paper 1 key terms

UK politics & ideologies

hierarchy

Society is naturally structured in fixed tiers, not based on individual talent.

authority

Power comes from above; those at the top are best placed to make decisions for all.

change to conserve

Adapt society gradually to avoid rebellion or revolution.

atomism

Society is made up of self-interested, self-reliant individuals (egoistical individualism).

noblesse oblige

The duty of the wealthy to care for the less fortunate.

anti-permissiveness

Opposition to the idea that individuals should define their own morality; belief in objective right and wrong.

radical

Supports drastic political, social, and economic change (contrasts with conservative caution).

human imperfection

Humans are flawed—psychologically, morally, and intellectually—so cannot always act rationally.

laissez-faire

Minimal state intervention in the economy.

empiricism

Knowledge should come from practical experience, not abstract theory.

foundational equality

Natural, inalienable rights all humans are born with.

formal equality

Equal legal and political rights for all.

equality of opportunity

Everyone should have the same chances to succeed.

social contract

State exists by people’s consent, protecting their rights.

meritocracy

Success based on ability and hard work.

mechanistic theory

The state is a human creation, designed to serve society.

tolerance

The state is a human creation, designed to serve society.

limited government

Power constrained by checks and balances to prevent corruption.

egoistical individualism

Freedom tied to self-interest and self-reliance (atomism).

developmental individualism

Freedom linked to human flourishing and fulfilment.

negative freedom

Absence of external interference.

positive freedom

Personal fulfilment and potential realised.

laissez-faire capitalism

Market-driven economy, private ownership, profit-focused.

keynesianism

State intervention to manage the economy and ensure stability.

harm principle

Freedom is limited only by the duty not to harm others.

minimal state

State kept small to protect liberty.

enabling state

Larger state role in empowering individuals to achieve potential.

fraternity

Human bonds of comradeship and solidarity.

co-operation

Working collectively for shared benefit.

capitalism

Market system based on private ownership and profit.

common ownership

Collective ownership of production so all benefit.

communism

Classless society with communal ownership of wealth.

evolutionary socialism

Gradual, parliamentary route to reform and transformation.

marxism

Revolutionary theory predicting capitalism’s downfall and communism’s rise.

revisionism

Moderated socialism that accepts reformed capitalism.

social justice

Fair distribution of wealth, limiting inequality.

class consciousness

Awareness of class identity through collective struggle.

historical materialism

Economy shapes all aspects of society (superstructure).

dialectic

Progress through conflict, especially class struggle driving change.

keynesian economics

State intervention to stabilise markets and secure jobs.

legitimacy

'rightfulness' and the 'right to rule'. it raises 2 questions- what makes the powers exercised by a government legitimate? why should citizens obey the laws of the state?

direct democracy

a form of democracy that is based on the direct, immediate and continuous participation of citizens in the tasks of government.

representative democracy

a limited and indirect form of democracy, it operates through the ability of representatives to speak for, or act on behalf of, the people.

pluralist democracy

a form of democracy where power is widely dispersed throughout society allowing ordinary people to influence decisions and policies.

democratic deficit

a flaw in the democratic process whereby decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy.

participation crisis

the idea that there is a crisis in citizen involvement in the processes aimed at influencing the government and shaping politics due to the lack of interest by a significant number of citizens.

franchise/suffrage

referees to the right to vote in public elections, such the general election.

think tanks

a group of experts who provide advice, ideas and policy proposals on political, economic and social problems.

lobbyists

individuals and firms that are paid by clients to influence government and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords to act in their client's interests, particularly when legislation is under consideration.

old labour (social democracy)

principles embodying nationalisation, redistribution of wealth from rich to poor and the provision of continually improving welfare and state services.

new labour (third way)

developed by professor giddens, it moved away from the old class-based divisions to focus on community and attempts to merge together the centre-left aims of social policy with centre-right economic policies.

one nation conservatism

aims to heal the divisions in society in order to reinforce the ties that bind people together and to ensure everyone has the opportunity to flourish.

new right

an economic policy of neoliberalism and is an updated version of the classical liberal belief in the free market and self-reliant individual tied to a neoconservative view of society, with the emphasis on order, discipline and authority.

classical liberalism

an ideology built around the view that freedom and individualism are best achieved under a form of limited government and the free market.

modern liberalism

an ideology built around the view that freedom and individualism are best achieved by a greater role for the state in the economy and society to deliver equality of opportunity.

party systems

the number of political parties in a political system, and how those parties compete and cooperate.

left wing

political ideas that are based on generally optimistic views about human nature and believe that the state can be used to deliver social change.

right wing

political ideas that tend to be pessimistic about human nature and oppose change.

FPTP

the electoral system used in UK general elections where the candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected.

safe seat

a seat in which the incumbent has a considerable majority over their closest rival and which is largely immune from swings in voter choice.

AMS

a hybrid electoral system, there are two votes, one for a constituency using a simple plurality system and a second vote is assigned to a party list for an additional representative.

STV

this system allows voters to rank their voting preferences in numerical order than simply having one voting choice and to obtain a seat a candidate must obtain a quota.

SV

an electoral system in which the voter makes two preferential choices.

marginal seat

a seat held with a small majority, important as they are where the outcomes of elections are decided.

minority government

a government that enters office but does not have a majority of seats in the legislature, which makes passing legislation very difficult.

coalition government

a government that is formed of more than one political party, it is normally accompanied by an agreement over policy options and offices of state.

class dealignment

the process by which individuals no longer identify themselves as belonging to a certain class.

partisan dealignment

the process by which individuals no longer identify themselves on a long-term basis as being associated with a certain political party.

governing competency

the perceived ability of the governing ability in office to manage the affairs of the state well and effectively, it also applies to opposition parties and their potential governing competence.

disillusion and apathy

a process of disengagement with politics and political activity and lacking confidence in politics and politicians being able to solve issues and make a difference, resulting in low election turnout and poor awareness of contemporary events.

manifesto

a detailed statement of the actions and programmes that a political party would like to put in place if it is successful in the next election.

mandate

the successful party following an election claims it has the authority to implement its manifesto promises and also general permission to govern as new issues arise.