Politics test Flashcards
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?
Keynesian: 1935
Neoliberal: 1984
Which government established the Keynesian policy regime and modern welfare state?
The first labour government (In power from 1936 to 1949)
How many people were unemployed in 1950?
12
Briefly list four key feature of the Keynesian policy regime
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
What was the key idea underpinning the Keynesian policy regime?
Free markets generate stagnation, unemployment and inequality, state needs to intervene (by using economic management and social welfare)
What was the key idea underpinning the Neoliberal policy regime?
If the government maintain low inflation, then the economy will spontaneously generate economic growth, higher employment and balance of payments equilibrium
Briefly list four key features of the Neoliberal policy regime, implemented from 1984 to 1999
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
Which two governments rapidly and comprehensively implemented the neoliberal policy regime from 1984 to 1999?
1 - The Fourth Labour government, 1984-1990
2 - The fourth National government, 1990-1999
According to liberal pluralists, what are two of the main areas in which citizens can exert influence over the government?
Through the participation in elections and the use of communication through the media
Define the third way of the fifth Labour government by reference to the First way and the Second way
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.
Briefly outline one point for and against the neoliberal policy regime from 1984-1999
For: Low stable rate of inflation
Against: Large balance of payments deficits
The critics of liberal pluralism argue that business can exert disproportionate influence on government policy-making. Briefly state two points they make
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
According to Marxists, what are two key sources of working class power?
Numerical strength and size, the fact that they are essential to industry and services
Capitalism generates high levels of socio-economic inequality. According to Marxists, this generation of Socio-inequality centrally involves and process of ________?
Exploitation
What are three major forms of democracy to have emerged thus far in history
Athenian, liberal and socialist
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
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
when was the Labour party established and what social movement did it emerge
Was formed in 1916 in response to labour struggles seen from the trade union movement
Since was founded in 1936, the National party had been consistently supported by members of two powerful social classes. What are these classes?
Rural and farming communities and business/professional classes
Briefly outline two major policies of one of the following minority parties: ACT, Nz first, Te Pati Maori, the Greens
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
Climate change is an example of injustice between generation. Outline why in a sentence or two
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
What impact has the shift from Keynesianism to Neoliberalism in tertiary education policy making had on: Student allowances, Tuition fees, and Student debt
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.
Budget 2024 centrally involved an emphasis on doing two things. What were these?
Budget cuts and tax relief
With respect to housing, “ New Zealand has the highest level of ________ (per capita) in the OECD”
Homelessness
What is the central idea of Finlands housing first policy
That housing is a basic human right and should be provided to people without reconditions regardless of their background
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?
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
The global Financial crisis of 2008 constitutes a turning point in world history. Briefly outline two key developments since 2008 that support this claim
The rise of austerity policies and the Growth of Populist and Anti-Globalization Movements
