Socialist key thinkers

• Key thinker: Marx 'Father of socialism' 1.

  • Human nature: Humans are sociable and their behaviour is affected by nurture rather than nature. Socialism brings out workers true potential
  • The state: Social class is defined by wealth and income. The state should be overthrown and replaced with a socialist model for equality- Revolutionary class consciousness (Revolutionary socialism, Russian Civil wars 1918-1921)
• Key Thinker Marx 'Father of socialism' 2.

  • Society: Workers should control the means of production, as they are most important element of society - Revolutionary class consciousness, Historical materialism, dialectic change.
  • The economy: Exploitation of the proletariat by bourgeoisie will lead to a proletariat revolution
• Key Thinker: Beatrice Webb - Fabian socialist, a gradual, reformist attitude is the way to achieve socialism

  Key ideas:

  • Socialism should be established peacefully.
  • The expansion of the state rather than overthrowing it, will deliver socialism
  • Human nature: workers are self interested so democracy should be representative, with a skilled socialist gov
  • The state: the gradual growth of state power is evidence that collectivism can bring a new socialist age
  • Society: the state's ability to deliver socialism would depend on heavily skilled specialists to organise society and the economy
• 1. Key thinker: Anthony Giddens : Author: 'The Third Way: the Renewal of Social democracy

  Key ideas:

  • rejection of state intervention: social democracy must be modernised due to the impact of globalisation + more individualistic aspirations
  • 'The social investment state' - free market economics, he rejected state welfare and redistribution programmes

  Human nature: Social cohesion can be achieved through a community + responsibility

  The state: Welfare creates dependency, a social investment state is needed: focus on education + infrastructure
• 2. Key thinker: Anthony Giddens

  Society: Society should guarantee an equal opportunity for everyone to achieve (Tony Blair introduction of minimum)

  The economy: Free market economics enables growth to benefit everyone, and encourages individual responsibility
• Key thinker: Anthony Crosland (Social democracy, post-war revisionist)

  Key ideas:

  • Modern capitalism lacks inherent contradictions - (required to drive social change, (dialectic change)
  • State-managed capitalism is necessary

  The economy: The pursuit of keynesian economic could maintain high employment, low inflation and promote growth. - (Contradicts Marx)

  The state: high levels of gov spending on welfare state