New Right

Question 1

What 2 strands make up the New Right?

Answer 1

Neo-liberalism

Neo-conservatism

Question 2

What are neo-liberals summed up?

Answer 2

modernised version of classical liberalism

based on free market economy, minimal state and individual freedoms

Question 3

What are neo-conservatives summed up?

Answer 3

updated form fo traditional conservative social thinking

based on commitment to order, traditional values and public morality

Question 4

In what ways can New Right be seemingly radical (e.g. liberal)?

Answer 4

determination to abandon government interventionism in economic and social affairs

attack ‘permissive’ social attitudes (people should make their own moral choices)

Question 5

In what ways can the New Right be seen as reactionary (opposing political discourse e.g. right wing)?

Answer 5

often appearing wanting to turn clock back to 1800s which they regard as mythical age of economical liberty and moral responsibility

Question 6

How did New Right thinking emerge? And When?

Answer 6

as a rival to one-nation conservatism

1970s

Question 7

What are the main componetns of neo liberalism?

Answer 7

1. minimal state
2. self-reliant individuals capable of making rational decisions in own interests
3. rejection of collectivism
4. elimination of government intervention

Question 8

Why do neoliberals support free market?

Answer 8

1. meet consumer demands
2. maximise use of resources
3. achieve greatest overall prosperity

Question 9

What do neoliberals perceive as 3 main threats to the free market?

Answer 9

Monopolies
Inflation
Government intervention

Question 10

How do neoliberals criticise Keynesian policies?

Answer 10

create inflation by encouraging governments to print too much money or provide too much credit

Question 11

What policies did Thatcher pursue in the 1980s? How were they justified?

Answer 11

‘Supply-side policies’

justified: saying it would address the problem of mounting employment

Question 12

Why do neoliberals oppose increases in social welfare? What do they propose instead?

Answer 12

they distort the market rather than alleviate economic problems

an extensive privatisation policy in 1980s
e.g. transferred state-owned industries to the private sector

Question 13

What are the consequences of neoliberal support for atomistic individualism and negative freedom?

Answer 13

criticise state welfare for:
- creating a dependency culture

• infringing property rights by imposing high taxes on individuals to fund benefits payments

Question 14

On what issue does neoconservatism agree with neoliberalism?

Answer 14

the necessity of reducing the state’s role in the economy

Question 15

How far does neo-conservatism agree with one-nation conservatives on its view of authority?

Answer 15

it is much more authoritarian than one-nation conservatism

Question 16

Why do neo-conservtives focus on upholding social order and protecting public morality?

Answer 16

since 1960s, authority and respect have declined in Western nations

its leading to higher crime and increased rates of anti-social behaviour

Question 17

What is permissiveness and why do eno-conservatives reject it?

Answer 17

great or excessive freedom or behaviour

they reject it because there is not objective right or wrong
concern for public morality also stems from the emergence for ‘anything goes’ culture in some Western countries during the 1960s

Question 18

What do New Right agree with one-nation conservatism?

Answer 18

reduce the dividie between rich and poor

Question 19

What do New Right disagree with on-nation conservatism?

Answer 19

welfare state
ONE NATION: expand it
NR: dismiss it

economy
ONE NATION: mixed economy
NR: supply-side approach

Question 20

How far is New Right thinking compatible with one-nation conservatism?

Answer 20

New Right is more radical and one nation is more pragmatic, therefore there is not much compatibility