Core ideas and principles

• What is fraternity?


  A strong bond between people who share similar interests and beliefs. The relationship is as close as that of brothers
• Socialists believe fraternity exists in a society where wealth is equally shared by everyone. For socialists, a shared feeling of brotherhood between people will cause cooperation and peace in a society
• Socialists do not believe that there is fraternity in a capitalist system as people compete with each other to succeed
• Socialists believe fraternity will end capitalism
• Example of fraternity 


  Found in many labour movements where workers stand as comrades to defend and promote their rights through protests and strikes. For example the miners’ strikes of 1984 to 1985
• What is co-operation?


  The idea that everyone in society will benefit if people work together collectively. Working together for the same end
• Socialists argue that there is no co-operation in a capitalist society because there is a conflict between the different social classes which exist in a capitalist society
• Socialism believes a socialist economic system will promote co-operation.
• For socialists, the society’s economic system influences human behaviour
• What is capitalism?


  An economic and political system where the resources and property (wealth) in a society are owned privately
• Capitalists believe that gods and services should be produced to make a profit. Under capitalism, the price of goods and services is determined by the market forces of supply and demand
• Capitalism does not believe that the government should own and have control over any business or industry in society
• Fundamentalist socialism rejects capitalism and wants it to be abolished and replaced by socialism
• Marxists are an example of fundamentalist socialists because they believe socialism can be achieved by a revolution against capitalism
• Revisionist socialists believe in reforming capitalism by the government providing welfare and redistributing wealth in society
• Social democracy is a form of revisionist socialism
• What event provides socialists with an example of the problems with a capitalist economic system and the benefits of the co-operative movement?

  The 2008 financial crash
• Examples of banks not acting ethically and in the interests of the public or account holders

  RBS was fined nearly £ 400 million and HSBS was fined over £ 1 billion for allowing criminals to transfer money around the financial system a
• What is common ownership?

  When all property and resources in society are publicly owned (jointly owned by every individual) and run by the government so that all people in society can benefit
• Common ownership is often called nationalisation
• Why do socialists believe common ownership will reduce inequality?

  Resources can be allocated by the government to meet the needs of many people in society
• Fundamentalist socialists are in favour of common ownership
• Example of common ownership/nationalisation

  Attlee’s government: nationalisation of the coal, gas, electricity and steel industries.
• Case against common ownership

  Could mean an increase in taxation to fund publicly owned services. Could also increase the national debt because of increases in public spending. This means that future generations will have to pay off the debt
• How is free market a case against common ownership?

  The free market will make sure the economy is run more efficiently than it would under government control. Only the free market is able to resolve the basic economic problem (meeting the infinite want of humans with a limited number of resources). Common ownership could lead to an inefficient allocation of the economy‘s scarce resources
• What is communism?


  A political and economic system that advocates for the collective ownership of wealth and the means of production, aiming to establish a classless society where resources are distributed according to people‘s needs
• Marx believed capitalism would be brought to an end by the exploited working class revolting and overthrowing the owners of capital in society.
• How is (fundamentalist) socialism different from communism?

  Socialism focuses on replacing capitalism with socialism and often retains a role for the state while communism goes a step further by seeking a stateless, classless society as the ultimate end goal
• Communism envisions the compelte dissolution of the state. After the transition period (e.g. ’dictatorship of the proletariat‘ in Marxism), the state would ‘wither away‘ because a stateless society would emerge where everyone contributes based on ability and takes based on need
• What is collectivism?


  The principle that resources, wealth, and the means of production should be collectively owned and managed to prioritise the needs of the community over individual interests.
• Collectivists believe that we can only have an idea society if people work together collectively
• Collectivists believe a society where people look after their own interests instead of society’s wider problems will cause society to decline
• Collectivism prioritises group interests over the interests of an individual. This is beneficial as collective effort may encourage social unity and increase people’s feelings of social responsibility towards one another
• Why do socialists support collectivism?

  It relates to socialism’s view of humans as social animals that prefer living in groups rather than on their own
• What do socialists say about human nature?

  It is shaped by social conditions and so people can only be truly understood with regards to the social groups they are apart of
• Socialists favour collectivism because they believe membership of a collective group such as a community of society provides humans with freedom and fulfilment
• Socialists who support collectivism are also likely to support what?

  State intervention, through increased state spending and providing more state services
• Why have socialists viewed collectivism as less important in r event years?

  The belief in developed countries that collectivism has caused a dependency culture in society. New Labour’s policies opposed collectivism
• What is common humanity?

  The belief that all people share a fundamental equality and interconnectedness, which justifies collective efforts to ensure fairness, mutual support, and the well-being of everyone in society.
• Common humanity believes humans prefer naturally to co-operate with one another rather than compete