The Student Room Group

Edexcel 6GP03A Government and Politics Unit 3 Exam 09/06/2014

Scroll to see replies

Original post by BenWalker

(as far as 45 markers; anything on conservatism would be fine; perhaps something on the internal coherence of the new right? In which case just point out that they're economically coherent because they're a counter culture movement to the post-war Keynesian consensus, but in all other areas are fairly incoherent due to fundamentally drawing on different ideologies; neo-liberal obviously draws on liberalism / individualistic anarchism, whilst the neo-cons it's somewhere between paternalism and nationalism with a free-market economic plan)

Thanks for that (I didn't quote it to economise), I think it was roughly in line with what I was saying! I'm sceptical that I could write anything near all of that in the 15 minutes I'd have though.

As for the New Right being internally coherent, I'd probably say: atomism (rational individuals, no such thing as society) vs organicism (imperfection so need security, anti-permissiveness and emphasis on the family model of authority), libertarian ('roll back the state' nightwatchman state) vs social authoritarianism ('prison works', 'Victorian values', because of human nature etc) and libertarian economically (dynamism, remove dead hand of state, laissez faire, trickle down economics, wealth incentives) vs support of the free market only for discipline and order. Then for similarities I'd say they go hand in hand and conclude with what you said. :smile:

What other Liberalism 15 markers could come up (besides constitutionalism and freedom) - perhaps individualism, tolerance, (one side of the argument for/against) democracy or John Rawls' defence of modern liberalism? Is there anything else or does that cover everything? I just want to make sure I'm ready for whatever comes up! :tongue:
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Reluire


Can you confirm if I have understood correctly:


Yeah you've got it. As far as I've been told, a question on Lenin or Stalin will not come up ever again; they're kind of dead as topics and are more suited to history rather than the current political arena of philosophies. So you just need to know the very basics, and what you posted is perfect.

"Sometimes history needs a push" - Lenin

If you want a nice quote from Lenin that illustrates his belief in Vanguardism.
Original post by BenWalker
Yeah you've got it. As far as I've been told, a question on Lenin or Stalin will not come up ever again; they're kind of dead as topics and are more suited to history rather than the current political arena of philosophies. So you just need to know the very basics, and what you posted is perfect.

"Sometimes history needs a push" - Lenin

If you want a nice quote from Lenin that illustrates his belief in Vanguardism.


Perfect. Something new I can bring into discussion if (hopefully) a question comes up relating to Marxism or revolutionary socialism. :h:

That kind of information would fit really nicely into a 45 marker I think. Thanks for the quote as well.
Original post by Reluire
Perfect.

Hey, what 15 markers do you think might come up? For Liberalism I can think of: Constitutionalism, Freedom, Individualism, tolerance, (one side of the argument for/against) democracy and John Rawls' defence of modern liberalism. Anything I've missed? As there are probably gong to be two liberalism 15 markers I think it's a good idea to focus on these!

As for the 45 markers I hope that Ben is right that there is a question on the New Right! :tongue:
Original post by Law-Hopeful
Hey, what 15 markers do you think might come up? For Liberalism I can think of: Constitutionalism, Freedom, Individualism, tolerance, (one side of the argument for/against) democracy and John Rawls' defence of modern liberalism. Anything I've missed? As there are probably gong to be two liberalism 15 markers I think it's a good idea to focus on these!

As for the 45 markers I hope that Ben is right that there is a question on the New Right! :tongue:


There will probably be something quite straightforward like distinguishing between classical and modern liberalism or positive and negative freedom. Sometimes they mix ideologies as well so perhaps something on the similarities of modern liberalism and socialism? I don't know really, I'm just throwing ideas in the air.

I hope there's a revolutionary socialism question or something to do with the means of achieving socialist goals. :tongue:
Original post by Reluire
There will probably be something quite straightforward like distinguishing between classical and modern liberalism or positive and negative freedom. Sometimes they mix ideologies as well so perhaps something on the similarities of modern liberalism and socialism? I don't know really, I'm just throwing ideas in the air.

I hope there's a revolutionary socialism question or something to do with the means of achieving socialist goals. :tongue:

I wouldn't mind any of those as 15 markers, my biggest worry is that there won't be a nice 45 marker. :s-smilie:

Good luck anyway, I'm sure you'll do great! :smile:
Original post by Law-Hopeful
I wouldn't mind any of those as 15 markers, my biggest worry is that there won't be a nice 45 marker. :s-smilie:

Good luck anyway, I'm sure you'll do great! :smile:


You will be absolutely fine, I know it. If I see a question on the New Right I'll be thinking of you. :tongue:

Thanks, I appreciate that.
Reply 67
Good luck everyone.

