Socialism - ideologies

Question 1

what are the 5 core ideas of socialism

Answer 1

collectivism, workers control, equality, social class, common humanity

Question 2

what are the three strands of socialism

Answer 2

revolutionary socialism
social democracy
third way

Question 3

Marx and engles human nature

Answer 3

capitalism instills a ‘false consciousness’ and makes humans nasty, selfish and greedy. a new economic system would revive fraternal and cooperative human characteristics.

Question 4

Marx and engles the state

Answer 4

Liberal state ‘merely a committee’ for the ruling class, never provide an evolutionary road to socialism. Capitalist societies unstable, and would eventually be overthrown by a ‘historically inevitable’ proletariat revolution
After revolution, a new state would emerge-‘the dictatorship of the proletariat’, then this alternative state would wither away and be replaced by a stateless, classless society, involving common ownership.

Question 5

Marx and engles society

Answer 5

capitalism creates to conflicting classes, the ‘bourgeoisie’ and the ‘proletariat.’ this creates harsh inequalities of wealth and power and exploits proletariat.

Question 6

Marx and engles economy

Answer 6

revolution needed to destroy capitalism with alienates individuals. individuals need to develop ‘class consciousness’ to overthrow capitalism

Question 7

Marx and engles key quotes
“From each according to his ability…

Answer 7

to each according to his needs”

Question 8

Marx and Engels key quotes
“The executive of the modern state is…

Answer 8

but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie”

Question 9

marx and engles key quotes
“The history of all hitherto existing societies is

Answer 9

“the history of class struggle”

Question 10

Webb human nature

Answer 10

capitalism was a “corrupting force” for humanity and the principal cause of “crippling poverty and demeaning inequality.”

Question 11

Webb state

Answer 11

Capitalism the principle cause of inequality and poverty.
Reform gradual not revolutionary; - should be achieved through universal suffrage ‘the inevitability of gradualism’
Neither paternalism or philanthropy could solve poverty and inequality; could be solved through trade unionism and state intervention.

Question 12

Webb key quote
“Capitalism is the principle cause of

Answer 12

“crippling poverty and demeaning inequality”

Question 13

Luxemburg human nature

Answer 13

Capitalism promotes exploitation and is as is with human’s natural, fraternal instincts

Question 14

Luxemburg state

Answer 14

Evolutionary Socialism impossible
Internationalism; revolution should be a revolt against capitalism and nationalism gladly.
Didn’t believe that for revolution to occur, capitalism needed to reach an advanced stage of development.
Advocated for an immediate construction of a new democracy and individual freedom - democratic socialist

Question 15

Crosland human nature

Answer 15

human nature is innately fair, inequality of outcome and opportunity hinder collective human progress
new comprehensive education would
Break down class divisions whilst ensuring equality of opportunity

Question 16

Crosland society

Answer 16

state management will affect societal change and create social justice and equality of welfare

Question 17

Crosland state

Answer 17

the state should be managed by ‘meritocratic managers’ and ‘classless technocrats’
expansion of welfare state, community inequality advocate more public spending and better public services

Question 18

Crosland economy

Answer 18

rejects Webbs gradualism and argued for a mixed economy and Keynesian capitalism. as he believed capitalism had been largely reformed of exploitative tendencies in Marx’s time.

Question 19

Crosland key quote
‘if its the last thing I do, I’m going to destroy every fucking

Answer 19

grammar school in England and Wales and northern Ireland

Question 20

Crosland key quote
“The socialist seeks a distribution of rewards

Answer 20

status and privileges egalitarian enough to minimise social resentment, to secure justice between individuals and to equalise opportunities”

Question 21

Giddens human nature

Answer 21

human nature is shaped by socio-economic conditions. more focus on humans as both individuals and collective beings

Question 22

Giddens state

Answer 22

the state should invest in social investment and infrastructure, refraining from economic and social enginerring.

Question 23

Giddens society

Answer 23

society will embrace equality of opps and communal responsibility instead of class conflict

Question 24

Giddens economy

Answer 24

Neo-liberal economy with a free market is more efficient and tax revenues they generate can finances greater equality of opps.

Question 25

Giddens key quote + what does it mean
“no rights

Answer 25

without responsibilities”
that unemployment benefits should carry the obligation to actively look for work

Question 26

Blair key quote
third way

Answer 26

” a hand up not a hand out”

Question 27

Giddens key quote
“the state needed to promote investment

Answer 27

in education and infrastructure to facilitate the competition state’

Question 28

Human nature, all socialists believe… (4)

Answer 28

• collectivism
• equality of opportunity
• foundational equality
• human nature is cooperative

Question 29

Society, all socialists believe… (4)

Answer 29

• collectivism
• society is unequal and can always be improved
• fairness and social justice
• class divide is the important divide in society

Question 30

State, all socialists believe … (3)

Answer 30

• welfare state
• the state is necessary
• state should distribute wealth and create more fairness

Question 31

Economy, all socialists believe … (4)

Answer 31

• capitalism is the catalyst for socialism
• recognise the negatives of capitalism, distorting ones human nature as is makes us greedy and individualistic
• state intervention is needed
• believe in workers rights

Question 32

Human nature
main divisions

and reason why and extent

Answer 32

RS - capitalism is alienating, freedom from capitalism, moral and ethical incentives will replace material ones

SD - salaried managers are not as exploitative and profit driven as 19th c owners, collectivism doesn’t necessarily = free, equal, democratic society

TW - focus on individualism and collectivism, believe that the welfare state can influence human nature just as much as capitalism

somewhat agreement, opinions differ on the affect of capitalism has on human nature and collectivism and this is largely due to time difference in strands development

Question 33

society main divisions

and reason why and extent

Answer 33

RS - historical materialism and dialectical materialism as historical change is driven by class conflict, class is a KEY division in society

SD - material incentives can still benefit society, equality at core and improving education can lead to establishing real equality of opps, to narrow BUT NOT ABOLISH class divisions

TW - class less relevant in increasingly individualistic society, increase focus on social inclusion over egalitarianism, importance of rights and responsibilities as welfare can harm markets.

minimal agreement, as although all believe society should be less unequal the extent is disputed and their is disagreement over levels of equality and relevance of class. due to time and development of class system and suffrage

Question 34

state main divisions
(include evolutionary soc)

and reaason why and extent

Answer 34

RS - revolution state must be overthrown, the state is the dictatorship of the proletariat, state will wither away under communism

ES - ‘inevitability of gradualism’

SD - not all industries would benefit from public ownership, state can reform capitalism with a mixed economy, state should own and run public services such as education so there is less inequality

TW - market state should facilitate growth, social investment state that provides positive welfare, state should play a regulative role in both economy and society.

mibnimal agreement KEY division between RS and other strands as RS believe in completely abolishing capitalism whereas others believe that the state can be reformed as an advantage and can reinforce capitalism. disagreement TWE states should be involved in our lives. Impacted by Neo-liberal influence on third way and social democracy strands

Question 35

economy main division

Answer 35

RS - exploitation in economy of proletariat, private property is morally corrupting

SD - capitalism provides the economic growth that can raise standards of living, 19th capitalism Marx critiqued NO LONGER EXISTS

TW - new mixed economy utilises markets in public interest, knowledge economy and metocracy to develop entrepreneurial culture.

somewhat agreement, strands divide on TWE capitalism is bad and how it can be reformed in collective interests. due to time and Neo liberal influence from thatcher and Blair on third way thinking