Socialism - Revolutionary vs Democracy

Society

Economy

Advocates for near total socialisation of the economy. In Marx's time, socialism came to be referred to as the ownership and organisation of the means of production by the working class. The capitalist economic system will be replaced by a cooperative of capital ownership that will diminish class conflict and inequalities originating from capitalist economic production.

Humans are inherently social creatures who can collectively work together for the common good. Human nature is plastic - we are shaped by the experiences and circumstances of our social lives.

Socialist Democracy attempts to draw on advantages of the Marxist and democratic strains of thought. Above all, society has to have a system of distribution that is fair and just. The state needs to ensure the provision of liberty, equality of opportunity and welfare for people in society. A society where the richest do not profit at the expense of the poor.

Social revolution is required in order to effect changes to structures in society. Then, people in society can cooperate and live in equality. As Marx said in a communist society "“nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes.” It will be possible “to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner . . . without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman, or critic.”

Social Democrats are attracted to the state as an option through which prosperity can be collectively owned and rational planning of the economy can occur. Further, the state needs to supply equality and security for the people. Social democrats work through economic and social interventions that promote social justice in a capitalist system. They are committed to representative democracy in the state and how this can secure welfare provisions.

The state was a capitalist enterprise under the control of the bourgeoisie. This needed to be replaced by the overthrowing of the bourgeoisie by the proletariat and the establishment of a classless utopia (communism). Marx argued for the abolition of private property. Common ownership is an important principle.

Socialist Democracy

Revolutionary Socialism

Socialism:

State

Basic belief that the free market is unjust and that there needs to be some degree of state intervention. If you leave markets completely unrestricted an unjust economic system is inevitable. Attempts to work in the framework of the capitalist system. Moreover, mainly associated with Keynesian economics*, state intervention and welfare state.

See humans as sociable creatures who should be left to work together and are equal. It is the overbearing of the state that corrupts humans into egotistical beings. Human nature is corrupt due to the capitalist system and this is entrenched within society.

Human Nature

Note* The Concept of Keynesian Economics:

Associated with moderate strands of socialist thought. John Maynard Keynes was a liberal, but his arguments regarding state intervention can be to socialist thinking.

Keynesianism is founded on the idea that the government should intervene in the economy in order to prevent the problems of market failure. In socialism, Keynesian economics should be utilised to pursue policies of social justice and equality. This approach rejects principles of planned economy put forward by Marx. Keynesianism favours a mixed economy of public and private sectors and rejects the idea of an unregulated free market.