Socialism Revision Sheet 2024

**[Socialism revision sheet]** **[Key points:]** - Positive view of human nature -- cooperation and fraternity - People wanted to achieve goals as a group - People are plastic/malleable by the society they are in - High levels of state control - Clause IV "To secure for the workers b...

**[Socialism revision sheet]** **[Key points:]** - Positive view of human nature -- cooperation and fraternity - People wanted to achieve goals as a group - People are plastic/malleable by the society they are in - High levels of state control - Clause IV "To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service." Sidney Webb 1917 (founder of LSE) **[Fundamentalist socialism ]** - The earliest form of socialism. This holds that socialist values are fundamentally incompatible with capitalism. This theory begins with Marx and Engels. - Marxism is the ultimate state of human development which represents the perfect society -- a utopian idea of where society SHOULD be. Based on common ownership, communal living, and the principle of "each according to his needs'. Marxism reflects these predictions and also involves an episodic view of history, a critique of capitalism and justification for revolutionary politics. - Class consciousness is a key part of fundamentalist socialism. According to Marx and Engels, this was a byproduct of capitalism that would be especially pronounced among the downtrodden working class, or proletariat. It would eventually be the engine of revolution and capitalism's destruction. - Capitalism is to be smashed by revolutionary violence! **[Democratic socialism]** - Developed after 1945 and the revision of Marxism after the actions of the USSR and CCP - It is an Evolutionary socialist policy -- slowly working with and changing capitalism in order to get rid of it. Revolution is NOT needed - This was underpinned by Keynesian economics, the welfare state, and public ownership of many industries - (UK 1945 onwards) - There should be "evolution" WITH CAPITALISM. There should be state control of heavy industries and taxes should be levied. - As the situation progressed into the 1970s the IMF involved itself in Britain's failing Economy -- Tony Benn responded saying that the answer was MORE fundamentalist style socialist policies -- not less. LESS EUROPE - more socialism! "**[Third Way" Socialism ]** - Also known as revisionist socialism - Purported by Blair and Brown in the UK - It appeared in the Appeared in the 1990s, Collapse of the Soviet Union, market economics had taken over Eastern Europe, China was allowing market economics. - Increasing levels of globalsiation challenged Keynesian economics and made them redundant taking away from democratic socialist ideas - A Failure of nationalised industries and the extensive privatisation of the 1980s led to an idea that socialist ideas needed changing and that there needed to be a renewal of social democracy and the idea of reconciling socialist parties with an electorate that was increasingly propertied, suburban, and individualistic. - Anthony Giddens wanted to encourage further privatisation and further deregulation to boost economic growth and therefore tax revenues. Therefore, allowing a greater equality of opportunity which probably required more, not less, inequality of outcome. This is characterised by Peter Mandelson's view "*People can get filthy stinking rich as long as they pay their taxes"*. This was underpinned by the idea that inequality of outcome led to higher rates of growth and therefore more tax yield to spend on the societies poorest. - Furthermore, society was more cosmopolitan and diverse than it had been in the 1950s.Gidden's argued that governments should address "less economic" inequalities within society. Revisionist socialist governments passed measures to promote greater racial, gender, and sexual equality. Devolving government and a Human rights Act.