Ideologies Flashcards
Who are the 5 conservatism KT?
Thomas Hobbes
Edmund Burke
Michael Oakeshott
Ayn Rand
Robert Nozick
What are the three types of conservatism?
Traditional
One Nation
New Right
Who are the one nation individuals? (not KT)
PMs: Benjamin Disraeli (1874-69) and
Harold Macmillan (1957-63)
Friedrich von Hayek
What are the 3 branches/stages of traditional conservatism?
Early 19th C - Post French Revolution
Late 19th C - One Nation
Mid 20th C - Middle way
What is the origin on traditional conservatism?
- After French Revolution
- Reaction to Enlightenment
⤷ in support of keeping tradition and property in times of secularisation and revoluton - Made to uphold the aristocratic rule
- In support of the abolition of slavery
⤷ Great Reform Act 1832 (supported increased representation in industrial towns) supported by tory PM Canning - Peele (Home Sec) created the Met police in 1829
⤷ extended the link of conservatism and authority
What is the origin of ON?
- Call for more democracy and less aristocracy in 19th C
⤷ meant cons had to develop - Benjamin Disraeli - socialism and Marxism KT threatening to stablility and tradition
- Embraced class difference and formed a paternalistic view
⤷ all classes are united in one ‘family’ so ideas of revolution are attacks on the ‘family’ ∴ everyone must defend against it - Disraeli - national ties are stronger than class ties
⤷ Nation’s aristocracies job to ‘elevate the condition of the people’
⤷ ‘the palace is not safe if the cottage is not happy’ - Did not advocate for more philanthropy from the rich
⤷ supported state-sponsored social reform
⤷ legislation to moderate laissez faire economics
⤷ e.g. Factory Act 1874 restricted freedoms of factory owners
What is the origin of the middle way?
- Response to egalitarianism (gender equality) and facism
⤷ communism, socialism and facism grew before WW2
⤷ after WW1 egalitarianism was widely supported - Egalitarianism challenged conservatism
⤷ changing beliefs of property and tradition - Extension of the franchise meant more w/c power
⤷ gave Labour more popularity ∴ more common ownership support - Harold Macmillan (1930s) - ‘middle way’ form of economy
⤷ address economic equality while respecting property and tradition - By 1945 conceded to mixed economics and welfare
⤷ opportunistsic to appeal to w/c voters
⤷ Crosland - cons have no principles
What is the origin on NR?
- Emerged in the US in the 1970s
⤷ form of backlash to change in values during the 60s - Emphasis on authority, limited state, social discipline, independence
- Independence
⤷ UK’s independence from EU
⤷ Individual’s independence from the state
⤷ individual’s independence from community
What are the two branches of conservatism?
Neo liberalism
Neo conservatism
What does neo-liberalism entail?
Focus on independence
- free market economy
- low spending
- low taxation
- privatisation
- end of welfare state
What does neo-conservatism entail?
Restoring values
- tough law and order
- traditional family values
- less toleration of immigration
- roll back social reform
⤷ e.g. abortion, gay rights etc from 60s
What are examples of ON under Cameron?
2015 manifesto
- Doubling free childcare for 3 + 4 y/os
- Raising inheritance tax threshold to £1m on family homes
- EU referendum
- No income, VAT, NI increases
- 3m more apprenticeships
- Lower benfit cap from £26,000 to £23,000
- Tougher prison sentences
- Expand the armed forces
What are examples of ON under May?
2017 Manifesto
- Reduce corporation tax to 17% by 2020
- Means testing for care includes value of property
- Defence rise by 0.5% above inflation
- Winter-fuel payments means tested
- Increase Personal Tax Allowance to £12,500 by 2020
- Increase NHS spending by £8b by 2022
- Retain Trident
- Redue immigration to “tens of thousands”
What are examples of ON under Johnson?
