This document contains 4 comprehensive essay plans on the state, human nature, society and the economy. Each plan has at least 2-3 key thinkers and a couple of secondary thinkers as well. They have all been approved by the head of Politics at my school and each one is extremely detailed with all th...
Economy founded on Level of state intervention
private ownership- state
control kept to what is Traditional and one nation
necessary - keynesianism (paternalistic overview of the country with the goal of full
employment, stopping the threat of two nations, the have’s and have
Humans are naturally not’s (Disraeli))
competitive → private - limits support for socialism and ideological revolutions- traditionals
ownership aligns best with believe in evolutionary reform through pragmatic changes
our nature - limited interventionist economic management techniques eg. higher tax
and public spending on welfare to tackle drawbacks of private
ownership (traditionals like Hobbes)
New Right neo-liberals
- Absolute private ownership and deregulation of the economy-
importance of individual freedom
- Taxation and spending- minimum
- Minarchist not interventionist state- oversees disputes between private
organisations - Nozick
- Ayn Rand (The fountainhead 1943) - laissez faire, privatised
economy- compatible with human self interest and the expression of
objectivist individualism should not be hindered by the state- ‘man must
be the beneficiary of his own moral actions’
Attitudes towards the economy
They agree They disagree
Favour capitalism and How good free-market capitalism is
believe that free-market
capitalism has potential for Traditional and one nation
good at the very least - It’s potential can only be actualised through intervention
- Completely untamed fmc highlights inequality and threatens a united
When it prospers and nation
wealth is created, risk of - 19th century- tariffs introduced by traditionalists to shelter society from
rebellion is reduced harmful aspects of laissez faire- Oakeshott (On human conduct
1975) - free markets are unpredictable so we need to call upon
Most fulfilling and pragmatism like this
rewarding system
New Right
- Only a positive force for good- reduces dependency on welfare
- Nozick (Anarchy, State and Utopia 1974) - forced intervention is
immoral as it requires imposing taxes → form of slavery, uses people
as a means to an end and devalues intrinsic dignity ‘taxation of
earnings from labour is on par with forced labour’ (Kant) hence only
self ownership is moral
, Wider economic impacts of capitalism
They agree They disagree
Promotes cosmopolitan How they feel about this expansion of capitalism
societies because it is
successful so has potential Traditional and neo-conservatives
to expand globally - Traditional- Multiculturalism and globalisation could erode their sense
of national identity and culture which threatens one nation ideology
Could increase immigration - Neocons- Thatcher felt threatened by immigration in the 60s
and multiculturalism
Neo-liberals
- Immigration is a neutral side effect not a hindrance of the effective
economic system and of people’s individual choice
- Atomism and objectivism, Ayn Rand, makes them indifferent
- Not concerned with preserving a united nation- society is a collection of
individuals and multiculturalism has no effect on an individuals rational
self-interest and fulfilment
HUMAN NATURE
Human imperfection
They agree They disagree
Pessimistic (mostly) Not all conservatives see these traits as imperfect
Because of our human Traditional and neo-conservatives
nature we should stray - These traits are innate so we are intrinsically imperfect
from ideology and stick to - We can mitigate and adapt to these qualities with capitalism- but they
tradition, pragmatism and aren’t good
empiricism- we are too - Trying to exist in Hobbes’ ‘state of nature’ would make us revert back
aggressive, selfish and to a ‘war of every man against every man’- we need order from
competitive for fraternity or capitalism to combat this
equality
Neo-liberals
We need capitalism - These traits are good- we need capitalism to preserve them
because of our human - Atomistic individualism- require these qualities for self-reliance
nature - Ayn Rand- altruism creates an artificial sense of obligation and doesn’t
align with rational self interest- selfishness is not imperfect
- Nozick- these qualities enhance self ownership (John Locke-
autonomy over labour, talents, bodies etc) and deter us from an
organic, dependent society BUT he lies in the middle- preservation of
life liberty and prosperity leaves potential for theft and violence which
humans are more than capable of- not all of our nature is good
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller simranvaria. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
