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Socialism Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of socialists were Marx and Engles

A

Revolutionary socialist

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2
Q

What were their main ideas?

A

> Centrality of the social class- ideas of historical materialism, dialectical change and revolutionary class consciousness.
Humans as social beings- how nature is socially determined and how true common humanity can only be expressed under communism.

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3
Q

What was the communist manifesto?

A

It was a book co-authored by Marx and Engles focusing on the reinterpretation of history and a revolutionary model for a utopian society. Marx and Engles made it clear their theories were empirically proven and the historical change they proposed was going to occur.

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4
Q

What is a historical materialist?

A

Someone who views society and history through an economic lens.

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5
Q

What is class consciousness?

A

When the vast majority of individuals who will form the proletariat wake up to their exploitation

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6
Q

Why is revolutionary necessary?

A

Capitalism to Marx is inherently exploitative meaning it cannot peacefully coexist with socialism meaning in order to create a new system it must be destroyed via revolution.

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7
Q

What is the democratic swindle?

A

When the state uses: patriotism, religion, enfranchisement and parliament to weaken class consciousness essentially tricking the working class into submission.

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8
Q

What will happen to the state according to Marx

A

It will eventually wither away once capitalism is overthrown.

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9
Q

What type of socialist was Rosa Luxembourg?

A

A revolutionary socialist

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10
Q

What are her key ideas?

A

> Evolutionary socialism and revisionism- this is not possible as capitalism is based on an economic relationship of exploitation.
Struggle by the proletariat for reform and democracy- tearing down capitalism via democracy, which will ignite the class consciousness needed for a revolution.

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11
Q

Why is evolutionary socialism flawed for Luxembourg?

A

As capitalism cannot be reformed

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12
Q

What did Luxembourg advocate for after the over throw of capitalism?

A

Democratic elections that must continue in a post revolution society, believing it is imperative the people endorse socialism.

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13
Q

Why does she believe Marx’s historical materialism is flawed?

A

Capitalism does not need to reach a final stage before it is abolished. Like Lenin, Luxembourg argued that communism’s revolutions could happen in less economically developed societies.

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14
Q

What did Luxembourg and Lenin disagree on?

A

Lenin’s belief in the ‘vanguard of socialism’ was flawed, the working class did not need members of the elite to guide them in the right direction. Class consciousness will develop spontaneously as the proletariat struggle for work place reforms and democracy. Placing a particular emphasis on mass strike action to develop the revolutionary state.

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15
Q

Why is it imperative to Luxembourg that socialism must cross borders?

A

Luxembourg was heavily inspired by Marx who too believed socialism had to be internationalist to unite the workers of the world who together could bring about the end of capitalism more effectively.

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16
Q

What type of socialist was Beatrice Webb?

A

Democratic socialist or organic socialist.

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17
Q

What were her main ideas?

A

> The inevitability of gradualness- the slow and careful parliamentary strategy for achieving evolutionary socialism.
The expansion of the state - that this, and not overthrowing the state is critical in delivering socialism.

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18
Q

What did Webb want to enable via parliament?

A

> Webb wanted political action and universal education
believe universal suffrage achieved via lobbying parliament will lead to political equality. As democracy would work in the interests of the working class majority.

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19
Q

What did Webb seek to do?

A

Overthrow capitalism via the ballot box rather than via revolution.

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20
Q

How would this come about?

A

> by lobbying to parliament for universal suffrage and education.
leading to the working class voting for socialist parties which will instigate, social, economic and political reform, resulting in a socialist society.

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21
Q

Why is the expansion of the state necessary for socialism?

A

The state will develop a highly trained elite of administrators and specialists to organise the socialist society: a technocratic elite.

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22
Q

What was so impactful about Webb’s minority report of the poor law commission?

A

In 1909 Webb produced The minority report of the poor law commission arguing for a national civilised life.

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23
Q

How did this influence the beverage report?

A

> a young William Beveridge was employed as a research on Webb’s minority report of the poor law commission and used it as the intellectual basis for the welfare state that was introduced by the labour government; he wrote himself his own report stemmed from ‘what we had all imbibed’ from Webb.

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24
Q

Why are revolutions ineffective at achieving workers control?

A

Webb stated revolutions are ‘chaotic, inefficient and counterproductive’ favouring the more predictable method of democratic socialism.