2019 manifesto
- Increase nurses by 5,000
- Leave EU by January 2020
- No income, VAT, NI increases
- Pension rise by 2.5% per year
- £6.6b on 2.3m disadvantaged homes
- Universal credit continued
- 250,000 more childcare places
- Freeze tuition fees
What is the context of Hobbes?
- 1588-1679
- One Nation
- Leviathan 1651 (book)
What is the context of Burke?
Traditional
- Supporter of US revolution
- Supportive of Adam Smith’s call for free trade
⤷ was radical at the time
- Seen of the father of conservatism
- Wrote the text ‘Reflections on the revolution in France’
⤷ set out key conservative thoughts - human imperfection, empiricism, organicism, tradition, aristocracy, localism
What is the context of Oakeshott?
- Traditional
- ‘On Being Conservative’ 1962
What is the context of Disraeli?
What is the context of Macmillan?
What is the context of F.A Hayek?
- Wrote ‘Road to Serfdom’
What is the context of Rand?
- NR
- Wrote ‘Atlas Shrugged’ 2957
⤷ talented individuals created societies, not govs - Objectivism
⤷ people should be guided by self-interest and rational self-fulfilment - Atomism
⤷ society does not exist, it is individuals working independently for self-fulfilment - Libertarian
⤷ right to choose socially in LGBT and women’s rights
What is the context of Nozick?
NR
- Wrote ‘Anarchy, state and Utopia’ 1974
⤷ bible for NR
What does Hobbes think of HN?
- Rejected the idea that HN is guided by reason
- Original sin explains behaviour
⤷ christian view that Adam (bible) made all of humankind be born into sin - HN is selfish and competitive
⤷ humans are “fallible but not terrible” and “imperfect, not immoral” - Society is brutish so formal authority is necessary
- Leviathan - HN os needy and vulnerable
What did Burke think of HN?
- People are flawed
- People’s views differ
- Less pessimistic than Hobbes
⤷ people are capable of kindness and wisdom
⤷ but their actions must be rooted in christianity and tradition to be capable of this - People are communal
⤷ ∴ enjoy little platoons
What did Oakeshott think of HN?
- Focuses on the innate fear of the unknown
- Life can begin when there is routine and religion
- Society w/o law would just be ‘noisy and flawed’ NOT brutish
What does Rand think of HN?
- Need for individual freedom and innovation
-Objectivism - Atomism
What does Nozick think of HN?
- Need for individual freedom and innovation
- Some formal authority needed despite freedom focus
⤷ life, liberty and property cannot be taken for granted so authpirty is needed - Described people as “freedom-loving pack animals” that need restraint
- HN is driven by self interest that needs to be contained to have stability
- People should be left alone to their own talents
What are the 6 functions of society?
Localism
Organic
Empiricism
Tradition
Hierarchy
Morality
Property
What is localism?
‘Little platoons’
- collection of communities that provide security and inspiration
- help keep selfish individualism at bay
What does organic mean?
- Society gradually emerges
- Cannot be created
- Society adapts and functions to the needs of society
What is empiricism?
Issues are dealt with practically
- we know what we do because of real experience
⤷ society is based on ‘how it is’ not ‘how it should be’
What is tradition?
- Custom and habit provide security
- Change and reform is inevitable
⤷ BUT change must be slow and respecting of the past4
What is hierarchy?
- Individuals are not born equal
- The wiser and stronger dominate
⤷ have a natural responsibilty to look after the weaker
⤷ ‘Noblesse oblige’
What is morality?
- Strong attatchment to Old Testament and original sin
- Emphasis on marriage, family and accountability
What is property?
- Respect for tradition and continuity
- Property shouldn’t be aquired but inherited
- Property owners have a stake in society ∴ are less likely to rebel and they must care for others
What are ON thoughts on the economy?
- Wary of free-market capitalism
⤷ creates instability and puts innovation at risk - Drawn to Keynesian economics to promote employment
What are NR thoughts on the economy?
- Free market means the gov can focus on security and order
⤷ more time and resources spent on police and army for defence
What are the uniting conservative views of the state?
