Conservatism, Liberalism and Socialism: Politics Edexcel A level

To what extent are conservatives united in their attitude towards the state?

Conservatives disagree on the proper role of the state as one-nation conservatives wish it to grow stronger, neo-liberals wish it abandoned economic regulation, neo-conservatives wish it interfered more with the moral choices of individuals, libertarians wish for a minimal state, whereas traditional conservatives consider it important for the state to protect personal liberties but accept that even a bad state is better than no state, believing it to be formed by actions of the people who made it.

To what extent is there more to unite rather than divide the New Right from One-Nation conservatives?

One-Nation conservatives and the New Right agree that the state is necessary to secure law and order in society, and they all support capitalism. However, they disagree on the outlook on individuals and society, human nature, as well as the extent to which the state should interfere in the economy.

To what extent are conservatives united in their view of society?

All conservatives agree individuals are part of society which is natural and self-regulating, thereby requiring the state to be minimal. What they disagree on is the importance of the individual, the character of hierarchy, the importance of tradition, and the role of society in setting up a moral code for all to follow.

To what extent is liberalism more concerned with society than with the economy?

All liberals consider a free society and a free market to be indivisive principles but classical liberals seek equality of opportunity through a laissez-faire approach to the market, whereas modern liberals recognise the need for regulation.

To what extent do modern liberals accept the ideas of classical liberals?

Liberals agree on the rationality of human nature and the equality of individuals as the integral units of tolerant meritocratic societies that can only be established within the framework of the state. However, classical and modern liberals disagree on the scope of this state, the type of freedom it should uphold, the appropriate level of its interference in the economy, and the trust they have in democracy.

To what extent is socialism more disunited than united?

Socialists agree that humans are good by nature but corrupted by society and that policies should strive toward the achievement of equality with particular attention being placed on the issues faced by the poor. They disagree on the potential of the capitalist economy for change, the role of the state and the prospects of reforming it, as well as the importance of class struggle in history.

To what extent does socialism depend on a view of society based only on class?

Apart from Thid Way socialists who don't believe class to be the founding element of society, other socialists recognise the class divide produced by capitalism which disadvantages the lower classes, even though they disagree on how to address this problem.

To what extent do socialists have conflicting views over how the economy should operate?

All socialists agree that an unfair economy produces an unfair society in which workers are exploited by those owning more capital. Consequently, all socialists seek to address economic issues in order to achieve more equality. Yet, socialists tend to disagree on whether or not to abolish private property and capitalism or to reform it, whether or not the economy by itself is the source of all issues, and what type of equality we should strive to achieve.