While reading the book, Equality by Alex Callinicos (Polity 2000), I came across this text in the main body: “
the fact that New Labour’s ethical commitments are apparently identical with those of more traditional socialists offers and opportunity to appriase the Third Way in terms that both its adherents and its Left-wing critics would acknowledge as valid” (p 38). A Footnote/Endnote, actualy, directs one to the following on page 139:
“Brian Barry argues against identifying socialism with equality: ‘If taken as fundamental equality – the equal claim to considerations of all human beings - it does not distinguish socialism from liberalism or indeed from most (non-racist) forms of modern conservatism. If taken as material equality, it is also inaccurate since very few socialists have ever been or are now in favour of complete material equality.’ (Does Society Exist? London 1989). But since Barry goes on to suggest that ‘relative equality’ is ‘a theorem derivable from an adequate account of social justice’ his definition of socialism as ‘social justice plus collectivism’ doesn’t seemto differ significantly from two of the values listed by Carling – equality and community.”
Apologies for the confusion, or misrepresentation and thanks for your comments.
Cheers
Ismail
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