistribute wealth (trade unionism and state intervention)
- capitalism principle cause of crippling poverty/demeaning inequality
- economy based on private ownership is inherently unpredictable/unstable
16
Q
Who are revolutionary socialist
A
- Marx and Engels
- luxemburg
- fundamentalist - don’t believe in capitalism
17
Q
Who believes in democratic socialism
A
- Webb
18
Q
Who believes in social democracy
A
- Crosland
- revisionist
- evolutionary socialism
19
Q
Crosland view on human nature
A
- fairness
- objection to huge inequalities of outcome
20
Q
Crosland view on society
A
- equality could be achieved with managed capitalist economy
- society less binary between owners eg managerial class
- complex society (new emerging social groups - meritocratic managers and classless technocrats)
- private ownership means to an end to equality
21
Q
Crosland view on state
A
- democratic socialist govts prove that existing state can be used to effect radical change
22
Q
Crosland view on economy
A
- mixed economy (private enterprise and some state run industries)
- capitalism had been changed by Keynes and means of managing capitalism
23
Q
Who is third way
A
- Giddens
24
Q
Who are revisionists
A
- social democracy - Crosland
- third way - Giddens
25
Giddens view on human nature
- human nature shaped by changing socioeconomic conditions
- fairness/ease of individual aspiration
26
Giddens view on society
- society has undergone embourgeoisement (egalitarians must harness these forces)
- capitalism empowers individuals
27
Giddens view on state
- state improved by redistributing/decentralising political power
- encourages more political participation
28
Giddens view on economy
- neoliberal economy (privatisation/deregulation) provide huge tax yields
- more public spending (greater equality of opportunity)
29
Disagreements on human nature
- Marx thinks human nature susceptible to whatever economic system they live under - revisionists like Giddens think human nature can prosper under capitalism
30
Agreements on human nature
- All socialists believe human nature is malleable/improvable and not permanent
- Revisionist socialists think equality can be achieved without destruction of capitalism, indispensable ally of socialist govts
- Core socialist beliefs - cooperation, fraternity, collectivism
31
Disagreements on society
- Luxemburg disagrees with marx and engels - doesn’t believe in revolution leading to dictatorship of proletariat -> immediate reconstruction of new democracy underpinned by common ownership, opened debate and elections
- Luxemburg thinks evolutionary socialism is impossible - only revolution can bring real change
- Marx and Engels view revolution as inevitable whilst Webb think its intrinsically chaotic/unmanageable (slow and steady change within existing political system)
- Marx links between control and ownership broken as Crosland said new class was managing/drenching post war economy without owning it
- Disagree over whether society can be improved gradually - Marx thinks only revolution can ensure progress, Webb think is there can be gradual improvement, revisionists agree with gradual alongside capitalism
32
Agreement on society
- Like democratic socialism social democracy rejects revolution
- Giddens like earlier socialist thinkers distinguished himself from modern liberals by stressing importance of social cohesion/communal solidarity
- Webb think is there can be gradual improvement, revisionists agree with gradual
33
Disagreements on state
- Webb believes state in capitalist society is more versatile/responsive than Marx envisaged
- Marx thinks replacement would be dictatorship of proletariat whilst luxemburg wanted democratic state
34
Agreements on state
- Social democrats and democratic socialists wanted increasingly centralised state
- Marx and Engels and luxemburg agree that capitalist state must be destroyed by revolution and its replacement would wither away for stateless communism
- Webb, Giddens and Crosland think existing state can steer towards socialism, capitalist society state requires constitutional reform not destruction
35
Disagreements on economy
- Unlike democratic socialists social democrats don’t support ultimate disappearance of capitalism
- Marx thinks non capitalist economy should be created quickly whilst webb thinks it will be created gradually
36
Agreements on economy
- Marx and Engels and luxemburg believed private property let to exploitation/oppression of working people
- Giddens and Crosland agree on capitalist economy to increase public spending for socialism to thrive - greater equality, more public spending than public ownership
- Marx, luxemburg and Webb believe socialism is incompatible with capitalist economy/private property
