socialism Flashcards
(51 cards)
historical/dialectic materialism
the marxist theory that political and historical events result from the conflict of social forces and are interpretable as a series of contradictions and their solutions. the conflict is seen as caused by material needs
social class
a group of people who have the same socioeconomic status, distinguished by their relation to the means of production and distribution of wealth
bourgeoisie
a marxist term used to describe the owners of capital - the ruling/upper class
proletariat
the social class of the working class/wage earners
dictatorship of the proletariat
transitional state where the proletariat holds state power to suppress capitalism and establish a socialist or communist society
surplus value
marxist theory - the difference between the value that workers produce through their labour and the amount they are paid for it
exploitation
marxist - theft of economic power in all class based societies through the proletariat
alienation
marxist - the separation and estrangement of people from their work, wider world, human nature and individual self
urbanisation
the process of people moving from rural areas to cities, facilitated by a socialist state to provide quality housing and social services
base and superstructure
marxist
base: the economic system - mode of production and all relationships involved in it
superstructure: aspects of society above the economic ‘base’ e.g. culture, institutions and ideology
accumulation of capital
marxist - the operation whereby profits are reinvested into the economy, increasing the total quantity of capital
concentration of capital
the process where wealth and the ownership of productive assets become increasingly held by a small number of individuals or entities, rather than being distributed more evenly amongst the population
class consciousness
the set of beliefs that people hold regarding their social class - the sense that individuals share a common socioeconomic position and interests within the working class
false consciousness
the idea that people in a capitalist society unknowingly participate in a system that promotes inequality
ideological control
refers to the ways in which a socialist society uses beliefs, values and emotions to influence people’s behaviour and maintain social order
socialism
a political and economic theory of social organisation which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole
communism
a theory or system of social organisation in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs
revolution
a fundamental, often rapid and dramatic, shift in society that overthrows the existing political and societal structures (capitalism)
end of history
suggests the end of significant ideological conflict is over, put forward by Francis Fukuyama in The End of History and the Last Man
how do socialists view human nature?
humans are inherently cooperative, social and rational, but capitalism distorts this
critiques of the third way from traditional socialists
betrayal of socialist principles as it embraces capitalism, reduces state intervention and rejects workers’ control and equality of outcome
primary aim of the third way
to find a middle ground that accepts market capitalism and promotes individual opportunity while supporting some state intervention and social safety nets
KEY THINKER: how did beatrice webb view the path to socialism?
gradual socialism - democratic reform and expansion of the state (introduction of more socialist governments) NOT violent revolution
main goals of revolutionary socialism
to overthrow capitalism through violent revolution, abolish class exploitation, establish a classless and stateless communist society
