Socialism

Introduction

• Opposition to capitalism, provide a more humane alternative

• Emerges as industrialization grows

• Things were bad

• Utopianism plays a roll

Bullet 2-Living conditions were terribleBullet 3-Things could be good with sharing and cooperation

Origins and Development

• Socialism changes as things get better

• Split occurred in the early 20th Century

• Communism vs Socialism

• Socialism spreads in 20th Century

• Decline in late 20th Century

Bullet 1-Trade unions and working class groups growBullet 2- Lenin the Bolsheviks vs Social DemocracyBullet 3-Africa, Asia, Latin America

Core Themes• Three Ways to

Understand

• Economic Model

• Labor Movement

• Political Creed/Ideology

Economic-collectivism or social planningLabor-The interests of the worker or massesPolitical-Combination of ideas

Community

•Unification overcome issues

•“No man is an Island”

•Importance of fraternity

Bullet 1-Power in NumbersBullet 2-John Donne -Community is vitalBullet 3- “Comrades, brothers, sisters” common bond of humanity

Community

• Human nature can change

• Social groups help understand ourselves

• Concern for what we can become

• Especially important with minorities

Bullet 1-Differs from Liberalism and ConservatismBullet 4- African and Asian Societies were already community based

Cooperation•Cooperation over

Competition

•Humans can be incentivized by morals

•Producers and consumers benefit

Bullet 1-Competition pits us against each other, aggression, and selfishnessBullet 2- Capitalism encourages material cravings, socialism encourages empathyBullet 3- Capitalism focuses just on the producers, need to focus on both

Equality

• Social Equality/Equaltiy of Outcome

• Equality upholds Justice

• Equality supports community

• Need satisification is basis of success

Bullet 1- Not everyone is born identicalBullet 2- Unequal treatment in society is worst kindBullet 3- Identify with each other and work together

Equality

•Marxism and Communisn believe in absolute equality

•Democratic Socialist believe in relative equality

Bullet 1- Abolish private property and establish public ownershipBullet 2- Welfare state and progressive taxes

Class Politics• Social Classes are the biggest divisor in

society

• Classes are the defining feature of history

•Working class is different

• Classes aren’t permanent nor necessary

Bullet 2- Must understand to understand historyBullet 3- Focused on struggle and emancipation

Class Politics

• Capital v. Labor

• Bourgeoisie

• Proletariat

•White Collar v. Blue Collar

• Declining since the 50’s

Bullet 1- Boug- Owners, Pro.-Workers (Can’t Get Along) MarxismBullet 2- Democratic Socialists

Common Ownership• Problems stem from private property

• Property is unjust

• Encourages materialism

• Divisive

• Right to property balanced with community

Common Ownership

• Nationalization popular with Lenin

• Soviet Union adopted state property

• Nationalization has occurred in the western world

• Very Selective

Bullet 1- Extension of state ownership over privateBullet 3- UK Nationalized energy producers in 1945-51 to help regulate economy

Roads to Socialism•2 arguments in

socialism

•What goals should socialism strive for?

•How do we achieve socialism?

1. Revolutionary Socialism

• Early socialist said only way possible

• Either small group or entire class

• Industrialzation brought poverty

•Working class had no political influence

• Democracy restricted

Bullet 2- Blanqui vs MarxBullet 5- Property Requirement

Revolutionary Socialism

•The bourgeois is always favoring the wealthy

•Proletariat have no choice but violent revolution

Bullet 1- Marx

Revolutionary Socialism

• Very successful in China and Latin America

• Revolution allows you to “wipe the slate clean”

• Force allowed new leadership to emerge

• Military style takes over

Bullet 2- Khmer Rouge and Year 0 in 1975Bullet 3- “Power resides in the barrel of a gun” Mao

2. Evolutionary Socialism

• Revolt fever waned in 19th century

• Working class gains rights in 20th century

• Political Action and education would allow socialism to emerge peacefully

• Democratic socialists advocate working inside the government

Bullet 2- Removal of property requirements, unions, social clubs, etc

Evolutionary Socialism

• Democracy has merit

• Extend francise, brings about equality

• Equality works for the majority

• Socialism is home of workers

• Soacialists will carry out reform

Evolutionary Socialism

• To appeal in democracies, must water down

• None have held majority power

• Reformed Capitalism

Bullet 1- Have been in all democracies except US

Evolutionary Socialism•Manual Working

Class has begun to decline

•Socialist have had to adapt

•Bourgeiouis Ideology pervades society

Bullet 1-Socialism has suffered as a resultBullet 3- People avoid their own best interests

