Politics test

Question 1

There are two clear turning points in New Zealand’s political history with respect to the Keynesian and neoliberal policy regimes. What are the key dates that mark these turning points?

Answer 1

Keynesian: 1935
Neoliberal: 1984

Question 1

Which government established the Keynesian policy regime and modern welfare state?

Answer 1

The first labour government (In power from 1936 to 1949)

Question 2

How many people were unemployed in 1950?

Answer 2

12

Question 2

Briefly list four key feature of the Keynesian policy regime

Answer 2

1- State intervention in economy and society
2 - Primary commitment to full employment through management of economy
3 - Public provision of housing, health, education, welfare, and retirement income
4 - Limited state ownership

Question 3

What was the key idea underpinning the Keynesian policy regime?

Answer 3

Free markets generate stagnation, unemployment and inequality, state needs to intervene (by using economic management and social welfare)

Question 4

What was the key idea underpinning the Neoliberal policy regime?

Answer 4

If the government maintain low inflation, then the economy will spontaneously generate economic growth, higher employment and balance of payments equilibrium

Question 5

Briefly list four key features of the Neoliberal policy regime, implemented from 1984 to 1999

Answer 5

1 - Monetarist Management of the economy: reserve bank control of money
2 - Market liberalization: Deregulation of the financial sector, liberalization of foreign trade, removal of direct assistance to industry and agriculture
3 - Regressive taxation reform: Top marginal income tax reduced, GST raised, most NZ households are paying roughly the same % of tax on gross income
4 - Public sector reform: Commercialisation, corporisation, privatisation

Question 6

Which two governments rapidly and comprehensively implemented the neoliberal policy regime from 1984 to 1999?

Answer 6

1 - The Fourth Labour government, 1984-1990
2 - The fourth National government, 1990-1999

Question 7

According to liberal pluralists, what are two of the main areas in which citizens can exert influence over the government?

Answer 7

Through the participation in elections and the use of communication through the media

Question 7

Define the third way of the fifth Labour government by reference to the First way and the Second way

Answer 7

First way is Keynesianism, characterised by strong state intervention
Second way is neoliberalism, characterised by the large de-regulation and privatisation
The third way aims to tread a middle path between the two, blending market economy with social justice, balancing fiscal prudence with welfare investment.

Question 8

Briefly outline one point for and against the neoliberal policy regime from 1984-1999

Answer 8

For: Low stable rate of inflation
Against: Large balance of payments deficits

Question 9

The critics of liberal pluralism argue that business can exert disproportionate influence on government policy-making. Briefly state two points they make

Answer 9

Corporations and the rich can exercise disproportionate influence over government policy making, This is because of:
a - Money from businesses impacts the economy significantly which results in somewhat of a government dependency
b - Businesses are more influential in the media

Question 10

According to Marxists, what are two key sources of working class power?

Answer 10

Numerical strength and size, the fact that they are essential to industry and services

Question 10

Capitalism generates high levels of socio-economic inequality. According to Marxists, this generation of Socio-inequality centrally involves and process of ________?

Answer 10

Exploitation

Question 11

What are three major forms of democracy to have emerged thus far in history

Answer 11

Athenian, liberal and socialist

Question 12

Describe one respect in which the shift from FPP to MMP has improved the representativeness of parliament and one respect in which the representativeness of parliament has not improved

Answer 12

MMP utilizes all of the votes, implementing both the electoral votes and party votes which gives a voice to the entire voting population. With this implemented, the representation of genders and all ethnic groups has increased.

On the other there has not been an improvement of the representation of different classes, the lower and middle class in particular

Question 13

when was the Labour party established and what social movement did it emerge

Answer 13

Was formed in 1916 in response to labour struggles seen from the trade union movement

Question 14

Since was founded in 1936, the National party had been consistently supported by members of two powerful social classes. What are these classes?

Answer 14

Rural and farming communities and business/professional classes

Question 15

Briefly outline two major policies of one of the following minority parties: ACT, Nz first, Te Pati Maori, the Greens

Answer 15

Climate-safe communities - redesigning towns and cities to work with nature and people

Clean power payment - To help citizens cover the cost of upgrading your home to run on clean

Question 16

Climate change is an example of injustice between generation. Outline why in a sentence or two

Answer 16

One of the basic tenets of democracy is the principle of equality: creating equitable solutions to situation in which social benefits and burdens are equally experienced. Through the issue of climate change, previous generations were the creators and main causes of a lot of the climate issues seen today and the future issues to be seen will only be felt by those generations to come. This has created an injustice between generations

Question 17

What impact has the shift from Keynesianism to Neoliberalism in tertiary education policy making had on: Student allowances, Tuition fees, and Student debt

Answer 17

The shift from Keynesianism to neoliberalism brought forward a new ‘user pays’ mindset which shifted to become less equitable and impacted tertiary education through:
a. Student allowances - stricter requirements for student allowance
b. Tuition fees - Previously funded by progressive taxation, cut back on funding under neoliberalism
c. Student debt: risen due to all of these factors
The resulting savings from cutting back on spending for education is instead being used on tax cuts for the rich.

Question 17

Budget 2024 centrally involved an emphasis on doing two things. What were these?

Answer 17

Budget cuts and tax relief

Question 18

With respect to housing, “ New Zealand has the highest level of ________ (per capita) in the OECD”

Answer 18

Homelessness

Question 19

What is the central idea of Finlands housing first policy

Answer 19

That housing is a basic human right and should be provided to people without reconditions regardless of their background

Question 20

For several decades, New Zealand has maintained an independent foreign policy and a ‘hedging strategy’ between China, on one side, and the US, Australia, and UK, on the other. Briefly outline one reason why New Zealand governments have maintained this approach, and one factor that is making it increasingly difficult for them to do so?

Answer 20

New Zealand has maintained a hedging strategy with China because they have an increasingly powerful economy and have proven to be a strong international trade partner.
New Zealand’s alliance with America has made it difficult to maintain a good relationship with China however as tensions grow between America and China due to Chinas future setting out to out-pace Americas economy

Question 21

The global Financial crisis of 2008 constitutes a turning point in world history. Briefly outline two key developments since 2008 that support this claim

Answer 21

The rise of austerity policies and the Growth of Populist and Anti-Globalization Movements