Socialism - Topic 1 Flashcards
Core ideas and principles of Socialism and how they relate to human nature, the state, the economy and society (20 cards)
Describe the core principle of common humanity
Socialists find pleasure and fulfilment in work that focuses on cooperation and collectivism rather than individualism and competition. Underpinning this common humanity is a belief in fraternity and community. Socialists are united in their concern about the effect that unchecked capitalism can have on the individual. This leads them to argue for an interventionist role of the state.
What is a revolutionary socialist’s attitude towards common humanity?
Argues that individuals are deformed as money corrupts those who possess it. Capitalism must be abolished by revolution started by the working class. Afterwards, a classless communist society would form in which all social and economic activities would be done collectively, therefore enjoying common humanity.
What is a social democrat’s attitude towards common humanity?
Argues that capitalism should be reformed and not replaced. They support a mixed economy of both nationalised state industry and privately owned companies, state intervention based on Keynesianism to ensure permanent full employment and economic growth and the welfare state to redistribute wealth and challenge poverty and social inequality.
What is a Third Way’s attitude towards common humanity?
Aruges that developed economies face new challenges and increasingly emphasises on equality of opportunity via public services, specifically education. Third Way believes in neo-liberal ideas such as the free-market and self-reliance and they prefer to move away from universal welfare to means-tested welfare.
Describe the core principle of collectivism
Socialism’s positive view of human nature perceives people as naturally social creatures. Collectivism prioritises the group over the individual by believing in:
- preferring to work together rather than independently
- the will to work far more effectively within groups than by individual actions
What is a revolutionary socialist’s attitude towards collectivism?
Workforces would collectively own all industry and all agencies of society would be communal. One major piece of centralised state planning and collectivisation is in nationalisation and policy on agricultural land.
What is a social democrat’s attitude towards collectivism?
Social democrats believe workers should belong to trade unions that have strong bargaining rights to stop exploitation. A national health service should provide universal care according to need, free, paid for by general taxation. There should be widespread comprehensive state education for all and key industries should be brought under government control and operate in the collective interest of all.
What is a Third Way’s attitude towards collectivism?
Unions should exist to preserve fair practice in the workplace however there must be recognition that wages are market driven. They advocate for healthcare reform, recognising that the cost of universal healthcare is unsustainable and instead supports prescription charges and private healthcare for the rich to ‘jump the queue’ for non-essential healthcare. There should be more equality of opportunity and spending in education. The free market is the most efficacious way to run business and do not support the renationalisation of state industries.
Describe the core principle of equality
Equality is a multifaceted concept that causes tension and disagreement, however, all agree on three aspects of equality:
- foundational equality
- equality of opportunity
- the rejection of natural hierarchies
What is a revolutionary socialist’s attitude towards equality?
They argue that equality of opportunity can be achieved only after a revolution, equality of outcome is dismissed as it presupposes that capitalism could be rid of exploitation, which they believed to be impossible. An economy based on common ownership, collectivisation and absolute equality should be aimed for, where material rewards are bsaed on needs. Each indiviudal would contribute to society and take what they needed.
What is a social democrat’s attitude towards equality?
Democratic socialists argue that equality of opportunity can only happen from the reformation of capitalism. They believe in the gradual redistribution of income to lessen income inequality, but not absolutely. High taxation should flatten the differences between classes, but they don’t believe in absolute equality, and instead equality of outcome. Proper state management would ensure equality of welfare.
Social democrats believe in state management and a mixed economy and progressive taxation to break down class barriers as it is a neutral force. Pure equality of outcome would weaken the economy and they dismiss absolute equality.
What is a Third Way’s attitude towards equality?
Equality of opportunity needs to target the neediest in society. Wage equality is impracticable and they also dismiss absolute equality. High levels of social security and welfare should not be used and means-tested welfare should be instituted along side state provision of education, healthcare and other social service should be expanded and well-funded to give as much opportunity to everyone to succeed.
Describe the core principle of social class
Socialists believe that capitalism creates and reinforces harmful social class divisions that result in societal hierarchies. While socialists agree on a broad critique of social class, they disagree on how best to rectify the problems.
What is a revolutionary socialist’s attitude towards social class?
Revolutionary socialism argue that problems of social class can be resolved only via a revolution. They perceived capitalists as parasites profiting from the exploited working class and capitalism is incapable of reconciling this division. The state is not neutral and has heavily reinforced this oppressive relationship.
What is a social democrat’s attitude towards social class?
Social democrats believe capitalism can be reformed to better divisions of social class. Democratic socialists argue that universal nationalism, equality of outcome, progressive taxation and a welfare state can reduce class divisions. Social democrats believe that compromisation on freedom is dangerous, and instead argue for fairer redistribution of wealth and equality of opportunity, with society eventually becoming classless.
What is a Third Way’s attitude towards social class?
The Third Way mainly revise what social democrats have already argued, but also view the investment into education an imperative that is key to the redistribution of possibilities.
Describe the core principle of workers’ control
The workers’ control over the means of production. All socialists agree that in an unchecked free market, the capitalist will exploit the industrial worker. However, within the branches, the concept of workers’ control is multifaceted.
What is a revolutionary socialist’s attitude towards workers’ control?
In the aftermath of the revolution, the formerly exploited workers are in control. This interim stage would see society and the economy embracing cooperation, collective and fratern values, while removing destructive capitalist ideals. Afterwards, there would be no need for workers’ control, as communism would be free from the exploitation of capitalistic competition.
What is a social democrat’s attitude towards workers’ control?
Democratic socialists believe that workers’ control cannot work because they lack the intellectual capability to organise an enterprise. Common ownership to democratic socialists does not mean worker controlling the means of production. The ‘professional expert’ would solve the woes of capitalism and the state would ‘silently change its character… to housekeeping’.
Social democrats view workers’ control and militant class struggle as outdated as capitalism had largely been reformed. A mixed economy with thriving entrepeneurs, limited nationalisation and a welfare state was all that is needed.
What is a Third Way’s attitude towards workers’ control?
The Third Way rejects nationalisation altogether and shares the neo-liberal belief that free-market economies are more efficient and prosperous than state-controlled or mixed economies. Clause IV of the Labour Constitution was removed by Blair in 1995, which state Labour’s commitment to nationalisation, and replaced it with a vague commitment to social justice.
