To what extent do socialists have a consistent attitude towards the state? (80:20 – substantially agree) Flashcards
(15 cards)
What do fundamentalist socialists believe about the state?
Fundamentalist socialists believe the state is essential to overthrow capitalism and organise collective ownership.
Revolutionary socialists argue that the state must be a central instrument of class struggle, used to dismantle capitalism and implement common ownership.
How do revolutionary socialists view the capitalist state?
They see the capitalist state as a bourgeois tool used to uphold exploitation, necessitating revolution to destroy it and build a new, transitional workers’ state.
This state is temporary, existing only until class divisions are erased.
What did Karl Marx argue about the state?
Karl Marx argued that the state was a tool of the ruling class that must be seized by the proletariat to begin the process of communism.
Only after this transitional phase would the state ‘wither away.’
How do democratic socialists differ from revolutionary socialists?
Democratic socialists believe the state is a vehicle to achieve socialism through gradual, parliamentary means, rejecting revolution but accepting extensive state intervention.
They aim to organise production, deliver welfare, and reduce inequality.
What is Beatrice Webb’s view on achieving socialism?
Beatrice Webb supported the ‘inevitability of gradualness,’ arguing that increased state planning and intervention would achieve socialism more sustainably than revolution.
What do social democrats believe about the state?
Social democrats see the state as a key tool for managing capitalism and achieving social justice, reforming it to reduce inequality through welfare, taxation, and regulation.
Unlike fundamentalists, they do not wish to abolish capitalism, but they still support a strong and active state. They believe the state should redistribute wealth, fund public services, and ensure social equality through peaceful and democratic means.
What is Anthony Crosland’s perspective on the state?
Anthony Crosland believed the state could manage capitalism for the benefit of all, supporting high levels of public spending to deliver education, healthcare, and social justice.
How do Third Way socialists view state intervention?
Third Way socialists value the state but believe state intervention should be limited and strategic, focusing on social investment to help individuals help themselves.
What is Giddens’ concept of a ‘social investment’ state?
Giddens supported a ‘social investment’ state where the state empowers individuals through opportunity and responsibility rather than extensive control.
What is the main disagreement between fundamentalist and Third Way socialists?
The main inconsistency lies in whether the state should have total control over the economy (fundamentalist socialism) or act as a minimal enabler (Third Way socialism).
What do Third Way socialists argue about state power?
Third Way socialists argue that too much state power leads to dependency and inefficiency, advocating for a small but smart state that promotes fairness without stifling growth.
What did Giddens argue about traditional socialism?
Giddens argued that traditional socialism needed to be modernised in light of globalisation, emphasising the importance of market forces and criticising top-down state control.
What is the belief of revolutionary socialists regarding the means of production?
Revolutionary socialists believe only full control over the means of production can truly liberate the working class, arguing that partial reform is not enough.
What did Rosa Luxemburg believe about reform?
Rosa Luxemburg rejected gradual reform, believing that revolution and total transformation of the state were necessary to free society from capitalist exploitation.
What is the major divide between fundamentalists and Third Way socialists?
Fundamentalists trust the state with total control, while Third Way socialists limit its role to avoid stifling freedom and growth, showing inconsistency in how socialists view the size and power of the state.
