Politics Edexcel Paper 1

the political left - - collectivism - interests of the wider community are superior to the interests of the individual - universal distribution of benefits eg health education - positive view on hn, people are social animals - promotion of equality, fraternity and freedom the political right - - importance of the individual - flawed hn, need discipline - rejection of collectivism - role of the state should be limited - people should pursue their own goals - inequality can be a positive force creating an incentive - peace and security is more important than rights and freedoms example of consensus politics - the 'butskellite' consensus (1945-79) - Tory party came to accept the 1945-51 Labour reforms - mixed economy, some nationalised industry and some private enterprises - belief in the important of welfare state - commitment in foreign policy to NATO and alliance with the USA - organised labour through trade unions to balance employer powers example of adversary politics - Labour/Conservative divide (1981-90) - Tories dominated by Thatcher moved to the right and Labour under Michael Foot moved to the left - T's reduced income tax to create better incentives, L wanted high IT - T reduced welfare benefits L wanted to increase to create equality - T wanted to withdraw the state from control of large industries and privatise them, L opposed privatisation Traditional Labour Ideas and Principles - - equality - collectivism - control of capitalism, no exploitation of workers - social justice eg education, welfare - differences between classes should be reconciled eg firm econ management, control unemployment, reduce exploitation, nationalisation New Labour/ The Third Way ideas and principles - - individualism eg home ownership, small businesses - the free market: public interest, wealth creator - welfare state - social justice eg change min wage, good living standards - responsibility to care for the community eg environment - ethical foreign policy traditional conservatism ideas and principles - - order eg strong law and order, strong gov - organic society: natural societal development, society depends on each other - fear of diversity, threaten social unity - support for tradition - support for private property and accumulated wealth - pragmatism new right/ thatcherite ideas and principles - - free market and neo-liberalism: markets free from intervention - anti-unionism (trade unions are a barrier to