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AQA:Political Ideologies > Socialism > Flashcards

Socialism Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

What is common ownership?

A

-represents alternative to private property and a capitalist economy
-seen by socialists as essential to equality and fraternity
-synonymous with state ownership and public ownership

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2
Q

Beatrice Webb ‘There is no excuse…

A

…for depressive inaction’

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3
Q

What is utopian socialism?

A

-linked to Robert Owen
-refers to earliest form of socialism
-based on a vision of the perfect human existence
-for Marx the ‘utopian’ nature denoted the absence of clear method for bringing ‘socialism’ to fruition

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4
Q

What is fraternity and co-operation?

A

-represent’s the socialist beliefs that the relationship between human beings should be generous and harmonious
-we should regard our fellow human beings as friends rather than rivals

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5
Q

How do socialists view community?

A

-we are naturally seeking it
-this is instead of relentlessly seeking ‘autonomy’ and individual independence

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6
Q

How do socialists view human nature?

A

-malleable (changeable)
-its repairable + perfectible

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7
Q

Anthony Crossland: ‘narrow the gap…

A

…between society’s weaker and stronger classes’

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8
Q

Beatrice Webb: ‘humble should be made…

A

…mightier and the mighty made humbler’

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9
Q

What is social justice?

A

-socialists believe legal justice is not enough to secure equality of opportunity
-want decent healthcare, education for all and a decent wage for all workers

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10
Q

What is Orthodox (‘fundamentalist’) socialism?

A

-a form of socialism that believe for it to be full achieved capitalism needs to be abolished
-associated with Marx + Engles and Webb

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11
Q

Who were the revolutionary socialists?

A

Marx&Engles + Luxemburg

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12
Q

Who were the reformist/evolutionary socialists?

A

Webb, Crosland and Giddens

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13
Q

Summary of Marxism and communism:

A

-19th century
-the destruction of capitalism was both desirable and inevitable + would ultimately lead to communism
-leads to a communist society based around communal living and ownership
-‘each according to his needs’
-Marx believed communism was the ‘ultimate’ society and could not be improved on

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14
Q

What were the key works of Marx?

A

-The Communist Manifesto (1848)
-Das Kapital (1867)

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15
Q

Summary of Marx&Engels beliefs?

A

-capitalism had instilled in mankind a ‘false consciousness’ far removed from mankind’s original nature
-capitalism created 2 classes the ‘bourgeois’ and the ‘proletariat’
-state would always serve the interests of whichever class controlled the economy
-Revolution was not jut essential but inevitable
-‘dictatorship of the proletariat’

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16
Q

Marx: ‘From each according,

A

…to his ability, to each according to his needs’

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17
Q

What is surplus value?

A

-used by Marx
-indicates difference between amount raise through product sales + amount it cost to manufacture product

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18
Q

What is false consciousness?

A

-capitalism fosters in workers a distorted outlook, at odds with their real interests

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19
Q

What is class consciousness?

A

-Marx&Engels
-by product of capitalism that would develop among the working class (proletariat)
-would be the engine of revolution and capitalism’s destruction

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20
Q

What is meant by the term dialectic?

A

-linked to Hegel
-refers to clash of ideas and interests that supposedly takes place within each ‘stage’ of history

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21
Q

What is historical materialism?

A

-builds of philosophy of Hegel
-refers to view that history of human development can be divided into economic ‘episodes’
-each episode is defined by a certain method (‘mode’) of economic production
-brought to a close by a clash between those defended and those who challenged the existing mode of production

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22
Q

What did Marx&Engels think of communism?

A

-would be the final stage of economic evolution and the end of history

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23
Q

What was pre-emptive revolution?

A

-Lenin and Luxemburg
-pre industrial societies should use revolution to pre-empt the development of capitalism
-What is to be Done?

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24
Q

What was Rosa Luxemburg’s background?

A

-member of German Social Democratic Party (SDP)
-Polish
-founded German Communist Party (1918)