Communism •No Private

Property

•Common of Collective Ownership

•3 Types of Marxism/Communism

1. Classical Marxism• Developed by Karl Marx

• Capitailism will eat iteslf, Socialism will replace

• Hopes to predict future events

• Historical Materialism-Economy Structures Society

Bullet 2-Scientific analysis

Classical Marxism

• Progress occurs because of internal conflict

• Conflict between upper and lower class would lead to progress

• Human History has long been marked by conflict

Bullet 2- Progress means socialismBullet 3- Slavery (Masters and Slave), Feudalism (Land Owner and Serf), Capitalism (Bourgeoisie and Proletariat)

Classical Marxism: Economics

• Capitalism separates people from what they produce

• Class is defined by economic power

• Class are in charge of change

• Relationship between classes is antagonistic

Bullet 4-Can never be reconciled

Classical Marxism: Politics

• Capitalism overgrown by the people

• As division increased, people recognize their power

• Revolution would be spontaneous

• Strict Gov’t controlled by people, maintain progress

Bullet 3-Upper class unable to stop itBullet 4- As socialism takes hold, no need for gov’t

2. Orthodox Communism

• Developed by Lenin

• Successful in Russia, China, and Cuba

• Rural areas were the root, not urban

• Leninism develops-New political party

• Anyone not in the party, against it

Bullet 3- Went against what Marx thoughtBullet 4- Only the party could lead to revolution (Lead by devoted people)

Orthodox Communism• Stalin changes Lenin’s

ideas

• Stalin institutes 5 year plan

• Capitalism is completely done away with

• Disloyalty means purges

Bullet 2-Rapid Industrialization, Agriculture Collectivized, must join state farmsBullet 4- Locked in Gulags in Siberia, Millions killed

Neo-Marxism• Eastern Marxism became secular

•Western Marxism tries to bring back classical Marxism

• 2 Factors

• Capitalism Never Fell Apart

• Neo-Marxists rejected Orthodox Communism

• People have more power

Bullet 4- Churches, Civic Groups, Unions, etc

Death of Marxism• 1989- Marxism begins to decline

• Communism is now blended with economic capitalism

•Marxism hasn’t collapsed, Lenin-Stalinism has

• Social Democracy has emerged in place

Bullet 1- Tiananmen Square, then fall of USSR

Ethical Socialism• Socialism is superior because humans are

ethical creatures

• Draws heavily on Christianity

• Caused socialist revolutions in Latin America

• Collective Ownership of wealth is important

Bullet 2- “Love thy neighbor”Bullet 3- After 1968, church backed poor over dictators

Revisionist Socialism• Capitalism wasn’t defective

• Middle Class was becoming more powerful

• Want to reform capitalism rather than abolish

• Mixed Economy Good, Economic Management and Welfare State is important

Bullet 1- Capitalism is both capable and flexible Bullet 2-Stock MarketBullet 4- Private and Public Ownership, Keynesianism Good, Welfare is key way to reform capitalism

Neo-Revisionism/3rd Way

• Started in 1980s, Western Europe

• Third way is an active center

• Top Down Socialism is dead

• Community and Moral Responsibility

Bullet 2-State Socialism and Free Market Bullet 4- Free for all of free market undermines society

Neo-Revisionism/3rd Way

• Consensus View of Society

• Social inclusion of classic socialism

•Welfare of “cradle to grave” unacceptable

• Competition state vital

Bullet 1-Community ties everyone together Bullet 2- Rights, skills, and opportunities to take part in societyBullet 3- Focus on socially excludedBullet 4- Improving infrastructure and work force vital to society

Socialism in the Global Age

• Orthodox Communism has been great weakened

• Pro-capitialism has increased around world

• Social democracy has struggled

• Socialism survives because of capitalism

• Socialism may grow with globalization

Bullet 3- Economy more globalized, can’t control that, only stateBullet 4- InequalityBullet 5- More people exposed