- State precedes society
- Individual rights depend on law and order
- Embraces ruling class with inherited power
- States based on contract are not true to society
⤷ not based on reality
⤷ in favour of uncodied constitution
What is Hobbes’ view of the state?
- Similar to liberal ideas of government by consent and state of nature
- Humans are rational enough to realise that a soveriegn state is needed for security
⤷ the authority needs to be autocratic (leader with full power) and intimidating to ensure conflicts are stopped
What is Burke’s view of the state?
- Man fails more than succeeds
⤷ ∴ utopian society is unrealistic - Changes in society must aim to conserve tradition
- Society is like a plant
⤷ organic and dynamic but must be cautious around change - Ruling class is inevitable
⤷ but they must rule for the majority - Condemned the highly centralised French government
⤷ should have ‘little platoons’ instead as people are communal
What is Oakeshott’s view of the state?
- Purpose of the state is to “prevent the bad rather than create good”
- “We shall all sail the boundless sea, with no appointed destination” and it is the government’s job to “keep the ship afloat at all costs”
- Not capable of a perfect society
⤷ BUT could gain pleasure and improvement through everyday life - Argued conservatism is more optimistic than other ideologies as it is realistic
⤷ based on reality (empiricism)
What is Rand’s view of the state?
- State should have a very limited role
- ‘The small state is the strong state’
What is Nozick’s view of the state?
- Agreed with Hayek that tge growing gov was a threat to individual freedom
- Welfare states encourage dependency culture
- Anarchist
⤷ minarchist state where gov outsources to private companies
What is Hobbes’ view of society?
What is Burke’s view of society?
What is Oakeshott’s view of society?
What is Rand’s view of society?
- Atlas Shrugged - talented indivifuals created societies, not govs
- Atomism - society doesn’t really exist, it’s just individuals working for self-fulfillment
What is Nozick’s view of society?
- Individualism to the max
⤷ individual should always be left alone, in economic AND social areas
⤷ tolerant of divorce and abortion because of this - Limited state would help with a self-sufficient communities
⤷ where people can emerge their own moral codes
What is Hobbe’s view of the economy?
What is Burke’s view of the economy?
What is Oakeshott’s view of the economy?
What is Rand’s view of the economy?
- Classically liberal economic views
- Laissez faire economics
- Reduce tax
What is Nozick’s view of the economy?
- All taxation is theft
How does NL and NC differ?
Immigration
- NL and NC want less immigration
⤷ NL - want more free market
⤷ NC - threatens British culture
How are NL and NC similar?
Spending
- NL = minimise gov spending
- NC = committed spending on national defence
⤷ i.e. Falklands, Trident etc
research each KT (wiki)
add info from summary sheets
Who are the 5 liberalism KT?
John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
John Stuart Mill
John Rawls
Betty Friedan
What is the context of Locke?
- Father of liberalism
- Built off of Hobbes ideas
What is the context of JS Mill?
- English philosopher and campaigner
- Wrote ‘On Liberty’ 1859
⤷ argued that freedom is mainlt the absense of restraint
What is the context of Friedan?
- Feminine Mystique 1963
- ## Key figure of second wave feminism
What are the 3 core values of human nature?
Self realisation
- we should discover our unique selves free from the contraint of others
Self determination
- we should control our own fate
Self fulfillment
- natural rights should be utilised to make the most of our individual talents
w/o = sense of a wasted life
What are Locke’s views on HN?
- Every individual has the ability to think freely
- Every individual’s life should be determined by their own judgement
- Mechanistic history
⤷ humans are rational
⤷ can build a state that reflects their needs
⤷ rejects DROK
What is JS Mill’s view of HN?
- Harm principle
⤷ should tolerate anyone’s actions as long as they do not harm others
What are Wollstonecraft’s views on HN?
