Politics Paper 1 Miniature Essay Plans

Evaluate The View That UK Democracy Is In A Participation Crisis. (30)

1. Elections & Referendums

2. Party Membership

3. Other Forms Of Political Participation

Evaluate The View That Think-Tanks, Lobbyists And Corporations Have Little Impact On Government Decisions. (30)

1. Think-Tanks

2. Lobbyists

3. Corporations

Evaluate The View That Rights Are Effectively Protected In The UK. (30)

1. Government & Parliament

2. Human Rights Pressure Groups

3. HRA

Evaluate The View That Reforms To Democracy In The UK Haven't Gone Far Enough. (30)

1. Replacing FPTP

2. Extending/Reforming The Franchise

3. Greater Use Of Direct Democracy

Evaluate The View That Pressure Groups Are Successful Due To Their Ability To Generate Mass Support. (30)

1. Mass Support

2. Government Attitudes (Being An Insider Group)

3. Strategy And Leadership

Evaluate The View That Direct Democracy Is Superior To Representative Democracy. (30)

1. Involving The People In Decision-Making

2. Representing The Population

3. Effectiveness Of Representative Democracy

Evaluate The View That The Right To Vote Should Be Extended To 16-17 Year Olds. (30)

1. Political Participation

2. Rights

3. Knowledge & Impact

Evaluate The View That The Franchise Should Be Extended. (30)

1. Votes At 16

2. Prisoners Voting

3. Compulsory Voting

Evaluate The View That Pressure Groups Have Little Impact On Government Decisions. (30)

1. Insider Pressure Groups

2. Outsider Pressure Groups

Evaluate The View That The Current Conservative Party Is A Thatcherite Party. (30)

1. Economic Policy

2. Law And Order & The Unions

3. Foreign Policy

Evaluate The View That The Policies Of The Main Parties Are More Similar Than They Are Dissimilar. (30)

1. Economic & Welfare Policy

2. Law & Order

3. Foreign Policy

Evaluate The View That Current Labour Party Policy Is Closer To Old Labour Than It Is To New Labour. (30)

1. Economic & Welfare Policy

2. Law & Order

3. Foreign Policy

Evaluate The View That The Funding Of Political Parties In The UK Should Be Reformed. (30)

1. Potential For Corruption And Undue Influence

2. Impact On The Two-Party System

3. Impact On Democracy

Evaluate The View That Minor Parties Do Not Matter In UK politics. (30)

1. Impact On Elections

2. Ability To Play A Role In Government

3. Impact On Policy

Evaluate The View That Leadership Is The Most Important Factor Determining The Success Of Political Parties In The UK. (30)

1. Leadership Vs Electoral System

2. Leadership Vs The Media

3. Leadership Vs Issue-Based And Rational Choice Voting

Evaluate the view that political parties help representative democracy. (30)

1. Participation

2. Representation

3. Organisation Of Government

Evaluate The View That First Past The Post Is The Most Effective Electoral System Currently In Use In The United Kingdom. (30)

1. Representation And Proportionality

2. Voter Choice

3. Type Of Government Created

Evaluate The View That Referendums Have A Positive Impact On The UK's Democracy. (30)

1. Impact On Representative Democracy

2. Reasons Why They Are Held

3. Impact On Political Participation

Evaluate The View That Class Remains The Most Important Social Factor Determining The Results Of Elections. (30)

1. Class Vs Age

2. Class Vs Education

3. Class Vs Region

Evaluate The View That The Influence Of The Media In Politics Is Exaggerated. (30)

1. Impact On Elections

2. Impact On Holding The Government To Account

3. Undermining Democracy

Evaluate The View That Social Media Is Now More Important Than Traditional Forms Of Media In Politics. (30)

1. Social Media Vs The Press

2. Social Media Vs Television & Radio

3. Social Media As A Democratic Force

Evaluate The View That Valance Factors Are The Most Important Factors Determining Voting Behaviour In The UK. (30)

1. Leadership Vs Rational Choice & Issue Based Voting

2. Competence Vs The Campaign

3. Valance Factors Vs Social Factors

Evaluate The Extent To Which General Elections In The UK Are Lost By The Government Rather Than Won By The Opposition. (30)

1. Leadership

2. Competence

3. Rational Choice & Issue Based Voting

To what extent are socialists united on the state? (24 marks)

1. Agreement That The State Should Intervene To Promote Equality

2. Disagreement On Whether The Capitalist State Should Be Overthrown In A Revolution

3. Disagreement over the extent of workers control of the state and the extent to which it should pursue collectivism.

To what extent are conservatives united in their views on society? (24 marks)

• Point of Agreement: Conservatives share common ground on order, property rights, and traditional values.

