First presentation in the series called "Simply Politics". Political Ideologies - The Socialism is suitable for History and International Relations from Year 9 to university level. It contains the following: developing of socialism, revolutionary socialists vs. Bolsheviks, elements of socialism: community, fraternity, social equality, need, social class and common ownership.

1. POLITICS AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES
THE SOCIALISM

2. HOW SOCIALISM DEVELOPED?
• Socialism developed as a reaction against the emergence of industrial
capitalism.
• In its first forms, socialism was a fundamentalist, utopian ideology,
with a very pronounced revolutionary character.
• The goal was to abolish a capitalist economy based on market
exchange, and replace it with a socialist society, constructed around
the principle of common ownership.
• Karl Marx was “the socialist”. His ideas provided the foundation of the
communism.

4. REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISTS VS. BOLSHEVIKS
• During the 20th century, the socialist movement was divided into two
rival camps:
• Revolutionary Socialists - following Lenin’s example
• Bolsheviks - called communists
• The rivalry focused on the most appropriate way to achieve socialism
and on the nature of socialism itself.

6. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALISM: COMMUNITY
• The core of socialism is the vision of human beings as social creatures,
linked by the existence of a common humanity.
• Socialism emphasizes nurture over the nature and is strictly related to
the importance of the community.
• It is also highlighting the degree to which individual identity is
fashioned by social interaction and membership of social groups and
collective bodies.

8. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALISM: FRATERNITY
• The human beings share a common humanity, they are bound
together by a sense of comradeship or fraternity (brotherhood), but
the ideology is broadened to embrace all humans.
• This encourages socialists to prefer cooperation to competition. They
also favour collectivism over individualism.
• Cooperation enables people to harness their collective energies and
strengthens the bonds of community.
• On the other hand, competition pits individuals against each other,
breeding resentment, conflict and hostility.

10. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALISM: SOCIAL EQUALITY
• Equality is the central, pivotal value of socialism.
• Socialism is portrayed very often like a form of egalitarianism, which
believe in the value of equality.
• Socialism emphasize the importance of social equality.
• Socialists believe that a measure of social equality is the essential
guarantee of social stability and cohesion, encouraging individuals to
identify with their fellow human beings.
• Socialism provides the basis for the exercise of legal and political
rights.

12. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALISM: NEEDS
• Socialism believe that material benefits should be distributed on the
basis of need, rather than simply on the basis of merit or work.
• This element can be found in Marx’s communist principle of
distribution: “from each according to his ability, to each according to
his need”.
• Socialists believe that the satisfaction of basic needs (like hunger,
thirst, shelter, health, personal security) is a compulsory step towards
a worthwhile human existence and participation in social life.

14. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALISM: SOCIAL CLASS
• Socialism has often been associated with a form of class politics.
• Socialists analysed the society in terms of the distribution of income
or wealth, and they’ve seen class as a significant social cleavage.
• Socialism has traditionally been associated with the interests of the
oppressed and exploited working class, and it has traditionally
regarded the working class as an agent of social change, even social
revolution.
• The socialist goal is the eradication of economic and social
inequalities or, at least, their substantial reduction.

16. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALISM: COMMON OWNERSHIP
• The relationship between socialism and common ownership is very
controversial.
• Some see it as the END of socialism itself, others see it as a means of
generating broader equality.
• The socialist common ownership (Soviet collectivisation or
nationalisation) is a means of harnessing material resources to the
common good, with private property being seen to promote
selfishness, acquisitiveness and social division (class).
• Modern socialism has moved from this narrow concern with the
politics of ownership.