Socialism Flashcards
(30 cards)
Context of socialism
arose during the industrial revolution in the 19th century as a reaction against the economic inequality caused by capitalism
socialism sought to establish a society where wealth and powere were evenly distributed across society
became influencial in the 19th century
Core socialist ideas on Human Nature
Humans are naturally inclined towards social cooperation
Human nature is not formed at birth, it is flexible ‘plastic’ and can be shaped by environment
Humans flourish best individually when everyone works together for the common good
People are not self-sufficient and can only be understood in relation to society
People have natural relationships that should be based on cooperation not competition
John Donne ‘no man is an island’
Core socialist ideas on The State
The state should reduce inequality and promote fair distribution of wealth across society
state should provide ‘social justice’
and common ownership to promote fairness
democrcatic control- decision making power lying in the hands of the people
Core Socialist Ideas on society
‘no man is an island’ - people are united by the concept of community
group as a whole is more powerful than individual efforts
people share fraternity and willl be more motivated by the ‘common good’ than individual material benefit
‘need satisfaction’ - everyone should be treated by society for what they need not what they want
Core socialist ideas on The Economy
Capitalism creates inequality, poverty and divisions
economic activity should promote community nto individual profit
common ownership or publish ownership of key industries
taxation, welfare benefits and state intervention are all favoured to reduce inequality
international cooperation to fight global exploitation
Marx and Engels on Human nature
Human Nature is not fixed
Humans are naturally social, cooperative and altruistic
in pre-capitalist societies humans worked together for mutual benefit rather than agaisnte achother
cooperation and fraternity are the ‘natural human condition’ when not corrupted by systems
capitalism alienates the individual from themselves and forces them into unatural selfish behavior
Human fulfillment occurs through productive work but not under capitalism
Marx and Engels on the State
The State is not neutral - it benefits the ruling bourgeosie
the state upholds an unjust economic system
the state must be overthrown through a proletariat revolution
after the revolution - temporary stage of ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ to crush all power of the bourgeoisie and reorganise society
after this the state will ‘wither away’
as there will be no classes to repress and no need for coerive institutions
Marx and Engels on Society
commented on how society was divided by class-conflict
history is dictated by class struggles
society is structured so that people remained in ‘false consciousness’ and believe that capitalistic exploitation is normal
True freedom for all indivduals would occure after the class system is abolished after the revolution
cooperation>competition
marx and engels dialectical materialism -
the transition from capitalism to communism
Marx and Engels on The Economy
capitalism is naturally unstable and leads to crisis’
The economic system controls everything else e.g. laws and police
capitalism immiserates the wokring class and polarises wealth with the upper class
abolish private property and introduce communal ownership of the means of production
economic equality through communism would ensure human freedom
Rosa Luxemburg on Human Nature
Capitalism distorted human nature and interupted humans natural fraternal instincts
Rosa Luxemburg on The state
The current capitalist state is exploitative and needs to be overthrown by a spontaneous revolution
She was critical of Lenin’s concept of a cengtralized revolutionary state as she feared this would lead to authoritarianism
therefore she emphaisised the importance of grassroot democracy and workers self-governance
rejected marx’s proletariat dictatorship
Rosa Luxemburgs views on society
Capitalism created artificial divisions between people in society as people prioritize profit over cooperation
ideal society is one where the workers govern themselves through a ‘grassroot democracy’ rather than ruled by an elite
Rosa Luxemburgs views on The economy
capitalism is inherently unstable and relies on imperialism to function
capitalism requires constant expansion into non-capitalist societys which leads to economic imperialism, exploitation and global conflict
after spontaneous revolution - economy will be collectively owned and saw mass strikes as a key tool for working class to build momentum for a socialist economy
Beatrice Webbs views on The State
believed in a gradual expansion of the state to achieve socialism
rejected revolutionary socialism as said that socialism can be achieved through parliamentary democracy and state intervention - vigourous trade unionism
‘inevitability of gradualness’ - universal suffrage would lead to socialist governments
saw the state as a ‘housekeeper on a national scale’
responsible for orgnising society and redistributing wealth - rejcted workers control as they did not have the political capability
state should nationalise key industies
Beatrice Webb on Society
vigourous trade uninionism and state intervention would help society move towards equality
capitalism is the cause of ‘crippling poverty and demeaning inequality’ which fosters ‘unatural’ levels of selfishness
to ensure a fair society reform of societal systems must be evolutionary
Beatrice Webb on The economy
advocated for a centurally planned economy by political experts
public ownership of key industries and these should be ran in the public interest rather than for profit
wealth should be distributed by need not by ability to pay - greater role for the state in welfare provisions
Anthony Crossland on Human Nature
Human nature is social and cooperative and can be reformed through education and social reform
People are driven by equality, community and quality of life not just material benefit
Anthony Crosslands views on The State
The state could be used to regulate and reform capitalism to ensure social welfare rather than overthrow it - due to keynesian economics in 1945
advocates for a large active state that intervenes with the economy to distribute wealth
rejected extensive nationalisation and said that public ownership of industry was not essential
as long as capitalism was well-regulated it could co-exist with socialist aims
and socialism should be pursued thorugh parliamentary democracy
Anthony Crosslands views on society
After economic changes of keynesian economics society is less ‘binary’ and polarised between employee and employer and there are ‘new classes’ such as managers
did not believe in full classlessness but just to narrow the gap of classes
Comprehensive schools could break down class barriers and promote social mobility - education is key to an equal meritocratic society pursued this idea when being sec of state for education from1965-1967
humans are satisfied by things such as cultural enrichment, personal fulfillment so society should promote these values
Anthony Crosslands views on The Economy
socialism now required a ‘mixed economy’ - for crossland the future of economics was not further public ownership but further public spending
public ownership is not neccessary when an economic system promotes social equality
Keynesian econoics supporter -
supported progressive taxation and public spending to achieve a greater equality of outcome
economic polics should eb about enhancing quality of life not just profit
Anthony Giddens on Human Nature
agrees with past socialist that human nature is partly shaped by society but also puts forward the idea that individuals are self-interested and aspirational
humans are motivated by individual ambitions and a desire for community solidarity
humans should be
Anthony Giddens on The State
argued for a ‘social investment state’
that doesn’t just protect people but empowers them thorugh investing in social welfare lik education
state should equip indivduals to take advantage of the opportunities of a globalised economy
capitalism is more liberating than ever and allows individuals to self-actualise and crave out individuals indentities
state should promote social cohesion
globalisation is a reality that the state must adapt to rather than resist
Anthony Giddens on society
society is changing and class-based politics has declined society is not longer dominated by the bourgeoisie
a stable society requires strong communities
society should promote solidarity and mutual responsibilities - ‘no rights without responsibility’
we live in a ‘risk society’ where globalisation has caused new social insecurities and society needs to adapt to this to empower indivduals
citizens should be active participants in shaping society
