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A-level Politics > Conservatism > Flashcards

Conservatism Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two types of conservatism?

A

Traditional conservatism and Thatcherism

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2
Q

What are the fundamental principles of traditional conservatism?

A
  • order
  • support for tradition
  • organic society
  • too much diversity
  • private property
  • origin of one nation
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3
Q

What are the fundamental principles of thatcherism?

A
  • low direct taxation
  • independent culture
  • anti-unionism
  • property
  • neoliberalism
  • neoconservatism
  • nationalism
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4
Q

What do traditional conservatives mean by order?

A

They have a pessimistic view of human nature and think they are competitive. They can easily fall into disorder and we need security for progression

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5
Q

What do traditional conservatives mean by support for tradition?

A

Society can unite around common institutions and help to maintain unity

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6
Q

What do traditional conservatives mean by an organic society?

A

Society should naturally be left to develop as it is like a machine and all parts are tied together

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7
Q

What do traditional conservatives mean by too much diversity?

A

Threatens social unity as there is not as many common interests and creates separate groups

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8
Q

What do traditional conservatives mean by private property?

A

Ownership of private property and wealth is important as it stops destruction due to other people understanding how they would feel. It is others responsibility to help the less fortunate

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9
Q

What do traditional conservatives mean by origin of one nation?

A

It originates from Benjamin Disraeli and the rich have an obligation to help the poor as it stops the divide from the 1800s between the rich and the poor

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10
Q

What do thatcherites mean by low direct taxation?

A

High direct taxation can cause people not to want to work

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11
Q

What do thatcherites mean by anti-unionism?

A

Powerful trade unions create a barrier to success (the winter of discontent) as the prevent a free market and increase wages too much

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12
Q

What do thatcherites mean by independency culture?

A

An excessive level of welfare are a disincentive to work and can be passed down generations

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13
Q

What do thatcherites mean by property?

A

It is important to own private property and have home ownership

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14
Q

What do thatcherites mean by neoliberalism?

A

All markets should be free as problems within the economy are caused by government interference and they will correct themselves on their own

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15
Q

What do thatcherites mean by neoconservatism?

A

The discourage cultural diversity as it can disrupt an ordered society. They have a strong position on law and order and want to maintain traditional christian morality

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16
Q

What do thatcherites mean by nationalism?

A

Patriotism maintains social order and they are suspicious of multinational organisations. Foreign policy should represent the interests of your own nation so there are always ulterior motives within international associations

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17
Q

What are the main differences between thatcherism and traditional conservatism?

A

Low - direct taxation (T)
No welfare (T)
Nationalism (T)

18
Q

What were David Cameron’s policies on economy?

A

Reduce budget deficit by reducing money given to sectors such as schools, international aid and health. Believes in a big society

19
Q

What is a big society?

A

withdrawing the state from a provision of public services

20
Q

What were David Cameron’s policies on welfare?

A

He set up a universal credit system to cut costs

21
Q

What is Thomas Burke’s view of human nature?

A

Humans are cynical
Individuals are selfish and driven by restless and ruthless
There is a desire for security and supremacy

22
Q

What is Thomas Burke’s view of soceity?

A

State of nature had scarce resources natural chaos and self-government which was ruthless and made of self-interest
There can be no society until a state has been created which bring order and authority to human affairs
A society without a state (state of nature) is nasty brutish and short

23
Q

What is Thomas Burke’s view of state?

A

The state arises contractually
It must be intimidating autocratic and forbidding other problems arise in the state like in society
They have sovereign (the right ot make laws)
Before a state no cooperation or voluntary arrangements
Individuals seek order and security as there is no civil society without

24
Q

What is Thomas Burke’s view of economy?

A

Constructive and enduring economic activity is impossible without a state as it guarantees order and security

25
Q

What did Edmund Burke believe about society?

A

Small groups/communities (‘little platoons’)
Diverse and autonomous
Organic and multi faceted
Denounced the idealistic theory due to human imperfection

26
Q

What did Edmund Burke believe about the state?

A

Should be aristocratic
They have a clear obligation and are raised like that
Believes in Mechanistic theory
Need change however should proceed on fact and experience

27
Q

What did Edmund Burke believe about the economy?

A

Should involve laissez faire capitalism which involves free market capitalism

28
Q

What did Edmund Burke believe about human nature?

A

Sceptical
‘crooked timber of humanity’
Gap between aspiration and achievement - can conceive the idea of perfection just can’t achieve it
Fail more than succeed

29
Q

What side of conservatism is Edmund Burke associated with?

A

Traditional

30
Q

What was Edmund Burke driven by?

A

The french revolution

31
Q

What was Michael Oakeshott’s view on human nature?

A

Negative
Humanity is at its best when free from grand ideas and should focus on everyday routine
Able to secure ‘‘pleasure and improvement through the humdrum business of everyday life’’
‘‘imperfect but not immoral’’
‘‘fallible but not terrible’’

32
Q

What was Michael Oakeshott’s view on state?

A

Dismissive of normative politics - ‘‘simplistic visions that overlook the complexibility of reality’’
Exists to prevent the bad not create the good
Guided by tradition and pragmaticism

33
Q

What was Michael Oakeshott’s view on the economy?

A

Freemarkets are volatile and unpredictable

Pragmatic modernisation required by the state

34
Q

What was Michael Oakeshott’s view on society?

A

Localised communities are essential to human survival
Incapable of perfect societies
Should be societies create intolerance, impatience and frustration

35
Q

What was Ayn Rand’s view on the state?

A

State should confine itself to law order and national security
‘positive liberty should be restricted’
Liberty is impossible without order and security
‘small state is a strong state’
Individuals should have a right to choose - homosexuality and abortion

36
Q

What was Ayn Rand’s view on society?

A

Any attempt to change individuals should be resisted
Talented individuals rather than successful state is at the heart of a good society
Society is atomistic

37
Q

What was Ayn Rand’s view on the economy?

A

‘rolling back frontiers of the state’
free market capitalism
individuals should expression of objectivist

38
Q

What was Robert Nozick’s view on human nature?

A

Optimistic

Egotistical and drive by self-ownership - allows to realise full potential

39
Q

What was Robert Nozick’s view on economy?

A

Minimalist states should detach from privatised/deregulated economy
Arbitrate disputes between private economy organisations

40
Q

What was Robert Nozick’s view on society?

A

Should be geared to self-fulfillment
Lead to lots of small variable communities and an extension of individual freedoms
Tolerant of permissive society

41
Q

What was Robert Nozick’s view on the state?

A

Minarchist state
Government growth threatens individual freedom
Should only be there to outsource, reallocate and renew contracts to private companies to provide public services
‘tax for the most part is theft’

A-level Politics (11 decks)

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