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Socialism (Social Democracy (Managers, not business owners, were now…
Socialism
Social Democracy
Managers, not business owners, were now running industry, so it was better to focus on the control/regulation of capitalism rather than public ownership. Managers were a new class in society, weakening Marx's idea of the two competing classes under capitalism.
The mixed economy - a mixture of public ownership of key industries and services and most other industries under private ownership - was economically successful and reduced inequality.
The power of the business-owning class had been reduced by the increased power of government and the rise of trade unions.
Modern socialism was about social justice: this involved improving welfare and social equality through progressive taxation and the redistribution of wealth to rectify the inequalities produced by the market.
The Marxist theory of the misery of the working classes and deeper economic crises had been disproved by growing economic output and living standards.
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According to social democrats, the harsh would of capitalism had been transformed by the reforms of the post-war Labour government under Clement Attlee through nationalisation, the creation of the welfare state and Keynesian economics.
Revolutionary Socialism
The state and society are an expression of class relations, enforcing the ideas of the ruling class, and so must be overthrown.
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Liberal democracy is a 'swindle' used by the ruling class to stop workers from developing class consciousness. The ruling class also uses its ideological dominance to promote patriotism and prejudices, like sexism, to divide workers among themselves.
Equality means the end of inequality in terms of status, wealth and income. Society is ordered by the principle from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. This will create a true democracy and the state will wither away as society will be classless.
Revolution is both inevitable and vital. This involves the overthrow of the existing state, society and economic relations. The defence of the revolution against the backlash from the ruling classes will probably involve the use of force.
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Social Democracy
The state can be used to deliver reform, improving society.
Capitalism and PP are compatible with socialism, but need to be harnessed for socialist ends. Social democracy supports the mixed economy, Keynesian economics and redistributive welfare. The Third Way supports the free market of neo-liberalism blended with a sense of community and social justice.
With universal suffrage, socialist parties will be able to campaign and convince workers of the benefits of socialism. When they are voted into power, the idea of a gradual, peaceful change to socialism will convince everyone of its ethical superiority.
Social democracy emphasises relative social equality, which involves tackling poverty and limited inequality. Without some level of social equality, equality of opportunity is not possible. The Third Way places its emphasis on equality of opportunity, but this is underpinned by targeted welfare and public spending to generate social inclusion.
Socialism can be delivered via the ballot box and piecemeal legal reforms. This process takes place gradually and peacefully within democracy (the 'inevitability of gradualism'.
Social democracy still views class as important and wishes to minimise class divisions within society. The Third Way dismisses the emphasis on class, focusing more on community.
The Third Way
The 3W rejects the emphasis on social equality, instead focusing on providing equality of opportunity by giving people access to education and welfare targeted at those who are socially excluded.
The role of the state is not social engineering through redistribution in the way that Crosland proposed. The 'competitive' state should concentrate on social investment in the infrastructure of the economy and especially in education to make the state more competitive in the global market.
The emphasis on community, and the ties that bind everyone together, tends to downplay the importance of class divisions and inequality. This focus is on consensus and social harmony, not class conflict.
Economic growth is crucial to the 3W as it provides the tax base to enable social investment in areas like education, transport infrastructure and technology infrastructure.
Drawing on the socialist ideas of cooperative human nature, the third way is willing to accept free-market economics but no the ideas of an atomistic society. It proposes the widest possible freedoms, but tied to responsibilities of the wider community.
It involves a general acceptance that the managed capitalism of Keynesian economics is dead. The third way accepts the free market of neo-liberalism and aims to balance this with social democracy's commitment to community and equality of opportunity.
Human Nature
The most important view of human nature held by socialists is that it is flexible, multifaceted and shaped by social circumstances.
Humans change as their circumstances change but they also create new and different social relations and adapt to them. So, if humans can create capitalism, they can create socialism.
Socialism has tended the favour the view that humans are social beings, naturally fraternal, cooperative and communal; seeking solidarity rather than competition.
Socialism holds an optimistic view of what human nature can become, given the right social relations.
Society
Socialists have traditionally focused on how class and inequality play a significant role in shaping and individual's prospects.
Society needs to be reconfigured in line with a concept of justice to provide greater equality, although there is considerable debate as to what type of equality.
Socialists see human nature and individuals as the product of society in which they live. In particular, the nature of economic relations and the distribution of wealth have a key impact on society and human nature.
The State
Socialists have tended to favour the state as the key tool to drive political, economic and social change.
The right kind of state can improve society by promoting equality, cooperation and community. However, there is a clear disagreement about what is the right kind of state.
The Economy
Socialism's focus on class and equality means that socialists agree that the economy must work in the interests of all society.
Socialists agree that PP and capitalism are problematic, but disagree over whether PP and capitalism are compatible with socialism.