To what extent do socialists agree over the means to achieving socialism? You must use
appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer. (24) 2014
It could be argued that socialists agree over the means to achieving socialism, as they
agree that the state is important in the process. However, there are two crucial
differences between socialists as they differ over how society can be changed, with
Marxists saying that revolution is the only way but democratic socialists and social
democrats claiming that gradualism is the only way. They also disagree on the role of
the state in achieving socialism, with Marxists preferring a ‘dictatorship of the
proletariat’, and revisionists preferring a liberal democratic state- democratic socialists
favour nationalisation, whereas social democrats favour the retention of private
ownership within the regulation of capitalism. They also disagree over whether
capitalism needs to be completely abolished or whether it can be reformed. Overall,
they largely disagree on the means to achieving socialism.
There is some argument that socialists agree over the means to achieving socialism as
they agree that the state is required in the process. They also agree that without a
strong state, it would be impossible to bring about a fairer and more equal society. This
means that they contest any reduction in state power in order to increase social and
economic equality. They think the most effective way to bring about socialism would be
to have a state which follows their views, therefore rejecting the monarchical, theocratic
and the aristocratic state. Instead, they advocate a state where political and economic
power is distributed equally, empowering ‘the people’, instead of one or few individuals,
through state intervention. This is to prevent unregulated capitalism as socialists mostly
believe that it causes chaos and exploitation, and ‘crippling poverty and demeaning
equality’ as said by Webb. Socialists think a state should prevent this hierarchy and
exploitation as people should all be equal and free from oppression. Therefore, unlike
liberals, they place less significance on the individual and view humans as a collective.
They view society as more important than the individual, and think the state should be
involved in creating a society as fair and as possible that enforces socialist values.
Overall, most socialists agree that the state is important in bringing about socialism, as
the state is responsible for improving human life and increasing equality, as all humans
are viewed with equal value.
However, there are significant differences between socialists over the means to
achieving socialism. Revolutionary socialists believe that revolution is the only way but
reformist socialists, which consist of democratic socialists, social democrats, and Third
Way socialists believe that gradualism is the only way. Karl Marx wrote in his book, ‘The
Communist Manifesto’ (1848) that capitalism promoted ‘exploitation’, ’alienation’ and
‘oppression’ of one class by another, and was therefore against the key socialist
principles of fraternity, solidarity and equality- it fundamentally undermined social
values. He argued that the state would always serve the class which controlled the
economy, saying that the liberal state was ‘merely a committee’ for the ruling capitalist
class and therefore could never lead to an evolutionary road to socialism. This means
that he believed that revolution was inevitable and essential, in order to implement a
new socialist state. Rosa Luxemburg also believed that revolution was needed to bring
about any change and would inevitably, however ‘spontaneously’ after class
appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer. (24) 2014
It could be argued that socialists agree over the means to achieving socialism, as they
agree that the state is important in the process. However, there are two crucial
differences between socialists as they differ over how society can be changed, with
Marxists saying that revolution is the only way but democratic socialists and social
democrats claiming that gradualism is the only way. They also disagree on the role of
the state in achieving socialism, with Marxists preferring a ‘dictatorship of the
proletariat’, and revisionists preferring a liberal democratic state- democratic socialists
favour nationalisation, whereas social democrats favour the retention of private
ownership within the regulation of capitalism. They also disagree over whether
capitalism needs to be completely abolished or whether it can be reformed. Overall,
they largely disagree on the means to achieving socialism.
There is some argument that socialists agree over the means to achieving socialism as
they agree that the state is required in the process. They also agree that without a
strong state, it would be impossible to bring about a fairer and more equal society. This
means that they contest any reduction in state power in order to increase social and
economic equality. They think the most effective way to bring about socialism would be
to have a state which follows their views, therefore rejecting the monarchical, theocratic
and the aristocratic state. Instead, they advocate a state where political and economic
power is distributed equally, empowering ‘the people’, instead of one or few individuals,
through state intervention. This is to prevent unregulated capitalism as socialists mostly
believe that it causes chaos and exploitation, and ‘crippling poverty and demeaning
equality’ as said by Webb. Socialists think a state should prevent this hierarchy and
exploitation as people should all be equal and free from oppression. Therefore, unlike
liberals, they place less significance on the individual and view humans as a collective.
They view society as more important than the individual, and think the state should be
involved in creating a society as fair and as possible that enforces socialist values.
Overall, most socialists agree that the state is important in bringing about socialism, as
the state is responsible for improving human life and increasing equality, as all humans
are viewed with equal value.
However, there are significant differences between socialists over the means to
achieving socialism. Revolutionary socialists believe that revolution is the only way but
reformist socialists, which consist of democratic socialists, social democrats, and Third
Way socialists believe that gradualism is the only way. Karl Marx wrote in his book, ‘The
Communist Manifesto’ (1848) that capitalism promoted ‘exploitation’, ’alienation’ and
‘oppression’ of one class by another, and was therefore against the key socialist
principles of fraternity, solidarity and equality- it fundamentally undermined social
values. He argued that the state would always serve the class which controlled the
economy, saying that the liberal state was ‘merely a committee’ for the ruling capitalist
class and therefore could never lead to an evolutionary road to socialism. This means
that he believed that revolution was inevitable and essential, in order to implement a
new socialist state. Rosa Luxemburg also believed that revolution was needed to bring
about any change and would inevitably, however ‘spontaneously’ after class