• Point of Disagreement 1: Traditional and one-nation conservatives believe in an organic society, while the New Right believes in atomism.

• Point of Disagreement 2: Traditional and one-nation conservatives believe in paternalism and hierarchy, which the New Right rejects.

To what extent are conservatives united on the state? (24 marks)

1. Agreement that the state should provide order and security

2. Disagreement over the extent to which the state should intervene in the economy and act in a paternalistic manner

3. Disagreement over whether the state should act based on pragmatism and tradition

To what extent are Conservatives united on their views of human nature? (24 Marks)

• Point of Agreement: Conservatives agree that human nature leads to disorder without the state.

• Point of Disagreement 1: Traditional and one-nation conservatives believe in human imperfection, while the New Right rejects this.

• Point of Disagreement 2: Traditional and one-nation conservatives believe society and communities shape human nature, while the New Right prioritises individualism.

To what extent are conservatives united on their views of the economy? (24)

1. Agreement - All Conservatives Support Capitalism And Property Rights

2. Disagreement - The New Right Believes In Libertarianism, Strongly Rejecting The Paternalism That One-Nation Conservatives Support

3. Disagreement - The New Right Rejected Hierarchy And Supported Capitalism For Very Different Reasons Than Traditional And One-Nation Conservatives

To What Extent Are Liberals United In Their Views Of Human Nature?

1. Liberals See Human Beings As Rational Beings Guided By Reason And Self-Interest.

2. Classical and Modern Liberals Agree That Women Are Equal To Men But Are Held Back By Human Nature

3. Liberals Disagree As To Whether Humans Can Pursue Their Goals Without The State

To what extent are liberals united on society? (24)

1. Agreement: Society Should Promote Freedom and Individualism

2. Agreement: Society Should Promote Tolerance, Equality, and Minority Rights

3. Disagreement: Do Individuals Need the State to Be Free and Equal?

To What Extent Are Liberals United On The Economy? (24)

1. Liberals Are United In Their Support For Capitalism And Private Property

2. Classical Liberals believe In Laissez Faire Capitalism, Whilst Modern Liberals Believe In Keynesianism

3. Disagreement Over Whether Capitalism Creates Meritocracy Without State Intervention

To What Extent Are Liberals United On The State?

1. Liberals Agree In A Limited State Based On The Consent Of The Governed

2. Liberals Agree That The State Should Promote Individualism, Tolerance And Protect The Rights Of Minorities

3. Liberals Disagree In Relation To The Size Of The State In The Economy And Society

To what extent are socialists united in their views on society? (24)

1. Agreement that society should and can be restructured to pursue equality.

2. Disagreement on the extent to which equality should be promoted.

3. Disagreement on whether class exploitation and oppression are inherent to society under capitalism

To what extent are socialists united on human nature? (24)

1. Disagreement on whether common humanity can be realised within capitalism.

2. Agreement on an optimistic, collectivist view of human nature.

3. Agreement that human nature is malleable

To what extent are socialists united on the economy? (24)

1. Agreement - The Critique Of Capitalism

2. Disagreement - The Extent To Which Capitalism Can Be Tolerated

3. The Importance Of Common Ownership

To what extent are socialists united on the state? (24)

1. Agreement that the state should intervene to promote equality

2. Disagreement on whether the capitalist state should be overthrown in a revolution

3. Disagreement over the extent of workers control of the state and the extent to which it should pursue collectivism.

To what extent do conservatives agree in their views on pragmatism? (24 marks)

1. Agreement: Traditional and One-Nation Conservatives Prioritise Pragmatism

2. Disagreement: The New Right Rejects Pragmatism in Favour of Ideology

To what extent do conservatives agree in their views on tradition? (24 marks)

1. Agreement: Many conservatives (Traditional, One-Nation and Neoconservatives) uphold tradition as essential for order and stability.

2. Disagreement: Other conservatives, especially neoliberals within the New Right, reject tradition in favour of liberty and free markets

To what extent do socialists agree on collectivism? (24 marks)

1. Agreement: All socialists value collectivism as a moral and functional principle

2. Disagreement: Revolutionary socialists promote total collectivism through abolition of capitalism

3. Disagreement: Social Democrats and Third Way socialists favour limited or redefined collectivism

Evaluate The View That The Media Has A Significant Impact On General Election Results. (30)

1. The Press

2. TV & Radio

3. Social Media