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25
What was Rosa Luxemburg's key work?
-Reform of Revolution (1900) -argument: capitalism promoted exploitation and conflicted with humanity's natural, fraternal instincts
26
How did Luxemburg view revolution?
-it would arise 'spontaneously' -would happen after class conciseness had gradually been brought about through proletariat's battle -mass strike action would develop spontaneously + then ignite wider revolution to overthrow the state -wanted the immediate construction after of a new democracy: with common ownership + open debate and elections
27
What is evolutionary socialism?
-the beliefs that socialism can be achieved in the current political system -referred to as 'reformist socialism' or 'parliamentary socialism'
28
What was Webb's key idea?
'inevitability of gradualism'
29
Key work she co-authored?
Minority Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws (1909)
30
What type of economy did Webb want?
-more 'orderly' economy -wanted 'economic development' to be 'planned logically' -a place where clashes of economic interests could be 'resolved constructively by elected governments'
31
What is meant by the term Fabianism?
-linked to the ideas of the Fabian Society -formed late 19th century -Webb -argues socialism will be achieved slowly but steadily within the existing state, through democratically elected socialist governments
32
What is Revisionist Socialism:
-form of evolutionary socialism -assumes that equality can be achieved without the destruction of capitalism -late 19th century -associated with Crosland and Giddens
33
What was Bernstein's view?
that if overseen by socialist governments, capitalist economies could provide an even bigger improvement to workers' conditions (especially if workers were the bulk of voters)
34
What was Crosland's key work?
-The Future of Socialism (1956)
35
Key ideas/thoughts of Crosland:
-true objective was equality (can be achieved in a managed capitalist economy) -->Keynesian principles were the reason this could happen -socialism required a 'mixed' economy The Conservative Enemy (1962) + Socialism Now (1974): -needed new comprehensive education to create a new 'one-size-fits-all' for all abilities -schools are the most effective way to break down class divisions -pursed the idea as Secretary for Education 1965 to 1967
36
Who were The Third Way (Neo-revisionism)?
-developed in the late 1990s by Anthony Giddens
37
What is the key work of Antony Giddens?
-The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy (1997) -->big influence on 'New Labour': Blair and Brown In Beyond Left and Right (1994): highlighted the 'corrosive' effects of capitalism + stressed capitalism and individualism were irreversible
38
Key areas of overlap between Third Way (Giddens) and the Social Democracy of (Anthony Crosland)?
-both advocated a form of non-revolutionary socialism -harness capitalism to create greater equality -future of socialism involved more public spending over public ownership -Clause IV of Labour's 1918 constitution was obsolete
39
Key changes brought by The Third Way?
-collapse of Soviet Union: western capitalism not longer threatened by communism -globalisation: capitalist economies are numerous and interconnected + harder for national Govs to 'manage' economies in a Keynes manner -'New Right' Govs has a lasting impact + Labour suffered -decline of traditional, blue collar working class
40
What is triangulation?
-new form of socialism that would 'triangulate' 2 main ideologies from 1980s -->social democracy and New Right Conservatism -combine the social values of social democracy with the Neo-Liberal economies of the New Right -new ideology: The Third Way
41
What was Marx&Engels view of human nature?
-human nature originally fraternal and altruistic has been contaminated by capitalism -instilled the 'false consciousness' of bourgeois values (poisoning human nature) -revolutionary socialism will repair this
42
What was Marx&Engels view of the state?
-the existing -liberal bourgeois state is a toll of the dominant capitalist class -need to destroy the state through revolution -state must be replace new a new socialist state: the dictatorship of the proletariat
43
What was Marx&Engels view of society?
-capitalist society is sickeningly, yet fatally, defined by class interests and class conflict -a perfect communist society will be the perfect 'end of history'
44
What was Marx&Engels view of the economy?
-capitalism is corrupt, inefficient and ultimately self-destructive -it should (will) be replaced by an economy based on collective ownership
45
What was Luxemburg's view of human nature?
-human nature has not been destroyed to the extent Marx alleged -Fraternity and Altruism still flourish in working-class communities punished by capitalist economies
46
What was Luxemburg's view of the state?
-the existing capitalist state must be destroyed by revolution but from strike action -the replacement state should be a genuine democracy complete with free speech and free elections
47
What was Luxemburg's view of society?
-capitalist society is class-ridden and morally indefensible -alternative societies, or sub-cultures, exist within downtrodden proletarian communities
48
What was Luxemburg's view of the economy?
-capitalism is more resilient that Marx allowed -its necessary destruction, and replacement by an economy based around the workers having control will require determination and solidarity among the proletariat
49
What was Webb's view of human nature?
-the damage inflicted by capitalism on the human psyche will only be made worse by violent revolution -humanity needs to be guided back, gradually, to its original cooperative condition
50
What was Webb's view of the state?
-if harnessed universal suffrage, the existing state could be used for a gradual transition to socialism
51
What was Webb's view of society?
-the poverty and inequalities in capitalist society will continue to depress human potential while fostering regressive competition
52
What was Webb's view of the economy?
-chaotic capitalist economy will be gradually replace by one that gives workers full fruits of their labour (based on common ownership and means of production)
53
What was Crosland's view of human nature?
-human nature has a powerful sense of 'fairness' + innate objection to huge inequalities of outcome
54
What was Crosland's view of the state?
-Democratic Socialist governments (Labour 1945-51) prove the existing state can be used to effect radical, socialist change
55
What was Crosland's view of society?
-society is increasingly complicated, altered by the emergence of new social groups -the groups comprise of 'meritocratic' managers and 'classless' technocrats
56
What was Crosland's view of the economy?
-a mixed economy, underpinned by limited public ownership and Keynesian capitalism -will finance the greater public spending necessary to secure equality
57
What was Giddens view of human nature?
-human nature has been shaped by changing socio-economic conditions -the pro-fairness instinct is still present but now competes with a greater sense of individual aspiration
58
What was Giddens view of the state?
-the existing liberal state should be improved -needs to redistribute and decentralise political power while encouraging greater political participation
59
What was Giddens view of society?
-society has undergone embourgeoisement (egalitarians must harness, rather than deny, these forces)
60
What was Giddens view of the economy?
-a Neo-liberal economy, propelled by privatisation and deregulation, will provide huge tax yields -will finance huge increases in public spending, which will secure greater equality of opportunity

AQA:Political Ideologies (4 decks)

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