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SOCIALISM - Coggle Diagram
SOCIALISM
ORIGINS OF SOCIALISM
- developed in 19th century from interaction between enlightenment and emerging issues such as the rich-poor divide created by the industrial revolution and modern capitalism.
- term first brought into use by utopian socialists.
- these people aimed to apply the ideals of the enlightenment to the problem that wealth and power were becoming increasingly unequal in society between the few and the many.
- one of the ideas was that human nature was malleable and the conditions of capitalism were creating lives of vice, misery and conduct that were unworhty of rational beings.
- they were convinced that if the right environment was provided, cooperative, dutiful and public spirited characters could be created.
- marx was critical of this form of socialism seeing it as utopian, as it put forward an ideal without understanding the actual conditions that made it possible.
- marx and engels offered a scientific socialism that showed how socialism would inevitably replace capitalism rather than simply why it should replace capitalism.
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HISTORICAL MATERIALISM
the dynamic that drives history is the struggle between contending groups in society.
- the groups, or classes, are created by the measn of production between those who own the measn of production and those who do not.
- towards the end of feudal societies, international trade created the move from production by craftsmen to alrger factories, steam-powered machinery and industrial production.
- the bourgeoisie - the owners of this new means of production - acccumulated hufe wealth and overthrew the existing feudal class relations between landowners and peasants, which no longer reflected the material conditions of society.
- rise of capitalism presented the first chance for humans to live free from oppression and poverty through its revolutionary technological changes and ability to create wealth.
- at the same time, it created the proletariat, who had to sell their labour to survive, and concentrated wealth in the hands of the bourgeoisie. in this way, capitalism is the precondition for socialism as it creates the proletariat seen by marx as the 'gravediggers' for capitalism.
slave societies = master +slave
feudal societies = landowner +peasant
capitalist societies = capitalist + worker
CLASS ANALYSIS
contradictions between classes, created by means of production, are essential ot understanding the world:
- in capitalism the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat.
- under capitalism, the working classes are alienated from their labour as they work to produce commodities, which are owned by capitalist and sold for profit, rather than producing what is needed or useful.
- capitalism is also driven by internal contradictions, as the desire for profit drives down wages and living standards for workers while increasing the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few. this makes capitalism increasingly unstable and prone to deeper and deeper economic crises.
- alienation, exploitation and the deepening crises of capitalism create a class consciousness.
- this drives the working classes to rise up and overthrow the existing society and state and replace them with socialism.
FUNDAMENTAL GOALS
- the class relationship to the means of production and the distribution of wealth is the base for the legal, political and social structure of society.
- this structure, expresses, consolidates and enforces class relationships therefore the state is not neutral but 'a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie' (the communist manifesto).
- consequently, the socialist revolution must overthrow the state, society and existing economic system based on private property.
- the dictatorship of the proletariat will be a short-term strategy to collectivise all property into common ownership for the good of all.
- marx + engels realised this would meet strong opposition, so the dictatorship of the proletariat would need to defeat the opposing forces (counter revolutionaries) througuh force in something like a civil war.
- common ownership of property would lead to the end of class and class conflict - with exploitation a thing of the past, there would be no need for struggles over political power.
- no need for a workers' state once the class struggle has ended and there will be true democracy as all will be free.
- the state would wither away as society transforms from socialism to communism.
THE NATURE OF SOCIALISM
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to what extent is socialism compatible with capitalism?
- marxist tradition (fundamental socialism) is entirely hostile to capitalism. capitalists thirst for profit can only be sated by driving down the wages of workers, leading to exploitation and misery.
- capitalists tendency towards worsening economic crises throws workers on the unemployment scrap heap, creating further misery.
- marx, engels and luxembourg argued private property and the market must be abolished and replaced by common ownership and cooperation.
- once common ownership has been est, there will be a classless society ad the state will wither away creating a true democracy that will allow humans to develop their fraternal and cooperative nature.
- revisionist socialists, argue capitalism is incredibly efficient at producing economic growth and raising living standards. capitalism should be harnessed and humanised to achieve socialist ends.
- social democrats, like crosland, argue that progressive taxation, high levels of spending on public services and universal welfare could be used to fairly distribute rewards, status and privileges to minimise social resentment between classes, to create equal opportunities for all and to secure social justice.
