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Socialism
Modern Political Concepts
27
th
April 2013
Solano Da Silva
Objective >
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To understand socialism as a political ideology

1. Two meanings
2. Underlying premises
3. Historical reasons
4. Role of the state
5. Types of socialism
6. Significance & criticisms
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Socialism > 1. Two meanings >>

1. Derived from Marxist theory: the transitional phase
between capitalism and (full) communism.

2. Ideology which views that citizens are best served by
policies focused on meeting the basic needs of the entire
society rather than serving the needs of individuals as
individuals.

Refers to a political and economic arrangement
characterised by a system of collective ownership and
management of the means of production and
distribution of resources.
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Socialism > 2. Underlying premises >>

Vision of humans as social beings (as opposed to
individualism)

Individual identity is fashioned by social interaction and
membership of social groups and collective bodies.

[Contrast] Critical of individualism/liberalism which
views poverty and other social ills as resulting from
personal choice/failure and not the result of social
structures.
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Socialism > 2. Underlying premises >>

Prefers cooperation to competition and collectivism over
individualism.
Views the creation of wealth as a collective effort.

Committed to equality:
Belief that humans are equally entitled to things in the
world and to the products of their labour.
Believes that inequalities are not natural but
systematically created or structural.
Guarantee social stability and cohesion
Promotes freedom by satisfying basic needs and
provides basis for personal development.

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Socialism > 3. Historical reasons >>
Emerged as a response to the industrial revolution:

Rise of industrial and urban labour force.

Lack of workers rights: poor wages, long working hours,
poor working conditions, no compensation for
accidents/sickness, no security of work, Trade Unions
were banned.

Poor living conditions: slums, poor sanitation, no health
care and no social security.

Rise wealth but which was coupled with rising
inequalities in society.
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Socialism > 3. Historical reasons >>
Emerged as a response to the industrial revolution...
as a result critical of capitalism:

Marxism/Communism: strict opposition to all private
property and calls for annihilation of capitalism.

Most socialists disagree with Marxist analysis that all
private property is a means of control and should be
eliminated... but agree that some aspects are undesirable:
Private property should not be allowed to
accumulate inordinately vast systems of private
control.
States may be justified in forbidding large scale
private accumulation and nationalising major assets.
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Socialism > 4. Role of the state >>

Marxists/Communists
To ensure the transition to full communism.

Social democrats
Regulate capitalism
Administrator primarily concerned with the distribution
of goods.
Elimination of systems of domination and control:
hereditary privileges, class and caste.
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Socialism > 5. Types of socialism >>
1. Utopian socialism (Early socialism)

Around 1800
Key figures: Henri de Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier and
Robert Owens.

Socialism morally superior to capitalism because
humans are ethical creatures bound by ties of love,
sympathy and compassion.

Competitive market economy unjust and irrational.

Universal togetherness rather than class struggle;
advocate: persuasion, voluntary membership.
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Socialism > 5. Types of socialism >>
2. Revolutionary socialism (Marxist socialism)

Key figures: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels.
Communist Manifesto (1848)

Scientific socialism: claims to be based on a scientific
analysis of historical and social development.
Predicts that capitalism would inevitably collapsed.

Revolutionary: means of achieving socialism can be
achieved by a revolutionary overthrowing of existing
political and social structures.
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Socialism > 5. Types of socialism >>
3. Revisionist socialism (Reformist socialism)
Key figures: Edward Bernstein, Sidney & Beatrice
Webb.
Opposition to Marxs interpretation of economic
history and the necessity of revolution.
Gradual change: Democracy and education seen as
method to attain socialism.
Committed to liberal democracy and party
competition.
Aim not to abolish capitalism but to reform it.
Seeks to marry efficiency of markets with the moral
vision of socialism.
Government regulates monopolies, some publically
owned utilities and controls working conditions in
factories.
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Socialism > 6. Significance and criticisms >>

Concerned not with what people are but with what
people and society can become.
Given birth to numerous visions of society.

For over 200 years socialism served as the principle
opposition to capitalist forces articulating interests of
the oppressed and disadvantaged.

Political high points: rise of communist states, social
democrats and welfarism.

Late 20
th
century spectacular reverses: death of
socialism? Led to a re-examination of socialism.

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Socialism > 6. Significance and criticisms >>

Criticisms:

Socialism tainted by statism, top-down, anti-
individualism and liberalism.

Experience of collapse of many communist states and
crisis of welfarism and socialist states and the embrace
of many communist states of market principles had led
to the questioning of the core tenets of socialism.
REFERENCES

Heywood, A. (2000) Socialism in Key Concepts in Politics.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 75 - 77.

Tansey, S. D. (2000) Marxism, Leninism and Stalinism, Other
Marxisms Politics: The Basics (2
nd
ed.) London: Routledge, pp. 78
83.

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