The defining feature of communism that separates it apart most from other ideologies is the core value of equality. By this Socialists measure equality of outcome within society. They are not content with the Liberal ‘equality of opportunity’ or ‘formal equality’. However, although equality of outcome is socialisms most defining feature it is also the source of most inter-ideological conflict. In its extreme form, orthodox Marxism absolute social equality is the goal. It is meant to be achieved by violent revolution, the abolitions of private property and the fair and equal distribution of wealth. Marx summarised the distribution of wealth as thus: ‘from each according to his ability to each according to his needs’. However British Socialists have never had the opportunity to do anything so extreme. The UK, in its entire history has never had a revolution, evolution is the political environment and so the British Socialist, in order to have a chance in the British system have had to win public support and settle for socialist principles in moderation. British Socialist believes in relative equality, advocating redistribution of wealth through taxation and through the welfare state.
Equality strengthens other socialist principles of community and co-operation. These in turn are based on a belief that humans are naturally sociable and are motivated by ‘moral’ incentives. British Socialism has had to combine a belief in ‘moral’ incentive with one of ‘material’ incentive so as to avoid propagating a situation of: ‘capitalism, the uneven distribution of wealth; socialism, the even distribution of poverty’. In the Soviet model, material incentives were for the masses abandoned and the basic need to survive became the driving force behind their workers.
In Britain there are a few independent companies who have chosen to run them selves as co-operatives, where all workers get a share of the profits. These include John Fraiser and the Co-op supermarkets. There are also Trade Unions, who represent workers against their employers and often tackle companies for better wages or working conditions, in some industries these Unions wield a lot of power, e.g the tube drivers. In contrast to this small-scale British Social aspect, in Spain and Yugoslavia it is common for all businesses to be owned co-operatively yet acting under capitalism. These countries see the principle of worker’s self-management to be the key regulator in industry.
Due to an inherently social nature ‘collectivist’ models of production seemed the logical manifestation of our ties of love and affection for our fellow man in production. In the Soviet Union all farms were collectivised and run by party chiefs. The principle dictated that the ends met by a collective effort would be far greater than the achievements of any sum of individual labour. In Britain, such revolutionary ideas would not have been received well and as the years unfolded, it was evident that the Soviet Union could not sustain their population on collectivist gains and famously had to buy in grain from America in 1960’s under Khrushchev. British Socialists had to accept and work with a capitalist system that had proved more resilient and flexible than Marx could have foreseen. British Socialists have accepted individualist enterprise as inevitable but have had some successes in post-war Britain to nationalise some key industries and public services.
British Socialism, as represented on the political playing field can be seen as particularly moderate and central in the political spectrum. In recent years, the labour party have moved further and further away from its Socialist routes. Perhaps in Western Democracies, as Marx predicted, Capitalism would halt any road to socialism. He suggested violent over throwing by the working classes, yet this has become but a distant memory to Modern day Social Democrats. By their very name they have accepted democracy and must initiate policy with public opinion in mind.
