Past Paper Questions

Theme

Agree

Disagree

Paragraph Topics

Human Nature

highly optimistic about human nature (fraternity, collectivism, solidarity)

see human nature as plastic (it is shaped by the society it is in and can be shaped to be better)

circumstances impact human nature (e.g. capitalism has damaged it)

humans are naturally cooperative (John Donne - “No man is an island”), even strands like TW are committed to community and binding rights (moral responsibility)

disagree about the extent to which human nature has been damaged (Luxemburg acknowledged fraternity in WC communities, Crosland argues humans have a strong sense of fairness)

disagree about the future of human nature (Marx thought only plausible way of improving human nature was revolution, other socialists prioritise comprehensive education or gradual change)

Positive human nature vs damage

Communitarianism vs degree of competition (economic context)

Significance of nurture and plastic nature vs what sort of society is required

Society

society is essential because it shapes people, the sort of society and economy impacts the person you are

a fair society will allow people to flourish and achieve their potential

society should be understood through a class analysis (Marx ‘history is a history of class struggle’)

need social justice and equality in some form

disagree on the extent of equality that will be achieved e.g. foundational equality vs absolute equality/is equality of outcome plausible (“utopian” - SD and TW)

disagree over the implications of class divide and whether they should narrow or be destroyed, TW still pursue a meritocratic society (“knowledge economy”) vs RS and DS want a classless society

disagree over the extent of change; whether it will be an entire revolution or gradual change

Viewed through a class lens vs implications of class divide

Need for a fairer society vs extent of equality

Society as essential vs extent of change

The State

identify issues in the current state, especially in terms of social inequality and hierarchy

demand some form of strong state which takes an active role in ensuring equality

state should have some degree of economic involvement (reforming or limiting a capitalist state, economic redistribution, Webb’s educated elite)

disagree over what form the state will continue in/whether it will continue at all (“stateless society” vs stronger state)

disagree how the state will change/what the process will be (revolution vs gradual change vs democracy)

disagree over extent of common ownership and the state’s role in economic redistribution (RS and no state because people will be communitarian and worker’s control, TW and embracing economy, Keynesian model)

Some kind of strong state vs form this will take

Issues with the current state vs process of change

Some economic involvement vs extent

The Economy

rejection of capitalism, acknowledging flaws in a capitalist system, it creates inevitable conflict

have collective values and support things like progressive taxation, public spending, large scale public ownership

economy should work for the people

agree that there should be some state control over the economy

disagree whether elements of capitalism can be retained (e.g. TW and embracing capitalist systems vs RS and complete overthrow), is ownership actually by the people (e.g. DS and an educated elite, RS and full common ownership, SD and nationalisation), what sort of role will the state have

Flaws in capitalism vs extent they fully reject it

Collectivism vs whether ownership actually is public

State control over economy vs extent of state control

Methods of Change

some agreement over the fact that change is needed (capitalism needs to be reformed), some shared values in terms of what the end goal of change is (fairer, equal society)

change needs to be enacted by a group (often think this is a political body, RS disagree)

significantly disagree over the methods (revolutionary versus evolutionary, TW adopts new policies rather than entirely changing)

disagree over who will enact the change (the proletariat versus the educated elite versus government)

also disagree over what the real end goal of change actually is (what sort of society will be left after the change)

Change is needed vs method of change

Goals they are striving towards vs what the result of the change will be

Enacted by someone vs who will enact the change