God knows I'll need it.
Original post by Law-Hopeful
I wouldn't mind any of those as 15 markers, my biggest worry is that there won't be a nice 45 marker. :s-smilie:

Good luck anyway, I'm sure you'll do great! :smile:


How did you find the exam? :smile:

I thought it was great. I loved the Socialism 45 marker. I got to talk about Marx, Fabianism, Lenin and Blair's Third Way. :h:

I accidentally answered part of one of my 15 markers in the wrong place though; so it looked like part of my conservatism answer was part of my liberalism answer because I turned over to the wrong page when writing my conservatism answer. I have been told by the invigilator and my teacher that it won't affect me though because I clearly signposted that my Page 8 was meant to be on Page 10 for Q2 rather than Q5. The examiners get the whole paper scanned, not just certain questions, so I should be fine. I'll be gutted if it affects me because I think the paper went really well otherwise.
I thought that was a really nice paper, I was pleasantly surprised!

I did questions 1, 2, 3 and 8 :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Law-Hopeful
I thought that was a really nice paper, I was pleasantly surprised!

I did questions 1, 2, 3 and 8 :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile


I did 2, 4, 5 and 8. :smile:
I avoided the liberalism 15 markers and thought the other ones were quite nice actually, and all the 45 markers were answerable but I chose socialism :smile:

Would it be right to say for the socialism 45 marker that social democracy looks to tame and reform capitalism rather than abolish it completely, and therefore do not seek a full shift towards socialism, but rather piecemeal socialism reforms that partially lean the state and society towards socialism but not completely?

Also cheers Ben walker your Lenin quote helped I used it to evaluate how Marx and Lenin did not completely agree, vanguardism vs the temportary state naturally withering away

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Law-Hopeful
I thought that was a really nice paper, I was pleasantly surprised!

I did questions 1, 2, 3 and 8 :smile:

Posted from TSR Mobile


Did you mention conservatives being pessimistic of human nature as to why they support authority?

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by shabba-ranks
Did you mention conservatives being pessimistic of human nature as to why they support authority?

Posted from TSR Mobile


Yeah I mentioned that and how the natural governors have a paternal authority over those lower down in the natural hierarchy to protect their wellbeing. I likened it to parents nurturing their children.
Original post by Reluire
I did 2, 4, 5 and 8. :smile:


Original post by Reluire
Yeah I mentioned that and how the natural governors have a paternal authority over those lower down in the natural hierarchy to protect their wellbeing. I likened it to parents nurturing their children.


Original post by shabba-ranks
Did you mention conservatives being pessimistic of human nature as to why they support authority?

Posted from TSR Mobile

For the authority question I defined authority then said:

- Order - natural leaders and followers i.e. parent/child model. Burke's idea of 'natural aristocracy'.
- Organic society - human nature imperfect need security so helps us know our place in society etc
- Pragmatism - good societies in past emphasised authority therefore should continue going with what works
- Authoritarianism - de Masitre 'top down' paternalism to guide us

I probably put some other stuff and all mixed up the order of order/organic society but that's pretty much what I put. I forgot to mention that Conservatives believe that authority is 'god-given'... :frown:
It was very nice!
I did two liberalism 15 markers and one conservatism.
for the 45 mark, the anarchism question was a true blessing.
Reply 76
Original post by chlodobaggins
It was very nice!
I did two liberalism 15 markers and one conservatism.
for the 45 mark, the anarchism question was a true blessing.


what did you write about for it? (the anarchism 45 marker)
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by chlodobaggins
It was very nice!
I did two liberalism 15 markers and one conservatism.
for the 45 mark, the anarchism question was a true blessing.


I agree and did exactly the same questions!

Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 78
I did - 1,2,3 and 6 (anarchism one)
I was hoping to do the Conservative one, but the Conservative question was awful!

What points did you guys make for the anarchism one? Praying I've done it right!

Also..are we allowed to discuss exams yet?
Better than expected! I did the Anarchism collectivist 15 marker, the liberalism social welfare 15 marker and the conservative authority 15 marker. and the anarchism 45 marker was a godsend because it wasn't a confusing question i thought!

Quick Reply

Latest