- advocates of the third way, like Giddens, argue that increased tax revenues produced by the free market could be invested in infrastructure and public services, especially education, to create equality of opporrtunity.
REVISIONIST SOCIALISM
a reinterpretation of socialism to take account of changes in the world to update it. it is associated with humanising rather than abolishing capitalism.
social democracy:
- the harsh world of capitalism had been transformed by the reforms of the post war labour govt through nationalisation, the creation of the welfare state and keynsian economics.
- the marxist theory of the misery of the working classes and deeper economic crises had been disproved by growing economic output and living standards.
- the power of the business-owning class had been reduced by the increased power of govt and the rise of TUs.
- 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 ideas of 2 competing classes under capitalism.
- the mixed economy - public and private ownership - was economically successful and reduced inequality.
- modern socialism about social justice: incl improving the welfare and social equality through progressive taxation and the redistribution of wealth to rectify the inequalities produced by the market.
- modern socialism about social equality - tackling poverty and reducing inequality. in social democracy it did not go as far as complete equality as extra talent requires extra reward.
the third way:
- associated with thinking of giddens and practice of new labour under blair.
- involves general acceptance that the managed capitalism of keynesian economics is dead.
- third way accepts the free-market and neo-liberalism and aims to balance this with social democracy's commitment to community and equality of opportunity.
- drawing on socialist ideals of cooperative human nature, it is willing to accept free-market economics but not the idea of an atomistic society.
- it proposes the widest possible freedoms, but tied to responsibilities to the wider community.
- emphasis on community and the ties that bind everyone together tends to downplay the importance of class divisions and inequality.
- the focus is on consensus and social harmony not class conflict.
- it 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 so they can access the opportunities in society.
- role of state is not social engineering through redistribution in the way 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.
- education seen as key as it creates skilled and knowledgable workforce that can compete in the modern, globalised economy, driving economic growth and allowing the individual to realise their full potential.
- economic growth is crucial to the third way as it provides the tax base to enable social investment in areas like education, transport, infrastructure and technology infrastructure.
CORE IDEAS: HUMAN NATURE
areas of agreement:
- socialism tended to favour view that humans are social beings, naturally fraternal, cooperative and communal; seeking solidarity rather than competition.
- most important view held by socialists is that it is flexible, multifaceted and shaped by social circumstances.
- humans change as their circumstances change but they aslo create new and different social relations and adapt to them, so if humans can create capitalism they can create socialism.
- socialism holds an optimistic view of what human nature can become given the right social relations.
areas of tension:
- MARX AND ENGELS argued that human nature is not fixed and cannot be understood independently of society - human essence is the 'ensemble of social relations'.
- only consistent feature is the need to labour to satisfy human needs. they saw capitalism as turning labour into forced labour, to create profit not satisfy needs which alienates the worker, preventing them from living satisfying lives, engaging in fulfilling work and relating to others.
- by bringing means of production into common ownership, labour will be socialised, creating the right social conditions to foster cooperation, fraternity and solidarity.
- luxembourg was optimistic about human nature, arguing that the 'intellectual, cultrual growth of the proletariat' would be achieved through the mass strike and struggle against capitalism.
- political consciousness of the working classes would be developed leading to revolution from below.
- GRADUALIST THINKERS like Webb believed that poverty and inequality were a 'corrupting force' that fostered greed and selfishness.
- through gradual reform of the state to promote common ownership, socialism could guide human nature back to its cooperative essence.
- REVISIONIST THINKERS like Crosland, saw inequality and class distinctions as creating feelings of envy, inferiority and resentment.
- social equality would create greater cooperation and community by reducing the effects off class distinctions.
- for GIDDENS, human nature should be seen positively with the free market empowering the individual economically, giving them freedom.
- at the same time, reinforcing the importance of community would promote the sense of responsibility towards others.
CORE IDEAS: THE STATE
areas of agreement:
- 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 clear disagreement about what is the right kind of state.
areas of tension
MARX AND ENGELS:
- state is merely a committee for the ruling classes.
- it will promote and defend the existing economic relations and ideology that benefits the ruling classes.
- consequently, the state cannot be captured and reformed; its must be overthrown and replaced by dictatorship of the proletariat.
- once this dictatorship has fought off backlash from the ruling classes and taken the means of production into common ownership, class divides will disappear and the state will wither away.
