SOCIALIST THINKERS

Question 1

THINKERS

Answer 1

• Marx and Engels
• Luxemburg
• Webb
• Giddens
• Crosland

Question 2

MARX AND ENGELS

Answer 2

• revolutionary socialists
• The Communist Manifesto 1848 and Capital- founded communism
• Marx: revolutions are the locomotives of history; from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs; Engels: no nation can be free if it oppresses others
• Human Nature: social and cooperative, evolves through historical and social conditions; communist society ensures satisfying, collective lives- capitalism alienated organic human nature
• State: instrument of class rule, will wither away in communist society, must be dismantled through working class revolution
• Society: cooperation will lead to society reaching full potential, shaped by: historical materialism (the way goods are made), dialectical challenge (conflict from two opposing forces results in development), class consciousness- all lead to revolution
• Economy: capitalism must be abolished, production process must benefit workers, abolition of private property- everything to be owned collectively; believed capitalism’s contradictions would lead to its collapse

Question 3

LUXEMBURG

Answer 3

• revolutionary socialist inspired by Marx and Engels; co-founded spartacist league in Germany and executed after uprising in 1919
• “Social reform or Revolution?” 1899- reforms won through ballot box useless
• Human Nature: inclined towards collectivism and solidarity, not fixed but shaped, desire for freedom and autonomy hindered by capitalism, spontaneous realisation of class consciousness will lead to revolt
• State: instrument of oppression, serves interests of ruling class, perpetuates class divisions; disagreed with Marxist view that democracy would not longer be needed after revolution
• Society: defined by ongoing mass class divisions and struggle- revolution needed, ideal society based on collective ownership, equality, active participation of working class in decision-making
• Economy: deeply disagreed with capitalism, believed evolutionary socialism was useless as capitalism needed to be overthrown not reformed

Question 4

WEBB

Answer 4

• Fabian socialist- significant role in founding British Labour party
• “A constitution for the Socialist commonwealth of Great Britain” 1920 proposed state control of wages, taxes, and prices
• Part of Fabian society- important think tank to this day
• Planted the seed that led to the welfare state in England post 1945
• Human Nature: rational and cooperative potential- education needed to nurture; acknowledged self-interest, emphasized role of social institutions fostering collective welfare altruism
• State: revolution not the answer, believed inevitability of gradualness, state must expand to bring about socialism, highly trained specialists needed to organise society
• Society: collectivism important to remove inequality and poverty, emphasized importance of education, state intervention, trade unions
• Economy: criticised laissez-faire capitalism: inefficient, unequal, exploitative; advocated for welfare state to ensure basic needs, economy needs to be planned to ensure distribution

Question 5

GIDDENS

Answer 5

• Developed Third-way socialism; influenced Blair’s 1997-2010 New Labour and Bill Clinton’s administration 1993-2001
• Criticised traditional socialism- too focused on state control and class struggle and needed modernisation
• Human Nature: rejects fixed notions on human nature, although individuals shape their lives through social actions, they are constrained and enabled by social structures
• State: key in addressing social inequality, should invest in infrastructure (leading to employment rather than reliance on welfare) and education rather than directly intervening in economy
• Society: open, inclusive, embracing diversity
• Economy: rejects state intervention, free markets most efficient, equality of opportunity more important than equality of outcome, criticises neo-liberalism- neglects social cohesion and inequality; welfare reform: promote individual empowerment while ensuring collective responsibility

Question 6

CROSLAND

Answer 6

• Revisionist socialist
• Influenced modern Labour Party
• Wrote “The Future of Socialism” 1956- rejected Marx’s argument and highlighted benefits of capitalism (improved living standards rather than leading to collapse like Marx predicted)
• Human nature: shaped by society, culture and economy- emphasized role of education
• State: agent of social reform- reducing inequality and promoting social justice; regulate capitalism
  > economic growth would allow socialist government to have more money for social spending and welfare
• Society: Rejected need for revolution, key to revisionist socialism: reform education to ensure equality in secondary school, minimal class divisions and equal opportunity
• Economy: mixed economy, mainly private ownership= sustained economic growth; state to regulate economy to ensure equality, rejected Marxist view of capitalism’s collapse