Socialism political ideas questions planning
Question Introduction Extent of agreement Extent of disagreement
1. To what extent Although - socialists What do they agree on (with thinkers) What do they disagree on (with thinkers)
do socialists generally have a more 1. Socialists generally have a more positive view on human 1. Whilst fundamentalist socialists tend
agree on human positive view on nature, saying that it is based on cooperation, fraternity has corrupted human nature, revision
nature? human nature as and comradeship. Socialists all believe in this more pessimistic towards capitalism's influ
cooperative positive and liberally influenced view of human nature, as CROSLAND argued that capitalis
It is more accurate to MARX believed that humans naturally have moral was not having the same effect on hu
say that interests but this has diluted by capitalism shifting the (he said that it was alienating us from
disagreements are focus to material interests, all socialists believe this due was all corrupting), he said that hum
stronger because the to the Enlightenment which provided a new and more sense of social justice and inequality
strands disagree on progressive and positive view on human nature. Third capitalism could be reversed by state
the extent to which Way and social democrats also have a positive view that redistribution of wealth. Third Way th
capitalism has humans have a natural instinct for fairness and will object CROSLAND and said that humans d
corrupted human to inequality of outcome. CROSLAND and GIDDENS but that human nature had evolved in
nature believe that humans have a natural instinct for fairness strands could recognise
2. Socialists generally appreciate that human nature is 2. Third Way socialists believe that hum
malleable and is shaped by the social environment that much more complex way than any ot
surrounds humans which links to MARX view on and that humans now began to favou
capitalism alienating us from our ‘species essence’ pursuance of their own goals. GIDDE
saying that it has drawn us away from our fraternal evolving society influenced by global
instincts and instead corrupted us and driven humans to prioritise their own individual goals
towards competition. Third Way also agrees on focus on collectivism from revolution
communitarianism saying that individuals were shaped socialism.
by society.
Evaluation of extent of Disagreement -
Evaluation of extent of agreement -
2. To what extent Although - all What do they agree on (with thinkers) What do they disagree on (with thinkers)
do socialists socialists agree that 1. Generally socialists believe that the state is vital to the 1. Social democrats and Third Way soc
disagree over the state is vital in promotion of core socialist values and forming a more revolutionary idea that the capitalist s
the state? order to promote equal society. Revolutionary socialists such as MARX Instead they believe that the state ca
socialist values believed that after a revolution the proletariat would be change that would allow a fairer soci
It is more accurate to able to enforce socialist views and pass socialist reforms. market based economy. WEBB also
say that LUXEMBURG also believed that there should be a gradualism’ instead of a revolution, s
disagreements are democratic state that stemmed from mass realisation of change was ‘chaotic, inefficient and c
stronger because class consciousness where free speech would allow for CROSLAND and GIDDENS agreed w
, of capitalism) so that there can be m
such as crime rates and unemploym
welfare state, the Third Way wants to
state’ in which the state would recog
not effective in society but instead wi
creation of an entrepreneurial culture
and eliminate social injustice.
Evaluation of extent of Disagreement -
3. To what extent Although - socialists What do they agree on (with thinkers) What do they disagree on (with thinkers)
do socialists agree that if society 1. All socialists believe that the social environment shapes 1. Socialists disagree on if society can
agree on improves that human human nature and therefore if society is improved then should improve via a revolution. Rev
society? nature will improve as improvements in attitude and behaviour will follow. A core MARX believe that society has becom
a result belief of socialism is that human nature is malleable and exploitative capitalism that the only c
It is more accurate to is shaped by the environment that surrounds it, to return it to its original state (believ
say that revolutionary socialists such as MARX say that the consciousness and will overthrow the
disagreements are socio-economic characteristics of the time define human dictatorship of the proletariat), LUXE
stronger because the nature (historicism) and has lead to a material rather than should be a revolution however she s
strands disagree on moral focus which WEBB and the Third way also agree spontaneously through mass action o
the importance of with saying that human nature has always been shaped socialists such as WEBB believed in
social class within by socio-economic conditions gradualism’ instead and said that soc
society then the government could pass soc
Evaluation of extent of agreement - and GIDDENS also said there would
capitalism would not have to be com
the existing liberal state would need
co-exist with capitalism
2. Revolutionary socialists, social demo
socialists disagree on the importance
Revolutionary socialists believe that
distinction within society and that eac
defines classes by equality of outcom
this causes class conflict and also de
(MARX historicism). Social democrat
society has become increasingly com
CROSLAND did not want to complet
because he said that material incenti
benefiting the economy, however cla
capitalism through education. GIDDE
