Exam

Question 1

Explain Lukes’ first and second dimensions of power.

Answer 1

The first dimension of power is about direct control and influence over others behaviour, such as the government’s power to create law, whereas the second dimension of is about shaping the broader agenda, influencing public opinion and controlling what issues are discussed or ignored. Heywood comments the first as conscious action whereas VK adds that the power of non-decision making is just as important as decision making.

Question 2

Why would the difference between power as a capacity and power as something a person or group exercise be important to Stephen Lukes.

Answer 2

This would be important to Lukes as the capacity to exercise power is arguably as significant as actually exercising said power.

Question 3

Name at least one criticism of Lukes’ view of power.

Answer 3

Lukes only speaks of power as an issue and only analyses the negative use of power, disregarding it as a positive force. He also largely focuses on power as formal and tangible, whether it’s used or not, but doesn’t focus on less centralised forms such as collective power of people.

Question 4

What are the FOUR weaknesses of contemporary representative democracy.

Answer 4

1. The populus rarely gets direct participation.
2. The public don’t exercise power themselves.
3. It is susceptible to industrial influence
4. Legitimacy comes under question as politicians make and achieve short term goals to be elected.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of a written constitution?

Answer 5

1. A constitution is rigid and thereby incredibly difficult to change. The Aus Constitution required a referendum to pass, meaning elected representatives become redundant (Voice Vote)
2. Ambiguous language can lead to misinterpretation. (2nd Amm. right to bear arms)

Question 6

What is Mounk’s theory of liberalism and democracy?

Answer 6

Mounk simply comments that the idea of democracy and liberalism is up to interpretation and the unwillingness to consider political evolution is ignorant but non inexcusable.

Question 7

What does Mounk define as democracy, liberal institutions and liberal democracies?

Answer 7

1. Democracy: a set of binding electoral institutions that effectively translate popular views into policy.
2. Liberal institutions effectively protect the rule of law and guarantee rights.
3. A liberal democracy is a political system that protects individual rights AND translates popular views into policy.

Question 8

What ideas might Lukes have found useful in Gramsci’s account of hegemony?

Answer 8

Gramsci’s account of hegemony revolves around the idea that power in society isn’t solely maintained through coercion of force but also through the consent and active participation of the ruled.

Lukes would have valued the account of consent in maintaining and contesting social and political power and appreciate the deeper understanding on power operating beyond coercion.

Question 9

According to the economist, Marx was wrong about history but may have been right about capitalism. Do you agree?

Answer 9

To a degree, though I do believe that Marx’s theories on class struggle has reverberated throughout time, notable in the French and Russian Revolutions.

I also believe that his theories about capitalism hold merit, but also detail a miserable working class whereas I don’t believe this to be entirely true, or it at least hasn’t materialised yet.

Question 10

According to Marx, what is the relationship between the dominant political ideological ideas in a capitalist society and its economic organisation.

Answer 10

According to Marx, dominant political and ideological ideas in a capitalist society are determined by the ruling class, which controls the means of production and holds economic power. These ideas are perpetuated in the current economic order. These ideas dictate how production is finances, who owns these economic resources and how goods are distributed.

Question 11

What is Antonio Gramsci’s account of hegemony?

Answer 11

Gramsci finds difference between Hegemonic influence and domination.

Jessop observed that for Gramsci, ‘the capitalist state should not be seen as a basically coercive apparatus but as an institutional ensemble based on a variable mix of coercion, consent, fraud and corruption’.

Gramsci argued that power could generally be exercised only through compromises and strategic concessions among different social groups.

Question 12

What is elite theory?

Answer 12

The elite theory is a perspective in political sciences that suggests power and influence in societies are concentrated in the hands of a small, privileged, and wealthy elite. According to this theory, societies are not governed by the will of the majority or through democratic processes, but rather by a select group of individuals who possess significant resources such as wealth, social status, or political connections.

Question 13

To what extent does elite theory reflect the distribution of power in contemporary Australia?

Answer 13

Elite theory does have presence within Australian power as the political elites have a very large say in legislative processing. For example, the two main political parties hold huge influence with the Australian political sphere. As well as this, big businesses are able to contribute large amount of money to political parties in exchange for legislative favour.

Question 14

Compare pluralist and neo-pluralist theories of the state.

Answer 14

The pluralist theory of the state poses that power in a democratic society is dispersed among multiple interest groups, with no single dominating completely. Decision making occurs through a competitive process of bargaining and compromise, resulting in policies that reflect a balancing of diverse interests.

The neo pluralist theory outlines a more realistic approach in which elites rule each interest group. It highlights the need for representatives of each group collaborate to shape policy outcomes. It acknowledges the complexity of policy creation and emphasises the importance of administrative agencies.

Question 15

Do Marxist approaches to the state have anything to offer in the 21st century.

