Wherever men have private property and money is the measure of everything, there it is hardly possible for the commonwealth to be governed justly or to flourish in prosperity.

Thomas More, Utopia1

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Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal

Chapter 5Socialism and Communism: More to Marx

IntroductionSocialism began as a reaction to liberalism

Objected to focus on self-interest and competition Socialists argue that the foundation of society is

not competition, but cooperation

Society as a whole, rather than private individuals should control property All goods are social products and should be

shared by all those who help produce it Socialists object to capitalism and argue that all

socially useful goods should be socially controlled for the benefit of all

2Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Human Nature and Freedom

Human nature: Humans are naturally communal and social

creatures People only appear to be selfish and competitive

because of social circumstances

Freedom: Poor or working class is prevented from pursuing

their true aims and aspirations because of inequalities of wealth

Workers also suffer from “false consciousness” that prevents them from recognizing alternative political arrangements

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The Socialist View of Freedom

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Agent:common/ working people

Obstacle:class divisions,

economic inequalities, unequal life

chances, false consciousness

Goal:fulfillment of

human needs, e.g., satisfying work, fair share of product

Precursors: Utopian Socialists

1. Sir Thomas Moore (1478-1535) Novel Utopia (1516) depicts an ideal society in which money is

abolished

2. Saint-Simon (1760-1825) Tried to set socialism on a “scientific” basis Expert planning can more justly address social needs

3. Charles Fourier (1772-1837) “Harmonism” = highest stage of humanity where all cooperate

freely for the public good

4. Robert Owen (1771-1858) Crime is not the result of original sin, but of a deformed social

system in which greed and selfishness are rewarded Established a socialist community of New Harmony in southwest

Indiana

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Socialism’s Most

Important Thinker

• As a journalist, Marx became convinced of the central importance of economics in political matters

• He also became increasingly radical, thinking that the economic and political system in Germany was beyond reform

• Marx fled Germany for fear of imprisonment and never returned

6

The Influence of Hegel G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831) saw history as the struggle of

the human spirit to overcome obstacles in the search for freedom

Alienation – estrangement or separation The spirit goes through a series of alienations as it evolves

into higher and more exclusive forms

Master-salve dialectic – example of a dialectical process that promotes human freedom Master becomes master by physically overpowering slave Master sees himself as superior; slave sees himself as

inferior Both require recognition from the other, but soon realize that

their social roles cut them off from their shared humanity

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Marx’s Theory of History Marx saw history as the story of human labor and

struggle

Materialist conception of history – history is the story of class struggles over resources The primary necessity for humans is to procure the

material means of subsistence

Material forces of production – forces that transform raw materials into finished products

Social relations of production – organization and arrangement of humans for economic production

Ideological superstructure – set of ideas and beliefs that justify and legitimize the arrangements of society

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Materialist Conception of History

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Marx’s Critique of Capitalism

Marx argued that capitalism was a progressive force at one time; still he argued that capitalism should be replaced

Three main criticisms:1. Capitalism is outmoded; it has outlived its usefulness

2. Capitalism creates alienation between workers and their work

3. Capitalism is prone to internal contradictions Logic of capitalism constrains the actions of everyone

including the capitalists Capitalism produces its own “gravediggers”—working

class with nothing to lose and everything to gain by overthrowing the capitalist system

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The Dialectic of ChangeCapitalism produces two classes:

Bourgeoisie (capitalists) and proletariat (workers) are similar to the master and slave in Hegel’s dialectic

Capitalists exploit laborers by extracting “surplus value” from the products of labor

As proletariat becomes increasingly poor, they come to realize that the capitalists depend upon the proletariat for profit

The capitalists attempt to maintain this economic system; whereas, proletariat seeks to abolish all class distinctions

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Marx’s Revolutionary Sequence

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Marx’s Revolutionary Sequence

13

1. Economic crises – crises become more common in advanced capitalist economies

2. Immiseration of the proletariat – economic crises affect the proletariat most severely

3. Revolutionary class consciousness – workers begin to fault the economic system rather than themselves

4. Seizure of state power – the proletariat takes state power from the bourgeoisie

5. Dictatorship of the proletariat – proletariat must use the apparatuses of the state to prevent counterrevolution

6. Withering away of the state – need for coercive state authority will disappear once class distinctions are abolished

7. Communism – “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”• Free society in which alienation, exploitation, and ideological illusions

will disappear

ConclusionSocialism began as a reaction to liberalism with

its focus on self-interest and competition

Early utopian socialists devised schemes for future cooperative societies

Karl Marx articulated a comprehensive critique of capitalism as well as a dialectical process by which capitalism would be overthrown

Marx never drew detailed plans for a future communist society, but his general theory became very influential for future socialists who called themselves “Marxists”

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Readings:

Part V: Socialism and Communism: More to Marx

Thomas More—Utopia

Robert Owen—Address to the Inhabitants of New Lanark

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels—The Communist Manifesto

Karl Marx—On the Materialist Conception of History 15©2011 Pearson Longman