he said class was no longer relevant
Question Introduction Extent of agreement Extent of disagreement
1. To what extent Although - socialists What do they agree on (with thinkers) What do they disagree on (with thinkers)
do socialists generally have a more 1. Socialists generally have a more positive view on human 1. Whilst fundamentalist socialists tend
agree on human positive view on nature, saying that it is based on cooperation, fraternity has corrupted human nature, revision
nature? human nature as and comradeship. Socialists all believe in this more pessimistic towards capitalism's influ
cooperative positive and liberally influenced view of human nature, as CROSLAND argued that capitalis
It is more accurate to MARX believed that humans naturally have moral was not having the same effect on hu
say that interests but this has diluted by capitalism shifting the (he said that it was alienating us from
disagreements are focus to material interests, all socialists believe this due was all corrupting), he said that hum
stronger because the to the Enlightenment which provided a new and more sense of social justice and inequality
strands disagree on progressive and positive view on human nature. Third capitalism could be reversed by state
the extent to which Way and social democrats also have a positive view that redistribution of wealth. Third Way th
capitalism has humans have a natural instinct for fairness and will object CROSLAND and said that humans d
corrupted human to inequality of outcome. CROSLAND and GIDDENS but that human nature had evolved in
nature believe that humans have a natural instinct for fairness strands could recognise
2. Socialists generally appreciate that human nature is 2. Third Way socialists believe that hum
malleable and is shaped by the social environment that much more complex way than any ot
surrounds humans which links to MARX view on and that humans now began to favou
capitalism alienating us from our ‘species essence’ pursuance of their own goals. GIDDE
saying that it has drawn us away from our fraternal evolving society influenced by global
instincts and instead corrupted us and driven humans to prioritise their own individual goals
towards competition. Third Way also agrees on focus on collectivism from revolution
communitarianism saying that individuals were shaped socialism.
by society.
Evaluation of extent of Disagreement -
Evaluation of extent of agreement -
2. To what extent Although - all What do they agree on (with thinkers) What do they disagree on (with thinkers)
do socialists socialists agree that 1. Generally socialists believe that the state is vital to the 1. Social democrats and Third Way soc
disagree over the state is vital in promotion of core socialist values and forming a more revolutionary idea that the capitalist s
the state? order to promote equal society. Revolutionary socialists such as MARX Instead they believe that the state ca
socialist values believed that after a revolution the proletariat would be change that would allow a fairer soci
It is more accurate to able to enforce socialist views and pass socialist reforms. market based economy. WEBB also
say that LUXEMBURG also believed that there should be a gradualism’ instead of a revolution, s
disagreements are democratic state that stemmed from mass realisation of change was ‘chaotic, inefficient and c
stronger because class consciousness where free speech would allow for CROSLAND and GIDDENS agreed w
, of capitalism) so that there can be m
such as crime rates and unemploym
welfare state, the Third Way wants to
state’ in which the state would recog
not effective in society but instead wi
creation of an entrepreneurial culture
and eliminate social injustice.
Evaluation of extent of Disagreement -
3. To what extent Although - socialists What do they agree on (with thinkers) What do they disagree on (with thinkers)
do socialists agree that if society 1. All socialists believe that the social environment shapes 1. Socialists disagree on if society can
agree on improves that human human nature and therefore if society is improved then should improve via a revolution. Rev
society? nature will improve as improvements in attitude and behaviour will follow. A core MARX believe that society has becom
a result belief of socialism is that human nature is malleable and exploitative capitalism that the only c
It is more accurate to is shaped by the environment that surrounds it, to return it to its original state (believ
say that revolutionary socialists such as MARX say that the consciousness and will overthrow the
disagreements are socio-economic characteristics of the time define human dictatorship of the proletariat), LUXE
stronger because the nature (historicism) and has lead to a material rather than should be a revolution however she s
strands disagree on moral focus which WEBB and the Third way also agree spontaneously through mass action o
the importance of with saying that human nature has always been shaped socialists such as WEBB believed in
social class within by socio-economic conditions gradualism’ instead and said that soc
society then the government could pass soc
Evaluation of extent of agreement - and GIDDENS also said there would
capitalism would not have to be com
the existing liberal state would need
co-exist with capitalism
2. Revolutionary socialists, social demo
socialists disagree on the importance
Revolutionary socialists believe that
distinction within society and that eac
defines classes by equality of outcom
this causes class conflict and also de
(MARX historicism). Social democrat
society has become increasingly com
CROSLAND did not want to complet
because he said that material incenti
benefiting the economy, however cla
capitalism through education. GIDDE
he said class was no longer relevant
