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Summary Ultimate A-level socialism notes
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Notes on the state, economy, society and human nature for socialism. Includes quotes and beliefs of all key thinkers as well as detailed summaries on the strands.
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Politics socialismThis document contains an overarching summary of socialist’s beliefs for
paragraph topics and then splits off into the views of individual strands
within the ideology. At the end quotes and opinions of the specifications
(Edexcel) key thinkers can also be found.
STATE
Overall/some agreement
Equality of welfare accepts that human society is inevitably unequal but
also maintains that every individual is entitled to have an equal minimum
standard of living guaranteed by the state
Equality of welfare is endorsed by social democrats and the third way
because it provides a vital safety net for the most vulnerable in society
Marxists reject it because this welfare provision does not seek to remove
capitalism
Both SDs and 3W believe that the state can harness capitalism to create
an efficiently functioning society
Revolutionary socialists (RV)
Marxists traditionally emphasise the fundamental role of class politics
based on the economic division between capitol and labour
Under the capitalist system the state becomes an instrument of class rule
The state will only disappear once the workers' gains have been
consolidated and social class differences are replaced by a classless, equal
society
RS believe the state is a device of class oppression, acting for capital
against labour
The political state will always reflect and preach the interests of the
property owning classes
In order to build socialism the bourgeois state must be overthrow to bring
total societal transformation
RS think eventually the process of class systems and bourgeoisie
maintaining their dominance will lead to an inevitable proletariat
revolution that will overthrow the upper class and the state
For Marxists/SR the state will only be gone once the workers gains have
been consolidated and social class differences are replaced by a classless,
equal society
RS Rejects the use of democratic methods in pursuit of a socialist society
Based on the conviction that the state is a 'bourgeois' instrument of class
oppression, defending capitalist interests against those of the working
classes
,Calls for a total transformation of society, so the existing state has to be
completely uprooted and replaced with new revolutionary institutions
Such fundamental change often leads to violence with the ruling class
unlikely to give up its power without a fight
Marxism regards the state as an instrument of class rule
Argue that under capitalism the ruling bourgeoisie use the state apparatus
(political and legal system) to maintain their dominance over the
proletariat
Social democrats (SD)
Social democrats call for more limited state intervention to achieve
relative equality within society via welfare measures, government
spending and progressive taxation
Their primary aim is to remove absolute poverty and then a certain level
of inequality can be tolerated
The state does not own or control all means of production, its role is to
adjust distribution to narrow differences in wealth and life choices
Social democrats seek to reform rather than abolish capitalism
Webb emphasised that the state's ability to deliver socialism would
depend heavily on highly trained specialists and administrators to
organise society and the economy.
The role of the disciplined elite would be to run the state 'to guide the
mass of citizens to a socialist state'
Webb believed that the expansion of the state was critical in order to
deliver socialism, the 'economic side of democracy'
SDs think capitalism could be reformed and made to work for the good of
society
Can be done through state intervention but not complete state control
Can be through things such as nationalisation of industry or creations of
legal protections and welfare for people
Crosland in his book argued that the state should follow 'managerial
socialism' meaning private property was permissible but the state would
manage the economy to ensure fairness for all using powers of economic
intervention such as progressive taxation and nationalisation
All should be done by democratic process as capitalism doesn't need to be
entirely overthrown
Crosland believed in state managed capitalism and a mixed economy, not
state ownership as it would threaten individual liberty and be
economically unproductive
Emphasised the need for social justice by stressing the redistributive role
of the welfare state funded by progressive taxation
, Social democrats would argue that the welfare state is a collectivist
endeavour and part of our responsibility to each other
Sd using the state to make gradual social reforms
SDs tend to argue that socialist objectives can be achieved through
targeted state intervention to narrow class distinctions
According to SDs the state does not represent an instrument of oppressive
class rule but rather provides the welfare and redistribution schemes by
which class inequalities can be reduced
SDs attempt to reconcile free-market capitalism with state intervention
State intervention in economic and social affairs can protect the public
and remedy the weaknesses of capitalism
SD support for mixed economy of both state and privately owned
enterprises, with only key strategic industries nationalised
Reform of capitalism chiefly through the welfare state
Crosland asserted that capitalism was no longer a system of harsh class
oppression and that extensive state direction and control was now
irrelevant
Crosland emphasised the need for social justice rather than common
ownership by stressing the redistributive role of the welfare state funded
by progressive taxation
SDs argue that limited state intervention in social and economic affairs
can safeguard the public and remedy the shortcomings of capitalism
The state does not represent an instrument of oppressive class rule but
rather provides the welfare and distribution schemes by which class
inequalities can be reduced
Social democrats would argue that the welfare state is a collectivist
endeavour and part of our responsibility to each other
Sd using the state to make gradual social reforms
Third way also want to utilise the state
Third way (3W)
3W believe in use of regulation of industries and services provided by the
market in preference to state ownership of them
Prioritised spending on infrastructure whilst focusing particularly on
education and equality of opportunity which would then be funded by
taxation
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