edexcel politics paper 1

• What are advantages of FPTP?

  - Provides a good link between the MP and their constituency - constituency sizes are relatively small , enabling constituencies to have clear access to their represenation - as the UK is a representative dwemocracy , having good access to your representsatives is a crucial factor in a rep dem and FPTP enables this to take place

  
  

  - FPTP clear and easy to understand and it keeeps out extremists- few spoiled ballots show the clarity surrounding FPTP and it has an impressive record of preventing extremist parties from gaining seats - switching from FPTP would do more damage to democracy is extremist parties get many seats
• What are some disadvantages of FPTP

  -Damages legitimacy and discourages voter turn out because of wasted votes as gov and MPs gain election with less than 50% of the vote and thus exdercise majority power over minority vote.

  
  

  - FPTP does not treat all votes as equal and deters many from voting , especially those who support minor partie- FPTP not suitable for a multicultural society

  
  

  - FPTP leads to a winner takes all approach which delivers extreme policy changes which damages the country- new governments are driven by changing their predecesors work and setting off in new directions.
• What is an advantage of PR (proportional representation)?

  - Would encourage more people to vote and improve the chances of a more reflective parliament. Minor parties are more likely to win representation leading to multi party systems. In 2014, UKIP won 24 seats in the European Parliament , the most of any party. The influence of Lib Dems has increased significantly in devolved assemblies due to their traditional 'third party' status.

  
  

  -The winner's bonus and bias towards large parties is reduced. In AMS for example, if a party wins a large amount of seats and is overrepresented , this can be 'corrected' through the distribution of party list seats. This happened in 2011 in the Scottish Parliament Election where Labour had their representation corrected in such a way.

  
  

  -PR would avoid single party domination. STV was chosen for the Northern Ireland Asseembly to ensure accurate , broad representation. Avoiding single party domination is key due to the part of the Good Friday agreement which included a power sharing provision between unionists and nationalists.
• What are pressure groups?

  a group that tries to influence public policy in the interest of a particular cause.
• What are the different types of pressure groups?

  Sectional or Cause

  Insider or outsider
• What are 3 key features of pressure groups?

  - They seek to influence from outside, they don't try to win power the same way as a political power.

  - They have a narrow issue focus: e.g the environment , pay. Parties have a much broader focus in many policy areas.

  - Members are united by a shared belief and common set of interests. Parties on the other hand, by an ideological point of view.
• Types of pressure groups?

  Interest/sectional groups- represent a specific section of society , for example trade unions.Membership is linked to a particular occupation.

  Cause/promotional groups-seek to promote a particular cause ,e.g charities or environmental groups and anyone can join.

  Insider groups- regularly consulted by government with regular access to gov ministers. For example CBI.

  Outsider groups- No links or access to government. They have to use other ways to make an impact for example social media or influencing the public. For example Animal Liberation Front.
• What is a strength and weakness of cause/promotional pressure groups?

  Strength- Environmental pressure groups have gained greater influence on all political parties because public has become more concerned about global warming ( car tax rates have changed in favour of smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles)

  Weakness- Due to members often being very passionate, they may resort to undesirable tactics such as vandalism , violence and criminal behaviour to promote their cause.
• What is an advantage and a disadvantage that insider groups have?

  Advantage- Because they are close to government and have links to minister members they may have greater influence on policies.

  Disadvantage- Because of their links with government , they have a restriction on the kind of actions that they can take because reputation is important.
• What is an advantage and disadvantage that outsider pressure groups have?

  Advantage - Easier for them to gain attention due to the kind of tactics they use therefore they may raise awareness to their cause easier/quicker.

  Advantage- Some groups have huge membership which exceed those of political parties and therefore greater support for their cause makes them more impactful.

  Disadvantage - opinions held by them may only represent or help a small minority of the population.

  Disadvantage- They may be biased in their argument , for example Fathers4Justice may not acknowledge that courts and mothers are trying to achieve the best outcome for their kids.
• How do pressure groups exert influence?

  - Ministers & civil servants - Ministers will use the knowledge and expertise of the group to formulate policy and to assess the potential impact of policy. Groups such as the CBI and BMA will often consult with ministers for these purposes.

  
  

  -Parliament/Lobbying: Groups will write to MPs asking them to raise cdertain issues in parliament or to initiate private members' bills. Outsider groups often use this method.

  
  

  -Public opinion: If enough public support for a particular issue is garnered, this will pressurise the government into taking action on the issue, as there may be electoral consequences if they don't. This is seen in recent years through the organising of public protests against student tuition fees and cuts to the welfare budget.

  
  

  Direct action: strikes, blockades and boycotts, and is designed to disrupt the running of the country. Civil disobedience is also an element of this- breaking the law for what is seen as a justified, moral purpose.. Examples include anti-war campaigner Brian Haw protesting outside of Parliament for five years from 2001.
• What are some functions of pressure groups?

  -They provide a form of representation in UK's political system- they represent the interests of a particular group.

  -They are also a method of political participation : 40/50% of UK's population is part of a pressure group.

  -They also educate the public through raising awareness of an issue they campaign on.