Answer 15

Sure. Marxist approaches to the unfolding of capitalist ideologies are somewhat able to be replicated within 21st century Australia, but perhaps are too extreme. His ideas on capitalism illustrate an extremely repressed society which at least is not apparent as of yet.

Question 16

What were the key features of post WWII welfare states?

Answer 16

Social welfare programs such as universal healthcare, unemployment benefits and public pensions – these provided a safety net for citizens. As well as this, the government held a more proactive role within the economy, providing economic assistance with taxation and wealth distribution policy. They also prioritised social rights, including education and housing.

Question 17

From the 1980’s the role of the state in Australia, NZ, the UK and to some extent the US underwent significant change. What were the drivers for change and what was the nature of the change.

Answer 17

The drivers for change included aspects of globalisation and neoliberalism, and perhaps a more ideological shift towards market-oriented policy. The nature of the change involved the privatisation of state-owned enterprise, deregulation to promote market efficiency and the liberalisation of trade barriers to allow for globalisation. These aimed to stimulate economic competition and decrease government intervention in the economy.

Question 18

What is an ICAC?

Answer 18

An ICAC is an Independent Commission against Corruption that has been used in several nations including Aus, HK and South Korea. The primary function of an ICAC is to investigate and prevent corruption within the political sphere.

Question 19

Compare the systems for election funding in France and Australia

Answer 19

Election funding in France is based off their electoral performance including the number of seats or votes attained whereas Australian funding is based primarily on the number of votes they received.

Australia sources donations from private enterprise who have to disclose the amount of their donation above $14,300 AUD to the AEC for political accountability. France restricts private funding a lot more in an attempt to avoid any vested interests coming to fruition.

Question 20

What are the proposed McGowan government reforms so political donations? Do they go far enough? How to they differ from the rules in other Australian states?

Answer 20

The McGowan Gov has attempted a number of political donation reforms, such as banning political donations from corporate or union agencies, lowering the disclosure threshold and increasing real time disclosure.

They differ from other states in that NSW has very similar reforms already in place. Other states have similar restrictions in place, either the same, or progressing into more similar bans

Question 21

Do interest groups play a useful role in liberal democracies?

Answer 21

Yes. They allow citizens to collectively voice opinions, the variation of interest groups provide society with diverse interest representation that can be translated into legislation, and they can serve as expert groups for respective topics, adding balance to political affairs.

Question 22

Should lobbying be more strictly regulated in Australia?

Answer 22

Yes. Political lobbying needs to be more strictly regulated as it promotes political inequality. By regulating it, it will promote political transparency and accountability and decrease the chances of corruption as political operatives cannot be financially influenced by big businesses.

Question 23

Does money talk when it comes to political influence?

Answer 23

Yes. When speaking of lobbying, large companies are able to provide funds for parties, for the parties to in turn create legislation advantaging the donor.

Question 24

What is special about the political power of business compared with that of interest groups.

Answer 24

The difference between the power of businesses and interest groups is that interest groups are only able to campaign on behalf of political parties, whereas businesses have the resources to fund political campaigns enabling them a direct and tangible form of power political power.

Question 25

What political events illustrate the political power of businesses in Australia.

Answer 25

Kevid Rudd’s ‘Resource Super Profits Tax’ emerging from the 2010 Henry Tax Review was a 40% tax on ‘super profits’. This was met by a ferocious political campaign against the tax by Rio, BHP and XStrata. They contributed millions of dollars to stop the tax become law. The result of this detailed a downgrading to a far less targeted Mineral Resources Rent Tax which was passed under the Gillard Gov in 2010.

Question 26

Should we swap our prime minster for a president elected by popular vote? Use the examples of the US and France to illustrate your answer.

Answer 26

The US President is both Head of State and Head of Gov whereas the French President is only Head of State, with a PM as Head of Gov.

There are disadvantages with the US system in which the political and legislative branches are separate which can lead to gridlock in the legislative process.

The French systems allows for a balance of power between the President and the PM, and therefore the cooperation between these two can be streamlined (often very streamlined as the President picks the PM)

Question 27

Is the personalisation of politics detrimental to good government in a liberal democracy?

Answer 27

There are pros and cons to the personalisation of power. Positively, it is able to develop voter engagement with politics and democratic participation. It can also provide someone who people are able to rally behind.

Negatively, it means that party policy can be lost through emphasis on the individual, and therefore political accountability is harder to police.

Question 28

How do you account for the growing acceptance of a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament or elections in liberal democracies

Answer 28

Acceptance for strong leaders comes from their ability to pass legislation quickly and act efficiently. It also means that when issues arise, legislative amendments are able to be made quickly.

Question 29

A defining feature of populism is the centrality of a strong or flamboyant leader who is able to mobilise a mass following. What are the characteristics of a populist leader such as Donald Trump?

Answer 29

These strong leaders that garner a mass following are often charismatic, allowing for personal support rather than just political. They are anti-establishment - promising reform and change. They are simple in their processes, allowing the masses to easily understand and support them and they use ethos to appeal to emotion.