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25
What was Webb’s view on human nature?
>Webb had the most negative view of human nature believing that the working class were innately intellectually inferior and needed guidance from paternal superiors.
26
What type of socialist is Anthony Crosland?
Democratic socialist
27
What are his main ideas?
> The incoherent contradictions in capitalism- does not drive social change and managed capitalism can deliver social change and equality. > State-managed capitalism- includes the ‘mixed economy’, full employment and universal social benefits.
28
What was Anthony Crosland?
A labour MP and cabinet minister in the 1960’s and 70’s.
29
Why did Crosland criticise Marx’s view of capitalism development?
He argued it did not drive social change as the internal relations in Marx’s dialectic of historical materialism were not present in post-war capitalism.
30
How would Crosland achieve equality of opportunity?
Equality of opportunity can be achieved by giving all state school students the same educational experience, Crosland judged the existing school system in Britain to be ‘the most divisive, unjust and wasteful of all the social inequality’
31
What economic style did Crosland adopt?
Keynesian economics, it made state-managed capitalism a reality and society can look forward to permanent economic growth and full employment, allowing socialists to expand the welfare state and social justice.
32
What type of socialist was Anthony Giddens?
Third way socialist
33
What were his main ideas?
> the rejection of state intervention- acceptance of the free market in the economy, emphasis on equality of opportunity over equality, responsibility and community over class conflict. > the role of the state- is social investment in social infrastructure like education not the economy.
34
Where does the third way lie between?
Economic liberalism and social democracy
35
What is his view on free market capitalism?
That free market capitalism enriches and empowers society and, alongside individualism is irreversible. Socialism must harness the benefits of the free market while neutralising the negative effects of community and fraternity, cushioning capitalism is a sense.
36
What did he say Individuals will become?
‘Stakeholders’ in society having both rights and responsibilities in society.
37
What did Gidden’s third way financially prioritise?
Spending on infrastructure such as community services and public transport while focusing on equality of opportunity, particularly in education, creating a pro-active society.
38
How would greater equality of opportunity be funded?
Through prudent taxation of free market wealth.
39
What will this perspective achieve?
Having an active welfare rather than a passive welfare facilitates social inclusiveness in society proving wider opportunities for the disadvantaged. Harder for the right to argue against as it focuses on getting people working.
40
What is equality of opportunity?
Individuals are entitled to equal chances to make the best of their abilities. Positive steps should be taken to make sure that there are no artificial barriers impending the progress of individuals.
41
What is the revolutionary socialist outlook on equality of opportunity?
It can only be achieved after the revolution- capitalism is too corrupt and persuasive that is beyond reform.
42
What is the Democratic socialist outlook?
Webb argued that equality of opportunity could only be achieved by reforming capitalism to the point it is a truly socialist society.
43
What is equality of opportunity?
The idea that individuals are entitled to equal chances to make the best of their abilities.
44
What is the revolutionary socialist outlook on equality of opportunity?
Marx, Engles and Luxembourg argued that equality of opportunity can only be achieved after a revolution- capitalism is so corrupt and persuasive it is beyond reform.
45
What is the Democratic socialist outlook on equality of opportunity?
Webb argued that equality of opportunity could be achieved by reforming capitalism to the point it is a truly socialist society.
46
What is the social democratic outlook on equality of opportunity?
Croslands believed in a mixed economy with state management based on Keynesian ideas, he wished to break down class barriers so they were irrelevant, progressive taxation and a distribution of opportunities via an expansive welfare state.
47
What is the third way outlook on equality of opportunity?
Equality of opportunity should only target the neediest in society.
48
What is equality of outcome?
Proposes that economic rewards should be distributed according to the value of an Individual’s contribution.
49
What is the revolutionary socialist perspective on equality of outcome?
Presupposes that capitalism could be rid of exploitation which they deemed to be impossible.
50
What is the Democratic socialist perspective on equality of outcome?
Webb argued for a gradual incremental process so that income would eventually be far more evenly distributed.
51
What is the social democratic outlook on equality of outcome?
Against pure equality of outcome as it is a disincentive to wealth creators.
52
What is the third way outlook on equality of outcome?
Like Croslands, Giddens argued that equality of outcome was impractical.
53
What is absolute equality?
Suggests that all individuals should receive the same rewards as long as contributions are made to society.
54
What is the revolutionary socialist outlook on absolute equality?
In favour of this economic model, ‘each according to his needs’
55
What is the Democratic socialist outlook on absolute equality?
Although Webb believed in high taxation to flatten the wealth gap she did not advocate for absolute equality.
56
What is the social democratic outlook on absolute equality?
It is utopian and presupposed abundant wealth.
57
What is the third way outlook on absolute equality?
Inequality is natural and absolute equality is flawed.
58
What is equality of welfare?
This aspect of equality perceives society as inevitably unequal but argues that everyone should be entitled to an equal minimum standard of living
59
What is the revolutionary socialist outlook on equality of welfare?
rejected equality of welfare as it fails to remove capitalism.
60
What is the Democratic socialist outlook on equality of welfare?
Could be achieved through mass nationalisation of industry, you need an enlarged state.
61
What is the social democratic outlook on equality of welfare?
Equality of welfare must be universal in order to eliminate class barriers, Crosland married social democracy with social liberalism and was enthusiastic about nationalised industries.
62
What is the third way outlook on equality of welfare?
High levels of social security and welfare were a disincentive to work and created a dependency culture and benefits should target the most needy.
63
What is the general view on human nature?
> human nature is relatively optimistic > believing individuals share a common humanity are rational and predisposed to cooperate. > socialists view society as a collection of broadly equal individuals and share a common identity and purpose > fraternity.
64
What is revisionism?
> a review and change of a political theory > for example social democracy revised the ideas of democratic socialism.

Political Ideas (4 decks)

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