ROSA LUXEMBOURG:
- mass strike and struggle for economic reforms - such as the 8 hour working day - bring workers into direct conflict with the ideological, political and economic power of the state, creating a class consciousness.
- the state and the economic powers that the state protects must be overthrown from below by the working class and not by a minority in the name of the working class.
- the revolution must replace the bourgeoisie democracy with unlimited democracy, based on 'the most active, unlimited participation of the mass of people'.
BEATRICE WEBB:
- the state could be harnessed by socialism through parliamentary democracy and the ethical superiority of its ideas.
- the state could gradually and peacefully be expanded to bring the economy into common ownership and subject it to planning controls.
- the state could then steer society towards socialism.
ANTHONY CROSLAND:
- social democracy saw the state playing a key role in managing the economy, using keynesian economics to control growth and maintain full employment.
- progressive taxation and redistributive welfare could be used to promote social equality and equality of opportunity.
ANTHONY GIDDENS:
- modern state needs reforming to work better through developing power, investing in infrastructure and education to promote equality of opportunity.
- social exclusion should be tackled through targeted public spending to promote work as the route out of poverty.
CORE IDEAS: SOCIETY
areas of agreement:
- socialists see human nature and individuals as the product of the society in which they live.
- in particular, the nature of economic relations and distribution wealth have a key impact on society and human nature.
- socialists have traditionally focused on how class and inequality play a significant role in shaping an 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.
areas of tension
MARX AND ENGELS:
- saw society as constructed by relations to the means of production and distribution of wealth, creating clear class divisions between the few and the many.
- society is dominated by the ideas of the ruling class, such as racism, sexism, patriotism and homophobia, which are used to divide workers among themselves.
- this 'muck of ages' must be overthrown to create a classless society based on the ability of individuals.
ROSA LUXEMBOURG:
- saw capitalist society as one of exploitation that could not be reformed by piecemeal changes to improve conditions.
- such reforms are merely a renegotiation of the terms of exploitation and will be quickly overturned when those in power regroup.
- she argued that by participating in strikes, workers would be able to break their ties to the dominant ideas of society and develop the ability to organise society for themselves.
BEATRICE WEBB:
- studied poverty in Lancashire and the east end of London.
- concluded that it could not be accounted for by individual behaviour or moral weakness, or tackled by private charity.
- poverty was structural and so society needed a structural response to tackle it.
- argued society should focus on a 'national minimum' - a minimum level of wages and quality of life, below which no one should be allowed to fall.
ANTHONY CROSLAND:
- argued society should focus on minimising inequality and class divides, not eradicating them as marx and engels argued.
- could be achieved by progressive taxation, the redistribution wealth, universal welfare and comprehensive education.
ANTHONY GIDDENS:
- focused on the importance community to balance out the negative effects of free market capitalism.
- society should be ordered around the values of community, focusing on individual responsibility to others, social cohesion and social inclusion rather than on class divides and conflicts.
CORE IDEAS: THE ECONOMY
areas of agreement:
- socialisms focus on class and equality means that socialists agree that the economy must work in the interest of all society.
- they agree that private property and capitalism are problematic, but disagree over whether private property and capitalism are compatible with socialism.
MARX ENGELS:
- capitalism and private property are 'naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation' and form the consciousness of the working class, who become the 'gravediggers' of capitalism.
- the revolution will replace capitalism with the common ownership of the means of production, making conflict, poverty and oppression things of the past.
- communism abolish private property, alienation and wage slavery, leading to worker emancipation and, by extension, universal emancipation, so all are free.
BEATRICE WEBB:
- the parliamentary road to socialism would permeate the state with the ideas of socialism.
- this would lead to the state gradually taking the economy into common ownership.
- the state could ensure there is a 'national minimum'.
ANTHONY CROSLAND:
- felt there was no need for further public ownership following the nationalisations carried out by the postwar labour govt.
- the state should adopt a keynesian approach to generate full employment and sufficient growth to create the tax base necessary to deliver greater social equality.
ANTHONY GIDDENS:
- valued the dynamism and entrepreneurship generate by a free market, based on deregulation, private not public ownership, and low taxes.
- the taxes generate could be spent on infrastructure, education and social inclusion to create greater equality of opportunity.
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