Question

Explain the views of socialist on private property. Name the international body set up to spread and coordinate their efforts? (5 mark)

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Second International, was the international body formed , to propagate ideas of Socialism.

Socialist ideas on Private property:

a. Socialism basically serves as a critique of the capitalist structure.
b. The ideology of socialism emerged as reaction to Capitalism and argued for state control over economy, over means of production in order to create an egalitarian society. Socialists identified existence of private property as the basis for all evils in the society.
c. They argued that the must own the property and must work for the welfare of the entire society.An ideology of Socialism was driven by the motive of bringing about social welfare through social ownership.

d. Some of the Socialist philosophers advocated the following ideas and campaigned for change were:

i. Socialists like Robert Owen believed in establishing cooperatives where the individuals produced goods collectively and divide the profit as per the work done by each member, and sought to build a cooperative community.
ii. Louis Blanc from France wanted government to encourage the cooperatives that work for the welfare for all and must abolish private capitalist enterprises.
iii. Karl Marx basically presented a critique of a capitalist system of production and industrial society. Capitalist society is divided into two classes that is the Bourgeoisie ( Capitalist) and the Proletariat ( Workers). He maintains that in a capitalist society means of production are under the control of the capitalist class who use it for their benefit and accumulates all the profits. The workers are those who sell their labor in return for fixed wages and are exploited by the capitalist Workers work under miserable conditions, forced to work for long hours under inhuman conditions and were subjected to oppression.
iv.. The existence of Private property thus divided the society between the haves and haves not where the latter were subjected to oppression and exploitation.
e. According to Marx, Such a system can only be overthrown by means of revolution on part of workers which will pave the way for a Socialist society whereby all the property is socially controlled. Such was their vision for the future.

Regards