Ideologies key terminology- A level edexcel politics

Core ideas and Principles // Different types // Thinkers and ideas (Conservatism/Liberalism/Socialism/Nationalism)

Conservatism

1. Core ideas and principles

Hierarchy

The Conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed tiers, where one’s position is not based on individual ability.

Authority

For Conservatives, this is the idea that people in higher positions in society are best able to make decisions in the interests of the whole society; authority thus comes from above.

Change to conserve

That society should adapt to changing circumstances rather than reject change outright and risk rebellion and/or revolution.

Atomism

That society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals (also known as egoistical individualism).

Conservatism

2. Differing views and tensions within conservatism

Noblesse oblige

The duty of the wealthy and privileged to look after those less fortunate.

Anti-permissiveness

A rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right and wrong.

Radical

Belief whose ideas favour drastic political, economic and social change.

Human imperfection

The traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a number of ways which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves.

Conservatism

3. Conservative thinkers and their ideas

Laissez-faire

A preference towards minimal government intervention in business and the state.

Empiricism

The idea that knowledge comes from real experience and not from abstract theories.

Liberalism

1. Core ideas and principles

Foundational equality

Rights that all humans have by virtue of being born which cannot be taken away (also known as natural rights and inalienable rights).

Formal equality

The idea that all individuals have the same legal and political rights in society.

Equality of opportunity

The idea that all individuals should have equal chances in life to rise and fall.

Social contract

The idea that the state/society is set up with agreement from the people to respect its laws which serve to protect them.

Meritocracy

A society organised on the basis that success is based on ability and hard work.

Mechanistic theory

The idea that the state was created by ‘man’ to serve the people and act in their interests.

Tolerance

A willingness to respect values, customs and beliefs with which one disagrees.

Limited government

The role of government is limited by checks and balances, and a separation of powers because of the corrupting nature of power.

Liberalism

2. Differing views and tensions within liberalism

Egoistical individualism

The idea that individual freedom is associated with self-interest and self-reliance (see also atomism).

Developmental individualism

The idea that individual freedom is linked to human flourishing.

Negative freedom

The absence of external constraints in society as well as no interference in the private sphere.

Positive freedom

The idea that freedom is about personal fulfilment and realisation of potential.

Laissez-faire capitalism

An economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for exchange and profit, and wealth is privately owned.

Keynesianism

An economic system that requires government involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve full employment and price stability.

Liberalism

3. Liberal thinkers and their ideas

Harm principle

The idea that individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals.

Minimal state

The idea that the role of the state must be restricted in order to preserve individual liberty.

Enabling state

A larger state that helps individuals to achieve their potential and be free.

Socialism

1. Core ideas and principles

Fraternity

The bonds of comradeship between human beings.

Co-operation

Working collectively to achieve mutual benefits.

Capitalism

An economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for profit and wealth is privately owned.

Common ownership

Is the common ownership of the means of production so that all are able to benefit from the wealth of society and to participate in its running.

Communism

The communal organisation of social existence based on the common ownership of wealth.

Socialism

2. Differing views and tensions within socialism

Evolutionary socialism

A parliamentary route, which would deliver a long-term, radical transformation in a gradual, piecemeal way through legal and peaceful means, via the state.

Marxism

An ideological system, within socialism, that drew on the writings of Marx and Engels and has at its core a philosophy of history that explains why it is inevitable that capitalism will be replaced by communism.

Revisionism

A move to re-define socialism that involves a less radical view of capitalism and a reformed view of socialism.

Social justice

A distribution of wealth that is morally justifiable and implies a desire to limit inequality.

Socialism

3. Socialist thinkers and their ideas

Class consciousness

The self-understanding of social class that is a historical phenomenon, created out of collective struggle.

Historical materialism

Marxist theory that the economic base (the economic system) forms the superstructure (culture, politics, law, ideology, religion, art and social consciousness).

Dialectic

A process of development that occurs through the conflict between two opposing forces. In Marxism, class conflict creates internal contradictions within society, which drives historical change.

Keynesian economics

Government intervention – can stabilise the economy and aims to deliver full employment and price stability.

Nationalism

1. Core ideas and principles

Civic nationalism

A form of nationalism based on the active participation of its citizens and a shared vision of equal citizens.

Liberal internationalism

The idea that sovereign nations should cooperate and create a level of interdependency to avoid international conflict.

Socialist internationalism

The idea that class solidarity is more powerful and politically significant than national identity. As Marx said: ‘Working men of all countries, unite!’.

Ethnicity

The sense of belonging to the social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

Nationalism

2. Different types of nationalism

Rational

The idea that humans are capable of reasoned thought and are able to make logical decisions for themselves.

Progressive

Ideas that move towards improving society.

Regressive

Ideas that seek to revert society to a former or less advanced state.

Inclusive nationalism

A form of nationalism that believes that joining a nation is straightforward and quick, as it is not based on shared previous experiences.

Exclusive nationalism

A form of nationalism that believes that it takes time to be a part of the nation, as membership is based on shared history and language.

Chauvinistic nationalism

A form of nationalism that believes its nation is superior to others, seeing them as a threat to their survival.

Imperialism/colonialism

The extension of control by one country over another by settlement or economic domination.

Nationalism

3. Nationalist thinkers and their ideas

Volksgeist

The ‘spirit’ of a nation, the unique identity of a people based on their culture.

Integral nationalism

An intense, hysterical form of patriotism in which the individual is absorbed into the nation.

Black nationalism

A reaction to white oppression originating in the mid-20th century.