Theories: The New Right Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the New Right?

A

A collection of right-wing ideas that advocated neo-liberal economics, anti-welfarism, a belief in traditional morality, and minimal government interference.

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2
Q

Why is the New Right known as ‘Political functionalism’?

A

Because it is not social theory, it is an ideology which argues society is generally beneficial for individuals.

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3
Q

What type of Theory is the New Right?

A
  • Political
  • Consensus
  • Structural view
  • Positivist
  • Macro
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4
Q

What is Neo-liberalism?

A

A set of economic and political ideas which became popular with the UK conservative government in 1980 and the New Labour government (1997-2010).

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5
Q

What are the ideas of Neo-liberalism?

A

Stress the need for a free market (where prices are determined by the consumer) economy, in which competition between manufacturers and service providers is promoted with little regulation from the government. Believe free markets maximise personal freedom and consumer choice.

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6
Q

How do the New Right view the family?

A
  • See it as the cornerstone of society.
  • Believe the nuclear family socialises children into traditional status roles.
  • See traditional family as under attack from liberal government social policies.
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7
Q

New Right - Traditional Mortality

A

New right thinkers emphasise traditional ways of thinking and conservative morals.

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8
Q

New Right - Rolling back the state

A
  • Support rolling back of state services and replacement with private providers.
  • Services would then compete in a free market to provide a greater choice to consumers - competition thought to drive down prices and raise standards.
  • Believe state provision of public services wastes money and is inefficient compared to private provision.
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9
Q

Murray (1990)

A

Argues state benefits need to be cut so that members of the underclass are forced into the labour market to look for work.

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10
Q

New Right - Anti-welfarism

A

The NR raises concerns about the breakdown of the family and the loss of individuals taking responsibility for themselves and their families, relying instead too greatly on what they deem an over-generous welfare state.

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11
Q

What do the New Right believe an over-generous welfare state leads to?

A

A culture of dependency, increases in juvenile crime, and ultimately societal breakdown.

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12
Q

What is Anti-welfarism?

A

Being against state benefits.

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13
Q

What is a ‘culture of dependency’?

A

A culture in which individuals simply live off state benefits and don’t seek employment, over reliance on the welfare system.

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14
Q

How does the family socialise people into traditional roles?

A
  • Teaching children gender stereotypes
  • Exposing children to parents who fulfil the traditional gender roles
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15
Q

What do New Right thinkers believe competition does?

A

Maximise personal freedom and consumer choice, improve standards and quality of products.

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16
Q

Why do critics of the New Right argue it justifies patriarchy?

A

Because it socialises children into ‘traditional’ gender roles, that encourage patriarchal views.

17
Q

Strengths of New Right Ideology:

A
  • Proposes introducing social policy to overcome issues which may occur in certain parts of society.
  • Has had an impact on all government post 1970.
  • Ideas on society and how it should be organised has shaped both conservative and labour policy.
  • Free-markets have encouraged competition and strengthened the economy.
  • Provides political support for functionalist views on how social order is created.
18
Q

What is an example of a policy which has been introduced as a result of New Right ideas?

A

Troubled Families programme (2017) - initiative to try and tackle families where no one was employed.

19
Q

Feminist criticism of the New Right

A

The view that traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are best for children, is patriarchal, and promotes the oppression of women.

20
Q

Marxist criticisms of the New Right

A

Underclass theory places the blame for poverty on the behaviour of the individual, however Marxists recognise that poverty is actually caused by wider social, economic, and political factors over which people have little control.

21
Q

Field (1990)

A

Argues it is unfair for the New Right to engage in victim blaming.

22
Q

General criticisms of the New Right:

A
  • No convincing evidence that a distinct subculture with its own unique value system actually exists.
  • Emphasis on traditional values is dated and fails to take into account social changes.
  • Little evidence that private provision is indeed more efficient than state provision.
23
Q

The New Right - SPF

A

The New Right have criticised single-parent families, but evidence suggests that despite poverty, single mothers do an effective job in raising their children.