Edexcel A2 Government & Politics route B: Political ideologies

Andrew Heywood is a hero.

Can someone please help me answer this 45 mark question?

How have Liberals reconciled social reform with individual liberty? (45)

Reply 62

yomi91

2

wow that question sounds really bad just how would you approach that

Reply 63

sexystudier

Does anyone know how to set out the differences between democratic socialism and social democracy because some text books argue that there is no difference!

Reply 64

rainbowworld

15

Taniya

Can someone please help me answer this 45 mark question?

How have Liberals reconciled social reform with individual liberty? (45)

Surely it would be modern vs Classic. Classic liberals see social reform (welfare etc) as incompatible with freedom and supreme belief in the individual and it limits individual freedom. Negative freedom etc. However modern liberals believe in positive freedom, a safety net state with more welfare, a hand up, etc. Although they are wary they see the state playing a larger role. Therefore classic liberals would not reconcile social reform with individual liberty, however modern liberals do to a certain extent.

Reply 65

sexystudier

Does anyone have any notes on ecologism.... to me it just seems ridiculous we have to learn it because there is very little to learn, unless I am missing something!

Reply 66

politicallyconfused

sexystudier

Does anyone know how to set out the differences between democratic socialism and social democracy because some text books argue that there is no difference!

the basis of it is that Democratic Socialists still seek to abolish capitalism. they just use parliamentary means to do so, gradually. social democrats on the other hand, have accepted capitalism but wish to reform it's undesirable elements. but they want to maintain a capitalist framework

Reply 67

gunners r us

2

Taniya

Can someone please help me answer this 45 mark question?

How have Liberals reconciled social reform with individual liberty? (45)

yep, as someone said above, its just liberal v classical liberalism. But if you see a type of question which throws you, just try to think about the key words, eg individual and social. Plus refer to question in your answer :yes:

Thanks...

oh and one more thing... has anyone got any useful quotes for the difference between positive and negative liberty..???

And.... can anyone give a concise explanation of what utilitarianism is..??

Reply 70

shewasdeleted

2

Anyone have a plan for Is anarchism closer to individualism than collectivism?

Reply 71

politicallyconfused

sexystudier

oh and one more thing... has anyone got any useful quotes for the difference between positive and negative liberty..???

And.... can anyone give a concise explanation of what utilitarianism is..??

umm..

positive: the wish on the part of the individual to be his own master. (TH Green, I believe!)
classical: the area in which man can act unobstructed by others. (Isiah Berlin, methinks!)

these are the only 2 i remember for freedom, hope it's what you were after.

Utilitarianism is basically the idea, put forward by Jeremy Bentham, that happiness is all that matters. In a nutshell, it's: the maximum amount of happiness for the maximum number. humans aim to seek pleasure and avoid pain. He says we are 'utility maximisers'. and whats more, is that we are completely justified to act in this way.

Reply 72

m2dab

politicallyconfused

positive: the wish on the part of the individual to be his own master. (TH Green, I believe!)
classical: the area in which man can act unobstructed by others. (Isiah Berlin, methinks!)

Isiah Berlin was just someone who defined both positive and negative freedom, he never actually endorsed either. Examples of classical freedom would be John Locke and other early liberals, 'Nightwatchmen State' Etc.

EDIT: Can someone tell if there is a possibilty that Liberalism wont come up as a 45 marker???? Or is it 100% guaranteed to come up???

Reply 73

257532

m2dab

Isiah Berlin was just someone who defined both positive and negative freedom, he never actually endorsed either. Examples of classical freedom would be John Locke and other early liberals, 'Nightwatchmen State' Etc.

EDIT: Can someone tell if there is a possibilty that Liberalism wont come up as a 45 marker???? Or is it 100 guaranteed to come up???

There is definitely a possibility that liberalism won't come up as a 45 marker

fuuuckkkkkk

conservatism is where the marks are at I.M.O

Reply 76

gunners r us

2

why has anachism been linked to utopianism?
i got in my essay plan utopianism linked to full human development in a perfect society. This links with anarchists perfectable view of human nature. Expressed via the rejection of any state, as state corrupts absolutly. anarchocollectivists - common ownership; anachoindividualism - free market. Many believe it is unreliastic for all this to be achieved without state. Anarchsists will say reason will mean debates will occur to settle conflict.

its a 15mark question, is that the general basis for the question?

