Social Science 171

Questions for Baradat, Chs. 8, 9 and 10

1. What are the three principles upon which socialism is founded? Distinguish between humanitarian and scientific socialism. Who were the utopian socialists? What were two errors that Marx made when he described the development of capitalism? Describe some of the conditions of work under early capitalism. Why were women and children considered the most desirable laborers? Why were many factory owners so indifferent to the suffering in their factories?

2. Distinguish between the ancient and more modern meanings of communism. Distinguish socialism from communism. What factors made socialism possible on a national level and when did that happen?

3. What are the three basic features of socialism? Which one is considered the most fundamental aspect of socialism? What are the two ways that have been used to achieve public ownership of production? Why do all modern economic systems regulate the economic behavior of capitalists? Why did the U.S. adopt the welfare state and some aspects of socialism in the 1930s? How does the money spent on social programs in Western Europe compare to the United States? What are some problems of modern socialism? Why does the author argue that communist states are not socialist in the true sense of the word?

4. Who is considered history’s first socialist? Who popularized the term socialism? Who were Claude Saint-Simon, Robert Owen and Charles Fourier?

5. Why did Marx use the term communism to describe his system rather than socialism? Why did Marx write the Communist Manifesto? Briefly describe the three major influences that dominated Europe in the nineteenth century that fostered Marx’s ideas.

6. Describe Social Darwinism. Describe economic determinism. What is the foundation of society? What is the superstructure?

7. Describe dialectical materialism. How did the division of labor influence society according to Marx? What is self-alienation? What is the labor theory of value? What is surplus value? What is the iron law of wages? What is the socialist ethic? Why was Marx an internationalist?

8. Briefly describe the three socialist movements that developed after the death of Marx.

Who was Edward Bernstein? What was the Fabian Movement?

9. How did the Mensheviks differ from the Bolsheviks? How did Lenin modify Marxism? Look at ideas like vanguard of the proletariat, the Comintern, imperialism, finance capitalism, weakest link theory and state socialism. What was the New Economic Policy (NEP)? -over-

10. Describe the Soviet Union under Stalin. Describe the atrophy of the Soviet Union from

Khrushchev to Gorbachev.

11. Give some features of Chinese market socialism. How has Hu Jintao tried to modify the system?

12. What are the four reasons given for the ability of Cuban government’s ability to survive the fall of the Soviet Union and the economic depression that followed? What are some important economic objectives that Fidel Castro’s policies have achieved? Describe the Catholic Church’s attitude toward Cuba. What are the prospects of fidelismo surviving Fidel Castro?

13. What were the major factors in the development of Fascism and National Socialism?

Who financed these parties?

14. Discuss the seven major features of Fascist and Nazi ideology.

15. Briefly describe contemporary fascist and neo-Nazi movements.