Socialism

Question 1

Origins of socialism

Answer 1

• Industrial revolutions
• Enlightenment
• Worsening divide between rich and poor

Question 2

What was the Enlightenment

Answer 2

• European intellectual movement in the 1600s–1700s emphasized reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and religion.

Question 3

Key thinkers: Karl Marx (1818-83) and Friedrich Engels (1820-95)​

Answer 3

Revolutionary Socialism: Marxism​
Human Nature
- Originally altruistic, contaminated by capitalism, revolutionary socialism will repair this
State
- Existing state tool of bourgeoisie, must be replaced with new dictatorship of proletariat
Society
- Capitalist society defined by class, communist society perfect end of history
Economy
- Capitalism corrupt, economy based on collective ownership

Question 4

Key thinkers: Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919)​

Answer 4

Revolutionary Socialism: Marxism-Leninism
Human Nature
- Not been damaged to extent Marx said
State
- Must be replaced by revolution arised from strike action
- Replaced by genuine democracy
Society
- Capitaslist society class ridden, morally indefensible, subcultures exist within proletariat
Economy
- Capitalism more resilient than Marx allowed. Its
- Necessary destruction, replacement by economy based on workers control

Question 5

Key thinkers: Beatrice Webb (1858-1943)​

Answer 5

Revisionist Socialism: Democratic Socialism
Human Nature
- Damage by capitalism will be worsened by violent revolution
State
- With universal suffrage, existing state could be used to gradual transition to socialism.
Society
- The poverty and inequalities of the capitalist society continue to depress human potential
Economy
- Capitalist economy gradually replaced by one which secures for workers the full fruits of their labour

Question 6

Key thinkers: Anthony Crosland (1918-77)​

Answer 6

Revisionist Socialism: Social Democracy
Human Nature
- Powerfull sense of fairness
State
- Democratic socialist governments (Labour 1945-1951) prove existing state can be used to effect radical, socialist change.
Society
- More complicated due to middle class
Economy
- Mixed economy, limited public ownership and keynesian economy

Question 7

Key thinkers: Anthony Giddens (1938-)​

Answer 7

Revisionist Socialism: The Third Way
Human Nature
- Shaped by changing socio-economic conditions. Pro-fairness still present, but competes with sense of individual aspiration
State
- Existing liberal state should be improved, redistributing and decentralising political power
Society
- Society has undergone embourgeoisement- egalitarians must harness, rather than deny, these forces
Economy
- Neo-liberal economy, fueled by privatisation and deregulation, will provide huge tax yields for increased public spending

Question 8

Socialism now

Answer 8

• Soviet Union was over​
• Capitalism had entered a new age of global supremacy​
• Economic crash of 2007-8 forced governments to increase state regulation of the economy and public ownership
• Labour’s PM Gordon Brown had to nationalise the banks after 2007 crash​
• Jeremy Corbyn was a return to Labour’s original socialist values​
• Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ popular bid ​