Reply 77

rainbowworld

15

gunners r us

why has anachism been linked to utopianism?
i got in my essay plan utopianism linked to full human development in a perfect society. This links with anarchists perfectable view of human nature. Expressed via the rejection of any state, as state corrupts absolutly. anarchocollectivists - common ownership; anachoindividualism - free market. Many believe it is unreliastic for all this to be achieved without state. Anarchsists will say reason will mean debates will occur to settle conflict.

its a 15mark question, is that the general basis for the question?

Well I answered the question "Explain the link between anarchism and utopianism. 15mks" which is effectively the same thing.

I wrote this:

Explain the link between anarchism and utopianism. 15mks

Utopianism is the idea of an ideal or perfect society and was first used by More. More said that a utopia is a place which is both good and nowhere. The idea is generally of a place based on economic equality and without the evils of class division, poverty and crime.
Because of anarchism’s goal of over throwing the state and the removal of political equality, along with their means being use of alternative methods such as revolution, it has often been viewed as a utopian theory.
Anarchism has been viewed as impossible to achieve, which is how utopias are viewed. This is because people believe that anarchism will lead to chaos due to a lack of rules, and therefore it is viewed as impossible, and this is also the dominant way of viewing utopias. Therefore it appears that anarchism is a form of utopia as it is said to be impossible to achieve.
It is also linked to utopianism because utopias are about removing poverty and crime and particularly the anarcho-communism strand of anarchism is aiming for this goal. They want distribution of resources according to need. This is an idea coming from the strands basis in communism which aims to reduce poverty, increase equality and lessen crime. Like utopias, anarchism is a goal to try and work towards, even if it doesn’t seem possible.
Many ‘utopian’ communities have been set up, such as the one set up by Warren. This was based on anarchist roots and had no formal system of authority and goods were sold at cost price and therefore this ran along collectivist anarchist lines. These utopian anarchist communities were quite effective but they gradually lost members. Therefore it seems in reality there is a connection between anarchism and utopianism as these utopias were run under anarchist thinking.
As utopianism suggests a perfect society it is in turn criticising the existing one. It rejects the existing social and political arrangements and wants major change. Of course anarchists criticise the existing society due to its state rule and want the major change of revolution to occur so the state is rejected. This again is something that is common between utopianism and anarchism.
Utopianism also highlights the potential for self-development which is based on a positive view of human nature. This is needed to live in a perfect co-operative community. This idea is shared by anarchists, as a generally positive view is needed for a belief in natural order and believing that people could live without authority. Therefore it seems that both utopianism and anarchism require a positive view of human nature, unlike the Conservative view for example.
Utopias are also based on the ideas of personal fulfilment and the prospect of emancipation. This can be seen in the collectivist strand of anarchism and particularly for anarcho-communists, where this is vital to their idea of anarchism in practise.
It appears that anarchism has a marked disposition towards utopianism reflecting their belief in human potential for co-operative behaviour, which is needed for a utopian society. However not all utopias are based on complete equality or the removal of all the state like some strands of anarchists do. However on the whole it is clear there is some kind of connection between anarchism and utopianism which I have explained in this essay.

Reply 78

Taniya

Can someone please help me answer this question. Am really stuck and have a bad hunch that it's gonna appear tomorrow

All main UK political parties are now essentially Liberal." Discuss. (45)

Reply 79

z332008

2

Taniya

Can someone please help me answer this question. Am really stuck and have a bad hunch that it's gonna appear tomorrow

All main UK political parties are now essentially Liberal." Discuss. (45)

Talk about liberal principles instilled in all uk main parties today such as pluralism toleranceii new right social Darwinism in the new right ermmmm classical liberalism also in the new right new labour free market principles devolution soverienty of parliament human rights act
economic liberlism labours reforms etc etc I hope u have enough to go on !

Edexcel A2 Government & Politics route B: Political ideologies

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