Question 30

What is the Enlightenment? To what extent are we children of the Enlightenment?

Answer 30

The Enlightenment was a philosophical and ideological movement in the 17th and 18th century. It emphasised science, individualism and progression.

We are to a great extent children of the enlightenment challenged traditional sources of authority such as the monarchy and the church and while Australia is still under the monarchy, we debate over our exit.

Additionally, the enlightenment sought to emphasise progression of science, and 21st century Australia is absolutely scientifically oriented, particularly throughout the COVID - 19 Pandemic.

Question 31

Are you a liberal in the ideological sense? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer 31

I am mostly a liberal in the ideological sense. Liberalism details rights and freedoms, social justice, democracy and progress, all of which i align with. Despite this, it also details a very limited government intervention in society and the economy. I believe that while the economy should not be centralised, it is important to have balances that are able to regulate and support people.

Question 32

What were Hayek’s objections to Keynesian welfare states?

Answer 32

Hayek believes that the centrality of these welfare states were inherently flawed as he favoured free market systems where competition guided the economy. He also believed that the expansion of government control would act as a hinderance on freedom and that the rule of law would come into question as government control meant that freedoms would be limited as well.

Question 33

The primary of the individual, individual freedom and free markets are foundations of neoliberalism. To what extent are they responsible for inequality, social exclusion and environmental crises.

Answer 33

To a very real extent. Neoliberal policies of deregulation and privatisation does mean that it could provide a hub in which the rich get richer and the poor gets poorer, contributing to inequality. Social exclusion also falls under this umbrella as emphasising market competition means that marginalised populations will be abandoned; and neoliberalism focus on economic growth can have disastrous impact on the climate.

Question 34

What is the basis of Dave Harvey’s rejection of neoliberalism?

Answer 34

As a Marxist, Harvey criticised unregulated markets as a contributor to a capitalist future. He also notes that financial markets will dominate society. He argues that public goods such as education and healthcare will be eroded due to the chase of profit seeking under free markets. He also notes the environmental aspect as neoliberalism simply does not address environmental changes.

Question 35

What is the relationship between environmentalism and liberalism?

Answer 35

They both value individual freedoms, environmental protection, the reactive role of the government within society.

Question 36

Is environmentalism incompatible with economic growth?

Answer 36

The extent in which environmentalism is considered is the difference between compatibility and incompatibility. If environmental extremity is present, then no, economic growth is not possible. But if a more relaxed form of environmentalism is considered, then it is definitely compatible.

Question 37

What are the two principles of justice that Sandel outlines?

Answer 37

Sandel outlines the principle of welfare: This focuses on maximising wellbeing and suggest polices and actions promotes maximum happiness and welfare.

The second is the principle of freedom: This emphasises individual liberties and freedoms and involves respecting rights to make choices and self-conceptualising happiness.

Question 38

Compare the thinking of John Rawls and Friedrich Hayek on social justice

Answer 38

While Rawls supports the idea of social justice and the idea of distributing social and economic resources to advantage ethe most disadvantaged, and supports government intervention to address inequality.

Hayek is more liberal in the sense that he believes that these suggested Rawlsian reforms will only lead to disastrous outcomes. He sticks by the free market and argues that justice within the legal system is the most important.

Question 39

Ken Henry thinks the present Australian tax system is unfair to younger Australians. In what ways does he think the system is unfair and what does he think should be done to address this “extraordinary intergenerational inequity”?

Answer 39

He details reforms to the housing system in which he describes that it only benefits the wealthy. He has proposed a superannuation tax reform in which super contribution is based on income, not just a standard amount. He also says that this will avoid the current reality of superannuation only assisting the wealthy.

Question 40

University students in Nordic countries do NOT have to pay university fees. What are the reasons for these differences with Australia.

Answer 40

Nordic nations often have a higher emphasis on education and the requirement for higher education is prioritised.

Australia has far lower taxes, meaning that the finances to be able to support a program like this in unrealistic.

Nordic countries also allocate more money to education as they view tertiary education as an economic investment.

Question 41

What do we mean by ‘identity politics’? How have the politics of identity affected liberal democracies?

Answer 41

Identity policies refers to the political mobilisation and advocacy on shared experiences, interests, and concerns of a particular social group or identity. This has been able to recognise marginalised voices, has pushed for diversity in politics such as the voice referendum, it has encouraged social movements such as BLM, but has also contributed to backlash and political polarisation.

Question 42

In what ways is right wing populism a threat to liberal democracy?

Answer 42

It is a threat to democracy as right wing populist leaders may seek to concentrate power in their hands.

Minorities are often left aside and it threatens liberal values and freedoms such as freedom of expression as right wing populism is often very specific in what is right and wrong.

Question 43

In what ways can capitalism be made more compatible with democracy?

Answer 43

Implementations can be made to address wealth inequality, ensure fair competition, protect rights, ensure political accountability and foster inclusive economic opportunities.