The three strands of socialism
Almost every socialism question is really asking how far these three agree. Get the differences in routes, goals and the economy clear and you can answer most of them.
Revolutionary socialism
Marxism · Marx and Engels, Luxemburg
- Goal: fundamentalist. Abolish capitalism, build a classless, stateless society.
- Route: revolutionary. Capitalism cannot be reformed, so overthrow it.
- Economy: common ownership of the means of production.
- Equality: equality of outcome, or absolute social equality.
Social democracy
Revisionism · Webb, Crosland
- Goal: revisionist. Humanise and manage capitalism, do not abolish it.
- Route: evolutionary. Vote for socialism through Parliament.
- Economy: mixed economy, Keynesian management, welfare state.
- Equality: relative equality of outcome through redistribution.
The Third Way
Neo-revisionism · Giddens
- Goal: neo-revisionist. Accept capitalism as the best system.
- Route: evolutionary, but away from the old socialist state.
- Economy: embrace the free market, with the state as a partner.
- Equality: equality of opportunity and social inclusion.
Side by side
The same six themes across all three strands. This grid is the backbone of almost every answer.
| Theme | Revolutionary | Social democracy | Third Way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal | Fundamentalist: end capitalism, classless and stateless society. | Revisionist: manage and humanise capitalism. | Neo-revisionist: socialist ends by capitalist means. |
| Route | Revolutionary: capitalism cannot be reformed; reject liberal democracy. | Evolutionary: the inevitability of gradualism, vote for socialism (Webb). | Evolutionary: work with the market, not towards a socialist state. |
| Human nature | Social, creative "species being", corrupted by capitalism, restored after revolution. | Sociable and co-operative; community brings out the best in people. | Less optimistic; communitarian, accepts more individualism (Giddens). |
| The state | A tool of the ruling class; smash it, a brief dictatorship of the proletariat, then it withers away. | Neutral and useful; socialists can win it and expand the welfare state. | Mend welfare, do not end it; an enabling, competition state. |
| The economy | Abolish capitalism; common ownership. | Mixed economy, Keynesian management, nationalise the commanding heights. | Embrace markets and enterprise; private business with state co-operation. |
| Equality | Equality of outcome, absolute social equality. | Relative equality of outcome via welfare and redistribution (Crosland). | Equality of opportunity and social inclusion; tolerates inequality. |
| Key thinkers | Marx and Engels, Luxemburg | Webb, Crosland | Giddens |
Sort it out
Drag or tap each statement into the strand it belongs to. Then press Check.
Check yourself
Notes pad
Jot down the differences in your own words. In a room, your tutor sees this too.