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A* Socialism Essays - UK Politics
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8 A* Socialism Essays - Core Ideologies - UK Politics - Colour-coded with detailed explanations
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A* Socialism Essays1. To what extent do all socialists agree? (2022-ish) 1
2. To what extent do socialists agree on the economy / how the economy should
operate? (2019) 2
3. To what extent do socialists disagree over means rather than ends? 3
4. To what extent do socialists agree on human nature? 4
5. To what extent do socialists agree on the role of the state? 5
6. To what extent do socialists agree on society? 6
7. To what extent do all socialists agree on equality / equality of outcome? 8
8. To what extent do socialists agree on collectivism? 9
1.To what extent do all socialists agree?
(2022-ish)
Agree - OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE
● P: Profound agreement over the positive view of human nature.
● Ev: Humans naturally prefer cooperation and so can work together in pursuit of
shared goals. → Socialists argue that humans share a ‘common humanity’ -
understanding, respect and desire for mutually beneficial support. → Human nature
is corrupted only by society, not in any innate manner.
● Ex: Marx and Engels saw common humanity as being a defining feature of humans’
original nature. Therefore, socialists agree with Marx and argue that cooperation is a
natural and intrinsic aspect of human nature.
● Eval: Therefore,
Disagreement emerges - ACCEPTION VS REJECTION OF CAPITALISM
● P: Disagreements emerge over the degree of capitalism that can be tolerated.
● Ev: Revolutionary socialists believe that the existing society is ‘sick’ because
capitalism is damaging to human nature as it encourages greed and selfishness. This
is because Marx believed human nature is contaminated by capitalism. Revolutionary
socialists agree with this so they believe a non-capitalist economy must be created -
they are keen to see the means of production move away from private hands.
● However, Social democrats tolerate a capitalist system in order to advance their
ideological goals. Crosland advocated the use of Keynesian economics to moderate
capitalism.
● Contrastingly, Third way Giddens argued that capitalism should be embraced, not
just tolerated. This is because they believe the free market creates wealth that can
then be used on socialist projects, like improving the NHS. For example, New
Labour’s Peter Mandelson said “We don’t mind people being filthy rich, as long as
they pay their taxes”.
, ● Eval: Therefore, conflicted over how an economy functions and wealth is distributed.
Disagree - MEANS OF GAINING POWER IN THE STATE.
● P: Major disagreement over how to gain power in the state + create socialist society.
● Ev: Revolutionary socialists believe in revolution. Society can’t be reformed by
evolutionary means because capitalism is, by its very nature, too exploitative to be
rehabilitated. Marxists believe that when capitalism becomes unsustainable, it is
necessary to ‘smash’ it via revolution. Luxemburg believed that only revolution can
create real change as evolutionary socialism is impossible.
● However, revisionist socialists believe in more peaceful and gradual means.
Democratic socialist Beatrice Webb believed that revolutions are “chaotic, inefficient
and counterproductive”. She instead believed in the inevitably of gradualness’ -
parliamentary democracy will deliver the inevitable socialist society.
● Democratic socialists believe that extending the franchise means socialist
governments are more likely so there is no need for revolution.
● Third Way socialists address inequality through reform to education and
infrastructure, and believe the state plays a major role. This is because Giddens
believed welfare should be “mended, not ended”.
2.To what extent do socialists agree on the
economy / how the economy should operate?
(2019)
Agree - OPPOSITION TO LAISSEZ-FAIRE ECONOMY AND COMPLETELY FREE
MARKET
● P: Profound agreement over their rejection of a laissez-faire economy and
completely free market.
● Ev: They all believe unregulated capitalism creates and reinforces harmful social
class divisions that result in societal hierarchies.
● Ex: Marx and Engels believed capitalists are parasites, profiting from the work of an
exploited workforce.
● This means that socialists agree that the economy must be structured so that it works
in the interest of all of society.
● Eval: Therefore, they are united in their rejection of a laissez-faire economy and a
completely free market as it leads to inequality.
Disagreement emerges - IMPORTANCE OF COMMON OWNERSHIP
● P: Disagreements emerge over the importance of common ownership.
● Ev + Ex: Revolutionary socialists believe that there should be no private ownership.
→ This is because Marx and Engels believed private ownership was made possible
due to the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.
, ● However, social democrats support a mixed economy, where private property could
be regulated through Keynesian inspired government intervention. → This is seen in
practice by New Labour’s decision to abandon Clause IV.
● Third Way socialists believe that only through a privatised and deregulated economy
can enough taxation be raised to support the weakest in society. → This is because
Giddens believed the governments in the ‘post-fordist’ economy should seek to arm
citizens to play a role in the new economy. → This can be seen in practice by Blair
who said his three priorities were “Education, education, education”.
● Eval: Therefore, while there is some agreement between Revolutionary socialists
and Social democrats on common ownership, Third Way socialists depart entirely
from this position and believe common ownership is harmful.
Disagree - EXTENT TO WHICH CAPITALISM CAN BE TOLERATED
● P: Major disagreement over the extent to which capitalism can be tolerated.
● Ev: Revolutionary socialists are clear that capitalism must be abolished and this will
be achieved through revolution. → This is because Marx and Engels argued a
revolution was inevitable because differences between social classes cannot be
reconciled within a capitalist system.
● However, social democrats tolerate a capitalist system in order to advance their
ideological goals. → Crosland advocated the use of Keynesian economics to
moderate capitalism.
● Contrastingly, Third Way Giddens argued that capitalism should be embraced, not
just tolerated. → This is because they believe the free market creates wealth that can
then be used on socialist projects, like improving the NHS. → For example, New
Labour’s Peter Mandelson said “We don’t mind people being filthy rich, as long as
they pay their taxes”.
● Eval: Therefore, extremely conflicted over toleration of capitalism.
3.To what extent do socialists disagree over
means rather than ends?
Agree - POVERTY ERADICATION IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL JUSTICE
● P: Profound agreement on poverty eradication to achieve social justice.
● Ev: They believe that classes are unequal in terms of power and influence -
individuals born into lower classes have fewer opportunities. → A capitalist society
leads to economic inequality because of the rigid class structure that capitalism
produces.
● As this inequality is created by poverty, socialists believe that by eradicating poverty,
greater social equality and social justice can be achieved.
● Eval: Therefore,
Disagreement emerges - ACCEPTION VS REJECTION OF CAPITALISM
● P: Disagreements emerge over the degree of capitalism that can be tolerated.
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