Edexcel A Level Politics - Core Political Ideas essay plans
Based on advanced information for 2022 A Level exams.
From an A* student.
Essay question and plan.
To what extent do socialists agree over the role of the state.
Intro:
Socialism developed as an ideology in response to social and economic conditions created by the
breakdown of the feudal system and the development of the industrial revolution. Revolutionary
socialists argue that the state has been corrupted by capitalism and must be overthrown through a
violent revolution led by the proletariat, so that a classless society may form. Evolutionary socialism,
specifically social democracy and the Third Way disagree with this, arguing that the state can be
reformed via the welfare state to acknowledge and aide the needs of the poor. However, while
social democracy argues for a larger role of the state, the Third Way argues that the state should
have limited control over the economy as the free market is most efficient. Due to this, socialists
disagree to a large extent over the role of the state.
Strand 1 – Revolutionary socialism
Revolutionary socialism believes that the existing state must be overthrown due to the intrusive
nature of capitalism. The economic base underpinned by business and private property forms the
superstructure around politics which is the foundation of the society and reformed by the state.
As a result, Marx and Engels believed that the government was controlled by the bourgeoisie (those
who owned the means of production and therefore managed business) who used their power over
politics in the superstructure to further their own personal goals and selfish desires. This led to the
exploitation of the proletariat in society and in the workforce. Legislation made by the state
favoured the ruling class and disadvantaged the working class who were already living in poor
conditions during the industrial revolution. Marx and Engels argued that for this reason the state had
to be overthrown, because the state was corrupt and capitalism was so intrusive in the political
system, it was beyond reform. Only after a revolution was achieved could socialism and eventually
communism be achieved with a classless, stateless society where the public control the means of
production forming as a result. In this way, there would not be the existence of a state that favoured
one class over another.
Strand 2 – Social democracy
Social democracy believed that the role of the state was to manage the economy and that there was
no need for its removal.
Social democracy championed the mixed-managed economy, with economic state intervention
based on Keynesian economics. Anthony Crosland argued that capitalism could be used by the
government to achieve socialist aims of equality and collectivism. He also believed that managed
capitalism by the state could deliver social justice, using the wealth generated by the free market to
redistribute via the welfare state across society (this would be done using progressive taxation). He
also called for the government to own the key industries, namely oil and the railways, so that they
would operate in the collective interests of all.
This differs from revolutionary socialism because social democracy does not argue for a revolution to
overthrow the state. This is a fundamental difference, as whilst revolutionary socialists believe that
the state works to further the goals of the bourgeoisie, social democrats believe the reformed state
would be democratic with the support of a large working class population. Crosland argued that
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