Political Theory Flashcards
Key Features (20 Mark)
Main Points
- Private Property vs Common Ownership of Property
- Human Imperfection vs Positive View of Human Nature
- Hierarchy vs Equality
Key Features (12 Mark)
Main Points
Conservatism
- Hierarchy vs Tradition
- Private Property vs Authority
Hierarchy vs Tradition
PEELREEL
P: One key feature is Hierarchy
E: Hierarchy in society is viewed as inevitable and is reflected through merit - natural inequality in power. Benjamin Disraeli argued that higher up should help poor
E: David Cameron intro 2010 equality act to address gender and ethnic inequality and it showed obligation for wealthy helping less fortunate
R: Another key feature is Tradition
E: Conserve British tradition, history and institutions like . Edmund Burke said “change is only necessary in order to conserve”
E: Conservative Rhetoric of Unionism being against Scot Independence as they want to preserve UK identity.
Private Property vs Authority
PEELREEL
P: Key feature Private Property
E: Owning property is vital as it offers individual security and independence while aslo encouraging goals. Edmund Burke believed PP is necessary for participation in politics or political representation
E: Thatchers ‘Right to buy scheme’ in 1980’s allowing people to buy their council house at reduced rates was seen as good
R: Key feature Authority
E: Those higher up in social class will inevitably have the education and experience to provide leadership to those in lower classes. Edmund Burke believed the French revo was cause by lack of respect for authority
E: Johnson exercised his authority by arguing Brexit would increase national security and allow more control over borders
Private Property vs Common Ownership of Property
PEELREEL
P- Conservatism have the key feature of private ownership of property
E- Viewed as vital, offers individual security + a goal to financially aim for, Edmund Burke believed PP was a predominant requirement political representation and participation
E- Thatchers ‘Right to buy scheme’ in 1980’s allowing people to buy their council house at reduced rates was seen as good
R- Socialism has the key feature of common ownership of property
E- PP promotes social division and selfishness - they want wealth and property to be spread equally, Karl Marx argued in his manifesto that PP should be abolished
E- Socialists believe the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme in the 1980’s by Margret Thatcher would have negative impacts to the economy
Human Imperfection vs Positive View of Human Nature
PEELREEL
P- Conservatism has the key feature of human imperfection
E- See humanity as being naturally greedy and lacking a clear moral compass meaning enforce the law and punishment, Edmund Burke argued humans were intellectually imperfect especially in social life
E- Boris Johnson supported ‘Aurthers’ Law to ensure whole life sentences for child murders or perpetrators
R- Socialism has the key feature of positive views on human nature
E- People can be modified and improved in the right conditions, if ‘corrupt’ it is due to environment which can change, Karl Marx believed capitalism alienated men from their labour and true human nature
E- Socialists would support the rehabilitation of criminals as they see causes of crime as poverty and social exclusion not human nature
Hierarchy vs Equality
PEELREEL
P- Conservatism has the key feature of Hierarchy
E- It is inevitable in society and reflects the different roles developed by merit - a natural inequality in power, Benjamin Disraeli argued those with more power and wealth have the responsibility to help those with less
E- David Cameron introduced the equality act 2010 to address gender and racial inequality which showed an obligation for the powerful to help
R- Socialism has the key feature of Equality
E- everyone should receive the same quality if outcome and have the same equal access to resources, Karl Marx said “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need” - those with the most give the most vice verse
E- Jeremy Corbin tried to get free education tuitions at University in England like in Scotland
Power (12 Mark)
Main Points
- Open Face of Power
- Manipulating Desires Face of Power
Open Face of Power
PEELREEL
P- Open Face of Power
E- Steven Luke’s open face of power is the open and transparent power of decision making, visible to majority
E- The Lib - Con coalition gov introduced the social care act in 2012 had over 1000 amendment’s
R- Not common in dictatorships
E- Dictatorships often hide or twist results or polls in order to maintain control over and power so open face is less relevant here
E- One of the few dictatorships in the world is North Korea which is ruled by the kim dynasty for the last 75 years
Manipulating Desires Face of Power
PEELREEL
P- The Manipulating Desires face of power is seen today in dictatorships
E- Dictatorships use subtle manipulation and deception to cause the public to vote or like the dictator
E- Hitler used charismatic speeches and the negatives of the treaty of Versailles to manipulate people into joining his cause and voting for him
R- Manipulating Desires face of Power can also appear in Democracy
E- Manipulating the public’s opinion in order to sway a decision in their favour without the public knowing
E- In the 2016 US election a company called Cambridge Analytica helped Trump create the ‘crooked Hilary’ campaign - painting Clinton in a bad light to the public
Authority (12 Mark)
Main Points
- Legal Rational Authority
- Traditional Authority
Traditional Authority
PEELREEL
P- Traditional Authority is relevant
E- Exists primarily through monarchies, unelected leaders or dictatorships and has long standing authority through hereditary power and tradition
E- The British Monarchy have traditional authority due to being figure heads and pass down their titles like Queen Elizabeth to King Charles
R- However its less relevant
E- Monarchies and Dictatorships are less common making Traditional Authority less relevant in modern day society
E- One of the few dictatorships in the world is North Korea which has been ruled by the kim dynasty for the last 75 years
Legal Rational Authority
PEELREEL
P- Legal Rational Authority is relevant
E- In democracies parties get legal rational authority by gaining majority from the public in an election
E- In 1997 Labour won majority with 418 of 659 seats with a huge turnout of 71% which gave authority
R- Legal Rational Authority is less relevant
E- If the party loses the next election then it is irrelevant as the public no longer accept them as having power
E- In 2010 Labour lost the general election with 258 seats to the Con + Lib coalition who respectively had 306 seats and 57
Legitimacy (12 Mark)
Main Points
- Legitimacy via elections
- A leader trying to keep their people safe
Legitimacy via elections
PEELREEL
P- Legitimacy can be enabled through elections
E- By winning the majority in an election the party is gaining legitimate claim to power and authority via consent of the public
E- In 2015 the SNP won 56/59 seats in the Scottish general elections
R- An electoral system may not deliver a winner winner
E- Of there is no clear winner via majority consent then parties must find other illegitimate methods to claim majority
E- in 2015 under David Cameron cons won with only 36.9% of votes because the First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system used still delivered them 51% of the seats
