A-level Politics
Core Political Ideas Revision:
Useful Resources:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/conservatism/
Political Science Blog covers all three core ideologies.
https://www.tutor2u.net/politics/collections/profiles-of-key-political-thinkers (Key Political Thinkers).
https://www.academia.edu/33060576/The_Major_Ideologies_of_Liberalism_Socialism_and_Conservatism_Political_Studies_2015
Four Key Themes of Political Ideologies Studies:
Human Nature
The State
Society
The Economy
, Conservatism:
Key Thinkers: Ideological Views: Key Principles:
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) Traditional Conservative: 1) Human
Edmund Burke (1729–1797) Commitment to hierarchical and Imperfection
Michael Oakeshott (1901– paternalistic values. 2) Pragmatism
1990) One-Nation Conservative: Updating 3) Tradition
Ayn Rand (1905–1982) traditional conservatism due to 4) Organic
Robert Nozick (1938–2002) capitalism. Society
New Right: The marriage of neo-liberal 5) Paternalism
and neo conservative ideas. 6) Libertarianism
Origins and Overview:
• Traditional Conservatism began to emerge in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
• Key events such as the French Revolution, Enlightenment and American War of Independence,
raised the concern of the need to conserve tradition and functional institutions.
• Many were concerned by the speed and extent with which change was occurring. Conservatism
therefore evolved as a reactionary measure to the instability brought by rapid reform, and the
threat to social cohesion and natural authority.
• One Nation Conservatism developed as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the sever class
divisions. This new branch advocated for necessary reforms and a paternalistic society, whereby
the wealthy had a duty to the impoverished industrial working-classes.
• One Nation was further advanced following the two World Wars, as the Traditional approach
became outdated for the views of a more engaged and expectant public.
• New Right as a reaction to 1970’s economic crises as confidence in the states competence to
intervene successfully severely diminished. Neo-Conservatism and Neo Liberalism.
Human Nature:
Traditional Conservative:
• Humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray, therefore not dependable.
• Capacity for logic and reason is limited, making the complexities of social life unfathomable.
• Morally imperfect, and inherently selfish, some focus on intellectual imperfection.
• Believe humans are intellectually capable, but wary of rationalism.
• Individuals are socially embedded creatures.
One-Nation Conservative:
• Limited view of competency and ability.
• Same basic assumptions around human limitation as Traditional.
• Imperfect due to sectional interests and/or ideological goals.
• Social cohesion cannot be maintained through individual choice alone.
• Liberty and freedom are essential, and must be maintained.
New Right:
• Individuals are rational agents capable of directing their own lives, but are still naturally flawed.
• Individual flourish when independent, encouraged by self-interested personalities.
• Human Nature is naturally imperfect, and very little can be done to improve it.
• Individuals will succumb to disorder, but require freedom to pursue own goals.
Core Political Ideas Revision:
Useful Resources:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/conservatism/
Political Science Blog covers all three core ideologies.
https://www.tutor2u.net/politics/collections/profiles-of-key-political-thinkers (Key Political Thinkers).
https://www.academia.edu/33060576/The_Major_Ideologies_of_Liberalism_Socialism_and_Conservatism_Political_Studies_2015
Four Key Themes of Political Ideologies Studies:
Human Nature
The State
Society
The Economy
, Conservatism:
Key Thinkers: Ideological Views: Key Principles:
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) Traditional Conservative: 1) Human
Edmund Burke (1729–1797) Commitment to hierarchical and Imperfection
Michael Oakeshott (1901– paternalistic values. 2) Pragmatism
1990) One-Nation Conservative: Updating 3) Tradition
Ayn Rand (1905–1982) traditional conservatism due to 4) Organic
Robert Nozick (1938–2002) capitalism. Society
New Right: The marriage of neo-liberal 5) Paternalism
and neo conservative ideas. 6) Libertarianism
Origins and Overview:
• Traditional Conservatism began to emerge in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
• Key events such as the French Revolution, Enlightenment and American War of Independence,
raised the concern of the need to conserve tradition and functional institutions.
• Many were concerned by the speed and extent with which change was occurring. Conservatism
therefore evolved as a reactionary measure to the instability brought by rapid reform, and the
threat to social cohesion and natural authority.
• One Nation Conservatism developed as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the sever class
divisions. This new branch advocated for necessary reforms and a paternalistic society, whereby
the wealthy had a duty to the impoverished industrial working-classes.
• One Nation was further advanced following the two World Wars, as the Traditional approach
became outdated for the views of a more engaged and expectant public.
• New Right as a reaction to 1970’s economic crises as confidence in the states competence to
intervene successfully severely diminished. Neo-Conservatism and Neo Liberalism.
Human Nature:
Traditional Conservative:
• Humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray, therefore not dependable.
• Capacity for logic and reason is limited, making the complexities of social life unfathomable.
• Morally imperfect, and inherently selfish, some focus on intellectual imperfection.
• Believe humans are intellectually capable, but wary of rationalism.
• Individuals are socially embedded creatures.
One-Nation Conservative:
• Limited view of competency and ability.
• Same basic assumptions around human limitation as Traditional.
• Imperfect due to sectional interests and/or ideological goals.
• Social cohesion cannot be maintained through individual choice alone.
• Liberty and freedom are essential, and must be maintained.
New Right:
• Individuals are rational agents capable of directing their own lives, but are still naturally flawed.
• Individual flourish when independent, encouraged by self-interested personalities.
• Human Nature is naturally imperfect, and very little can be done to improve it.
• Individuals will succumb to disorder, but require freedom to pursue own goals.
