LIBERALISM AND SOCIALISM Ideologies of the state

LIBERAL-INDIVIDUALIST PERSPECTIVE ON THE STATE  INDIVIDUAL AS A CENTRE POINT: welfare of the individual most important.  MAN IS THE ONLY POINT FROM WHICH ALL MUST ISSUE AND TO WHICH ALL MUST RETURN  Individual is autonomous, selfish, self- centered and atomized.

STATE IS A NECESSARY EVIL STATE IS A NECESSARY EVIL  State controls and any kind of control is an impediment to human development.  State is necessary because selfishness of men would lead to disorder and chaos in the society.  ‘Government is best which governs the least’.

ADAM SMITH AND THE LAISSEZ FAIRE THEORY  By getting government out of economy, letting the economy alone, state will have the best system. According to Smith, market itself will arrange the economy. Public will have best quality goods at the lowest prices. Supply and demand determine prices. Invisible hand or unseen hand regulates the economy. Society should be free as possible from government interference.

Socialism defined  Text: “ An ideology arguing that citizens are best served by policies focused on meeting the basic needs of the entire society rather than on serving the needs of individuals as individuals. ”

Socialism  Ancient roots – Judeo-Christian belief in the common good, which takes precedence over individual desires  Term “ socialism ” coined in 1827 by British socialist Robert Owen to describe his view of a cooperative new society.

Socialism ’ s emergence  Liberal political parties in 19 th century Europe failed to address the desperate needs of working people.  Classical liberalism views poverty as an individual choice or failure, not the result of social structures. Also suspicious of big government.  Socialism provides a different conception of individual responsibility & of government.

Socialism In England, socialism became a political movement in 1884, with the creation of the Fabians, who provided the basis for the new Labour Party. Many Labour governments since, including the current government of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Socialism ’ s principles  egalitarianism or equality. Humankind will be unified and cooperative, once wealth is owned and used for the common good. Capitalism exploits the very people who create society ’ s wealth.  Moralism. Division of rich & poor is evil; capitalism is fundamentally unjust. Instead, the ideal future emphasizes peace, social justice and true liberty for all.  Moralism. Division of rich & poor is evil; capitalism is fundamentally unjust. Instead, the ideal future emphasizes peace, social justice and true liberty for all.

Karl Marx

Mid- Late Nineteenth Century Britain Unrest and protest – Chartism Long hours, low pay Periodic unemployment No Welfare State No universal right to vote

Mid-Nineteenth Century Europe Revolution in France Revolutions elsewhere in Europe Times of Turmoil

Marx’s insight: It’s all about money

Some have it…… They are called capitalists (or the bourgeoisie)

Others don’t ….. They are called the workers (or the proletariat)

Capitalists and workers are thrown together into relations of production

They don’t get on too well

Capitalists want the maximum PROFIT – and the lowest costs

Workers want the highest wage for the least work

These two groups are locked in mortal combat

The Capitalists compete with each other. The successful capitalist’s get richer and richer

… and the failed capitalists fall down into the working class

The workers meanwhile are more and more exploited by the remaining capitalists – they get poorer and poorer

Marx said that eventually the workers will rise up in revolution against the capitalist class A new communist society will be created

The backstory What is making all this happen?

Marx has a theory it’s because societies are always made from two parts

The Base The base is like the foundations of a building. Marxists say the economy (the means of production) is the base

And the superstructure The rest of the building which is built on the foundations The superstructure means all the other parts of society – culture, the state, education

The economic base determines (shapes) the superstructure

So this is called The base-superstructure model Superstructure Base

Social Control in capitalist society is achieved through ideology - ruling class ideology

The ruling ideas in any time are always those of the ruling class

The working class may suffer from false consciousness – not understanding their true class position

Not a bad theory – but there are several criticisms which can be made of it

It’s not all about money – this is economically reductionist e.g. what about ideas, culture, religion?

Marxism makes people appear to be dominated by structures Puppets or People with the ability to act?

Gender and Race blind - the only social groupings it seems to recognise are classes