Politics UK (textbook) - chapter 5 Flashcards
Explain the key tenets of Conservatism?
The purpose of politics is social and political harmony: Where politics enables people to become what they are or wish to be - to keep options open.
Human nature is imperfect and corruptible: Altruism is only done within the family and most people are more interested in taking than giving and to see them as fairly easy to corrupt without strong government.
The rule of law is the basis of all freedom: This stops anarchic chaos and promotes liberty to create freedom.
Social institutions create a sense of society and nation: Social and political institutions help to bind together imperfect human being in society. Family and the institution of marriage is at the heart of this. The royal family provides a micr-model and the nation provides a macro-model for this.
Foreign policy is the pursuit of state interests in an anarchic world: nations have the characteristics of the individual without the restriction of law. A judicial defence is the best guide for a country in international relations.
Liberty is the highest political end: Individuals need freedom to develop their own personalities and create their own destinies. This should be limited when it starts to affect the liberty of others.
Government through check and balances: Diffusion of power between institutions all having a measure of independence preventing any single arm of government from being over-mighty.
Property: Referred to as the ‘first principle of justice ‘ by David Hume.
Equality of opportunity but not of result: We should all have the same opportunity to better ourselves. This is reflected in an unequal distribution of wealth, in which incentives are created to make the economy work and individuals industrious.
One nation: Combining the rich and the poor to create one democracy.
Rule by elite: The art of government should be given to those in good schools, universities and the armed forces.
Sound stewardship of the economy: Their experience of the world has brought an economic wisdom to the management of the economy - something Labour does not have.
Political change: They are suspicious of change as society develops organically. They believe in change when it is no longer resistible.
What is Thatcherite economics?
To control inflation it was necessary to control the supply of money credit circulating in the economy.
Foundation of all freedom is the freedom to buy, sell and employ. Socialism delivered the ‘high road to servitude’.
If markets were left to themselves, prosperity would be created. When markets were allowed to work properly they benefitted all classes.
State intervention destroyed freedom and efficiency through taking power from the consumer - wealth-producing sector become squeezed.
State welfare was expensive and morally weakening as well as monopolistic.
Trade unions were undemocratic.
She was a big defender of national interests and gave big support to the armed forces. The falklands war was an example of this.
Describe the John Major years of conservatism?
He largely pursued the policies of Thatcher, accepting the supremacy of the free market. He privatised British rail and introduced the market principle into areas of the welfare state. He however failed in managing the social fabric, in which inequality grew, a underclass was formed and immigration grew. His appeal on social morality backfired leading to interest in the morality of Tory MPs which were exposed in sexual and financial scandals. He was criticised severely and lost the 1997 election in a landslide.
Describe the William Hague years of conservatism?
The party turned to William Hague, sharp intellectually, youthful and bitingly witty. A eurosceptic and hostile to the idea of a single currency. He was considerate a moderate conservative. Polls failed to shift and policy changed - the common sense revolution of 1999 - tax cuts as a share of national income, keep clear of the euro, inefficient heads would be dismissed and a get-tough pledge on work dodgers.The Labour landslide in 2001 led to Hague resigning. This led to Ian Duncan Smith winning the next contest against Kenneth Clarke.
Describe the Ian Duncan Smith years of conservatism?
A very short-lived leadership. He tried to moves party towards social justice and the reduction of poverty. Dissatisfaction with his performances grew and Michael Howard was voted in.
Describe the Michael Howard years of Conservatism?
Another right-winger who stressed social justice and was a Eurosceptic. The party still lacked in the polls in 2005 and Howard resigned in 2005. He stayed on on to help the election of his successor - David Cameron.
Describe the election of David Cameron?
Howard had put in young and liberal members of the party to be in major positions, in response to the need of more centrist Conservatives to appeal to more people. Cameron with an impassioned speech easily won MPs over and became the next Tory leader.
Describe David Cameron’s change of the party?
Cameron discovered that individuals in focus groups liked policies until they heard it was a Conservative policy. This required a big shift on policies. He let it be known that he cared deeply about special needs childcare, the environment, world poverty and no longer hated gays or opposed civil partnerships. A Troy grandee Oliver Letwin declared that his party supported redistribution of wealth and Cameron shifted Conservatives’ position on immigration qualifying support for those essential to the economy. They also supported a tax increase of 4% to support public services. He declared cuts were also required. He kept the Tory core vote onside with a dash of Euroscepticism promoting the end of Tory membership of the European people’s party. His biggest change was arguably that the measurement to which social policy would be effective would be whether or not they helped the disadvantaged. When 2010 approached they promoted a reduction i government debt; protect the NHS and education budget; blame Labour for the financial crisis and reject any EU referendum talk. This led to a coalition government with the Lib Dems in 2010.
Describe Cameron’s premiership?
Cameron was plagued by the financial crisis, meaning that austerity policies were put in place and tax revenues were very low. To change this they soon implemented quantitative easing. Education and health were ring fenced from cuts but still struggled to keep up with demand and Europe ended up consuming more of Camerons time that was planned. Camerons ultimate concession, against the opinion of his chancellor and to please Eurosceptics in his party, was to hold an EU referendum. This was his biggest misjudgement. The leave campaign succeeded against his remain campaign and Cameron resigned in shame.
Describe Theresa May’s time in power?
Replacing Cameron, she took the issue of concerns of the working class and fighting against injustice seriously and she famously declared Brexit means Brexit. Although she never fulfilled the issue of fighting injustice as all her time was taken up trying to reach a Brexit deal. Her ‘soft’ approach to this deal led to the resignation of cabinet ministers and the deal being rejected three times in 2019 which led to her resignation that year.
Briefly describe the Labour party and socialism?
Socialism developed as a critique to capitalism and its political expression, Conservatism. Socialism has had a quasi-religious quality which explains why members talk of ‘loving’ their party. Conservatives would be less likely to express themselves this way.
How does socialism critique capitalism?
It argues that capitalists exploit the working masses by selling the fruits of their labour and taking the lions share. A small wealthy ruling class rule created, through their methods of production, are wealth and income inequalities. It is also argued that capitalist economies are inefficient and inferior to a planned economy due to the booms and slumps of a capitalist economy.
What are the principle of socialism?
Human nature is good: People wish to live together peacefully and cooperatively. Capitalism beats greed.
Environment creates consciousness: Superior environment will create a superior person.
Workers create wealth: They are entitled to receive the full fruits of their labour.
Equality: Everyone should have the same chances as everyone else regarding income and opportunity.
Freedom: The poor need more resources for the playing field of life to be level and thus truly free.
Collectivism: Social solidarity should take the place of selfish individualism.
What is labour corporate socialism?
Keynesian economics: Management of the economy, using investment to curve slumps and squeeze out unemployment.
Centralised planning of the economy: This corollary of the Keynesian approach and Labour claimed it would do the same for peace.
Nationalisation: Nationalise private industries such as water, gas and electricity.
Welfare state: The national health service established by Labour and an expansion of universal social services.
Mixed economy: Maintain both a public and private sector.
Socialist foreign policy: Disarmament and collective security should be sought.
How were the tenets of socialism revised in the 1950s by Anthony Crosland?
He said that Marx’s position in relation to capitalist societies was wrong. Ownership of the economy was no longer relevant as the key players were now salaried managers and not proprietors. He also said that nationalism was not the most effective road to socialism. Reducing inequality should be done through progressive taxation and redistribute benefits. This was Labours policy for the next 30 years. The issue with it arose when the economy was in decline as it was very dependent on an ever-expanding economy.