- Males and females have a shared desire for self-fulfillment
- Enlightenment’s optimism on HN should apply to all humans
- 18th C view of women holds them back
⤷ seen as irrational and denied of freedom and formal equality
What are Mill’s views on HN?
- Humans can be egotistical but their behaviour is rational
What are Locke’s thoughts on society?
- Society is not dependent upon the existence of a state
⤷ ∴ society pre-dates the state - Natural society
⤷ society w/o a state is based upon mankind’s interests
What are Wollstonecraft’s views on society?
Men and women are equal, so women should enjoy their full civil liberties
What are Mill’s thought’s on society?
- Tolerance principle
⤷ state should respect all actions and opinions unless they violate the harm principle - Believed that consensus is brought by education
⤷ still crucial to liberal ideas - Popular belief doesn’t make it correct
What are Rawl’s thoughts on society?
- Society is a peaceful, voluntary interaction of multiple individuals
- Theory of justice
⤷ society must guarantee a life worth living
What are Locke’s views on the economy?
- ## Property is a natural right
What are Mill’s views of the economy?
- Laissez faire economy
⤷ completely independent economy
What are Rawl’s views of the economy?
- Liberals should only defend inequality of outcome if there is equality of opportunity
- Keynesian economy
⤷ state-managed economy to ensure greater indivudal liberty
What are Locke’s views on the state?
- Social contract
⤷ should be a deal between state and society where the state guarantees protection of natural rights and is at the will of the people
⤷ e.g. US Constitution - Contractual state
⤷ “Government should be the servant, not the master, of the people” - Fragmented state
⤷ state’s powers should be fragmented and scattered
⤷ reflects anti-monarchy sentiment that came with enlightenment
⤷ evident with the checks and balances in the US Const - Representative state
⤷ against the DROK
⤷ against a
taxation without representation
⤷ e.g. Parliament (HOC) - Ideal state is free and reflects people’s needs
What are Mill’s views on the state?
- Education is way for tolerance to be encouraged
What are Rawl’s ideas of the state?
- State can allow individuals to enjoy natural rights
- Equality of opportunity is desirable but inequality of outcome is enevitable
- Veil of ignorance
⤷ hypothetical scenario where individuals agree on the society they want but only becasue they do not have the education to understand their position
What are Friedan’s views on the state?
- State should be expanded to promote tolerance
⤷ from feminist POV - Rejection of paternalistic state
⤷ instead must demand that legislatures respect and articulate citizen’s interests
How do liberal’s views differ on democracy?
Classical
- reservations about universal suffrage
⤷ Locke - disagreed on vote to those without property as it would threaten the natural rights of property owners
⤷ Mill - vote to the uneducated would lead to less tolerance to minority groups
Modern (Friedan and Rawls)
- endorsed universal suffrage
- support representative democracy over direct
⤷ direct democracy supports the will of the many which threatens minority groups
Who are the five socialism key thinkers?
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Beatrice Webb
Rosa Luxembourg
Anthony Crosland
Anthony Giddens
What are the strains of socialism?
Evolutionary v Revolutionary
Classical
Social Democrat
Third Way
What is the context of Marx?
- Founder of socialism
What are Marx’s views of HN?
- Humans are wise and happy
What are Marx’s views on society?
- Sneered at utopian socialism
- Communism would create a secular paradise without religion
What are Marx’s views on how change should be achieved?
Revolution
- would bring communism
- would focus the interests of the proletariat
What are Webb’s views on how change should be achieved?
Evolutionary
- end of capitalism is inevitable
- will happen gradually
What are Luxembourg’s views on how change should be achieved?
Revolutionary
- evolution and revisionism is not possible
- revolution is spontaneous
⤷ not organised by elite individuals
What are Luxembourg’s views on how change should be achieved?
Revolutionary
- evolution and revisionism is not possible
- revolution is spontaneous
⤷ not organised by elite individuals
What are Webb’s views on the state?
- Supportive of expansion of the state, not overthrowing it
⤷ not anarchical
