socialism
core ideas and principles of socialism
collectivism
Definition: The belief that collective human action and cooperation are superior to individualism
for achieving societal goals and advancing the common good.
Key Features:
Emphasizes shared goals, mutual aid, and cooperation over individual competition.
Encourages the distribution of wealth and resources to benefit all, rather than allowing
economic inequality.
Example: Public ownership of industries such as healthcare and education for the benefit of
society as a whole.
common humanity
Definition: The belief that humans are naturally social beings who thrive through cooperation
rather than competition.
Key Ideas:
People are shaped by their social environment and are capable of moral improvement.
Societal welfare is best achieved when resources are used for collective benefit,
acknowledging that individuals are interdependent.
Wealth redistribution and welfare provision are ways to express solidarity and compassion.
equality
Types of Equality:
Equality of Outcome: Focuses on ensuring everyone has a similar standard of living, aiming to
reduce social and economic inequalities.
Equality of Opportunity: Argues that everyone should have the same starting conditions, but
recognizes that different outcomes may arise based on individual effort.
Key Thinker: Karl Marx
Marx argued for class equality through the abolition of private property and capitalism,
establishing a classless society where resources are shared equally.
social class
Definition: Socialists believe that society is divided into classes based on wealth and power, with
the working class (proletariat) and capitalist class (bourgeoisie) having conflicting interests.
Key Ideas:
The working class is exploited under capitalism, where the wealth produced by their labor is
disproportionately taken by the capitalist class.
Class struggle is a central feature of socialism, with the aim of achieving a classless society.
Key Thinker: Karl Marx
socialism 1
, Marx’s theory of historical materialism argues that history is shaped by the struggle between
different economic classes, leading to revolutionary change.
workers control
Definition: The idea that workers should have control over industries and workplaces, rather than
private owners or the state.
Key Ideas:
Advocates for the democratic organization of industries, where decisions are made by the
workers themselves.
Syndicalism: A more radical form of workers’ control, proposing that trade unions should
manage industries.
Example: Workers’ cooperatives, where employees collectively own and run their businesses.
key thinkers
karl marx and friedrich engels
Key Works: The Communist Manifesto (1848), Das Kapital (1867)
Main Ideas:
Advocated for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism to establish a classless, communist
society.
Believed that capitalism inherently leads to exploitation and inequality, with the working class
(proletariat) being oppressed by the capitalist class (bourgeoisie).
Emphasized historical materialism, where the economic base (means of production) shapes
the political and social superstructure (institutions, culture, etc.).
rosa luxembourg
Key Work: Reform or Revolution (1900)
Main Ideas:
Revolutionary Socialist: Criticized evolutionary socialism and gradual reforms, arguing that
only a revolution could overthrow capitalism.
Believed that the working class must actively participate in creating a socialist society, not wait
for gradual reforms from the state.
Opposed Lenin’s ideas of a vanguard party, advocating for mass democratic movements.
beatrice webb
Key Works: A Constitution for the Socialist Commonwealth of Great Britain (1920)
Main Ideas:
Evolutionary Socialist: Advocated for a gradual, peaceful transition to socialism through
democratic means and state intervention.
Supported the creation of welfare states, where the state plays a key role in managing the
economy and providing for the public's needs.
socialism 2
core ideas and principles of socialism
collectivism
Definition: The belief that collective human action and cooperation are superior to individualism
for achieving societal goals and advancing the common good.
Key Features:
Emphasizes shared goals, mutual aid, and cooperation over individual competition.
Encourages the distribution of wealth and resources to benefit all, rather than allowing
economic inequality.
Example: Public ownership of industries such as healthcare and education for the benefit of
society as a whole.
common humanity
Definition: The belief that humans are naturally social beings who thrive through cooperation
rather than competition.
Key Ideas:
People are shaped by their social environment and are capable of moral improvement.
Societal welfare is best achieved when resources are used for collective benefit,
acknowledging that individuals are interdependent.
Wealth redistribution and welfare provision are ways to express solidarity and compassion.
equality
Types of Equality:
Equality of Outcome: Focuses on ensuring everyone has a similar standard of living, aiming to
reduce social and economic inequalities.
Equality of Opportunity: Argues that everyone should have the same starting conditions, but
recognizes that different outcomes may arise based on individual effort.
Key Thinker: Karl Marx
Marx argued for class equality through the abolition of private property and capitalism,
establishing a classless society where resources are shared equally.
social class
Definition: Socialists believe that society is divided into classes based on wealth and power, with
the working class (proletariat) and capitalist class (bourgeoisie) having conflicting interests.
Key Ideas:
The working class is exploited under capitalism, where the wealth produced by their labor is
disproportionately taken by the capitalist class.
Class struggle is a central feature of socialism, with the aim of achieving a classless society.
Key Thinker: Karl Marx
socialism 1
, Marx’s theory of historical materialism argues that history is shaped by the struggle between
different economic classes, leading to revolutionary change.
workers control
Definition: The idea that workers should have control over industries and workplaces, rather than
private owners or the state.
Key Ideas:
Advocates for the democratic organization of industries, where decisions are made by the
workers themselves.
Syndicalism: A more radical form of workers’ control, proposing that trade unions should
manage industries.
Example: Workers’ cooperatives, where employees collectively own and run their businesses.
key thinkers
karl marx and friedrich engels
Key Works: The Communist Manifesto (1848), Das Kapital (1867)
Main Ideas:
Advocated for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism to establish a classless, communist
society.
Believed that capitalism inherently leads to exploitation and inequality, with the working class
(proletariat) being oppressed by the capitalist class (bourgeoisie).
Emphasized historical materialism, where the economic base (means of production) shapes
the political and social superstructure (institutions, culture, etc.).
rosa luxembourg
Key Work: Reform or Revolution (1900)
Main Ideas:
Revolutionary Socialist: Criticized evolutionary socialism and gradual reforms, arguing that
only a revolution could overthrow capitalism.
Believed that the working class must actively participate in creating a socialist society, not wait
for gradual reforms from the state.
Opposed Lenin’s ideas of a vanguard party, advocating for mass democratic movements.
beatrice webb
Key Works: A Constitution for the Socialist Commonwealth of Great Britain (1920)
Main Ideas:
Evolutionary Socialist: Advocated for a gradual, peaceful transition to socialism through
democratic means and state intervention.
Supported the creation of welfare states, where the state plays a key role in managing the
economy and providing for the public's needs.
socialism 2
