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Summary SOCIALISM KEY STRANDS EDEXCEL A LEVEL POLITICS
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TENET EDEXCEL A LEVEL POLITICS
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Socialism DichotomiesState
Revolutionary socialism – most common and influential, derives from
Marx. Socialist values cannot co-exist with capitalism, so revolution is
needed to transform society and economy. Luxemburg adapted these
ideas with slight disagreements, wants democracy and elections to
continue post-revolution
Evolutionary socialism – rather than a radical change via revolution,
socialism is gradually achieved within pre-existing parliamentary
structure. Socialism will emerge gradual piecemeal fashion via state.
- Democratic socialism – Webb and Fabian society – influence
labour party from 1900 and Attlee’s post-war government. Argued
capitalism can be gradually reformed via parliament to achieve
socialist state. Supported mass nationalisation and state
management by socialist elites to ensure social justice
- Social democracy – 1950s, Crosland, values social justice above
common ownership unlike other 2. Working within existing capitalist
systems through a redistributive welfare state
- The Third way – 1990s, Giddens, renewal of social democracy and
neo-liberal element to socialism. Inspired New labour PM Blair and
Brown
Revolutionary socialism
- Most common and influential, derives from Marx. Socialist values
cannot co-exist with capitalism, so revolution is needed to transform
society and economy. Luxemburg adapted these ideas with slight
disagreements, wants democracy and elections to continue post-
revolution
- Overthrow capitalism
- Often violent
- Follows the beliefs of Marx (although often adapts his theories)
- Radical change – abolition of private property, overhaul of
social system etc
MARX believed that a revolution would occur which, after a period
of ‘the dictatorship of the proletariat, would result in a classless
society free from division. At this point, each would ‘give
according to their ability, and receive according to their need’.
- Abolish state, society and economy and replace with communism (work
together and share common ownership)
- State oppresses WC, reinforced by key institutions e.g. parliament,
media, finance and a gradual change won’t lead to a general society
because bourgeois values are firmly entrenched
- Needs transformation of society – existing state must be uprooted. And
replaced with new institutions e.g. China Mao
- Working class politically disenfranchised – can’t vote for change
- Industrialisation exploits workers – creates radical workers who seek
radical action
, - Bourgeois state will reinforce class oppression- too entrenched – must
be overthrown
- Humanising capitalism (like S Dems would like to) is dangerous –
capitalism is destructive and must be overthrown
- Total transformation of society required – radical action of this nature
requires violence
- Utopian socialism and Marxism
- Communism – society that’s communally organised with an economy
built on common ownership in which goods are held in common and
available to all as needed
- Marxism – an ideological and revolutionary set of ideas explaining the
inevitable demise of capitalism by communism, worked with Engels
- Utopian socialism – hate exploitation, greed, selfishness from
capitalism, Owen and Fourier, disliked free market capitalism, propose
small scale cooperative communities – very idealistic with no depth to
how they would be maintained, all failed
- Marxism - Karl Marx, human nature is distorted by capitalism,
critiqued capitalist economy, inevitability of revolution
- Economic conflict is a catalyst for historical and social development
- Historical development is driven by a dialectic – chain of opposing
forces – exploited and exploiters, range of phases
- Luxemburg inspired by Marx, she argued proletariats struggle for
reform and democracy would create consciousness needed to
overthrow capitalist society
- Luxemburg – disagreed with Marx and said democracy. Was needed
after revolution, anticipated that communist societies would have a
dictatorship unlike Marx,
-
Historical Materialism – theory that economic factors are driving force
for changing events, economic base forms and shapes the super structure
made up of culture, politics, law, religion, ideology, social consciousness.
Super structure would collapse without the workers
Reinforces bourgeois
Most religions have a hierarchy
Religion- reinforces the position of the bourgeoisie.
Religion reinforces the social barriers as in many religions there are
different classes. Religion according to Marx also reinforces morals such
as no stealing, no sinning and
encourages obeying the teachings.
This makes people feel they are flawed
and if they are the lower class, that
ideology will make them think about
their position and blame themselves,
therefore making them work harder to
be in a better position.
Dialectic – a clash of ideas and
perceptions between each stage of
history. It occurs when pre-existing set
of values of society, as understood by
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