  -They are also sometimes involved in policy making and implementation if they are insider groups , e.g National Farmers' Union works with the Department for Rural Affairs to implement policies relating to farming and agriculture.
• What are think tanks?


  a body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific political or economic problems.
• How are think tanks influencial?

  They have a significant impact if they share the same policital philosphy with the government in power.
• Example of an influential think tank?

  Center for social justice where Ian Duncan Smith , the founder of the think tank became appointed in 2004 as the Works and Pensions secretary.
• What is an advantage and a disadvantage of a think tank?

  Advantage- They are able to influence policcy as they have meetings sometimes with members of parliament to give inspiration or discuss legislative proposals.

  Disadvamatge- They can only have an influence if their ideology is aligned with that of the current government. Left wing think tanks such as the Fabian Society , have almost no impact on government decisions.(+ Political parties are becoming less ideologized)
• What is the main conservatism principle?


  To avoid major change- they are characterised by the desire to conserve or minimise change.
• What are conservatives' views on society?

  Conservatives view the need for society to provide frameworks for individuals (Hobbes)-Most conservatives see natural order emerging in society (Burke)

  
  

  All conservatives see society asessential for human development(Burke)

  
  

  Traditional and one nation conservatives both have an organic view of society (Burke)- They believe that society develops naturally with everyone understanding their role and duties within society.
• What are conservatives' view on human nature?

  They believe humans are imperfect , insecure and naturally security seeking. The world is too complex for human understanding.

  HOBBES was willing to give up liberty over security saying that any government , even an authoritarian one is better than the alternative of chaos.

  OAKESHOTT believed that the world was 'boundless and bottomless' so beyond human understanding.

  Morally , human kind is imperfect as criminal behaviour is not caused by society but by the imperfect individual. People can be kept away from antisocial behaviour if they are regulated and controlled away from natural and selfish desire. Only way to do this is through law and order enforced by strong deterrents (thatcherism)
• What are some key conservative key thinkers?

  Thomas Hobbes (traditional)

  Edmund Burke (traditional)

  Michael Oakeshott (one nation/traditional)

  Ayn Rand (neo liberalist)

  Robert Nozick (new right)
• What were Thomas Hobbes beliefs?

  An ordered society should balance human need for a free life.

  His view on human nature was very negative as he believed humans are at their core needy, selfish creatures.

  Chaos can be prevented through submission to a strong government.

  In his work , Leviathan , he argued that in the hypothetical time before any government, life in the state of nature was 'nasty, brutish and short' and therefore to avoid this from happening again , humans need to submit to a strong government , even an authoritarian one as the alternative of no government could be worse.
• What were Edmund Burke's beliefs?


  In his work , 'Reflections on the revolution in France' he criticised the revolutionaries for basing their actions on abstract ideas such as liberty and equality. He blieves change needs to be undertaken with caution as society is organic. He claims that society needs to relfect the past, consider the present and meet the needs of future generation. Believes tradition is important as it represents the accumulated wisdom of the past.
• What were Ayn Rand's beliefs?

  Supporter of libertarianism , a laissez-faire economy , meaning that humans should pursue their own happiness as their own highest moral aim (objectivism) rather than worry about the happiness of others which would create a false sense of obligation .

  She advocated for laissez faire capitalism which is a policiy of minimum governmental interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society.
• What were Michael Oakeshotts's beliefs?

  Human imperfection - humans are unpredictable and imperfect. He rejected ideologies because these try to make sense of the world and guide political action but they are doomed to failure due to the limited intellectual capacity of humans. He also valued pragmatism - a practical consideration of what works best in any given situation.
• What were Robert Nozick's beliefs?

  He advocated for libertarianism and self ownership. He argues for a rights based libertarian political system and a very minimal state.

  Nozick therefore argued for a minimal 'night-watchman' state which only exists to protect people's basic freedoms.

  This is also based on the idea first outlined by John Locke that individuals 'own' their bodies, talents, abilities and labour.

  Therefore, the state should completely leave them alone, without taking some of their money through taxation, or telling them what to do
• What do traditional conservatives believe?

  Traditional conservatism- Thomas Hobbes and Edmund Burke regretted the events of the french revolution and as he saw it , the disorder and chaos that followed it.

  
  

  Traditional conservatives support the concept of the organic society, and that humans should not therefore attempt to reform society as those involved in the French Revolution had attempted to do.

  
  

  Also support the idea that society is naturally hierarchical, and that people should therefore be rewarded differently (in pay and status) depending on what position they are in in the hierarchy.

  
  

  Noblesse oblige - aristocracy as the nautral leaders of society as they have been raised with the necessary norms and values to be in power (they have a duty to help/care for the unfortunate in society)
• What do one nation conservatives believe?

  Associated with Benjamin Disraeli who was concerned about the effects of early industrialization and laissez faire capitalism and how Britain was at risk of being divided into 2 nations : the rich and the poor.

  Linked to the moral idea of 'noblesse oblige' , that the 'price of privilege' was shouldering the less well off in society.

  
  

  By caring for the least well-off and making sure they were provided for, the chance of the ruling elite being overthrown by the discontented masses in revolution was reduced.

  This was seen as Conservative Party government's acceptance of welfarism and support for Keynesian economic intervention.
• What do New Right believe?

  Made up of neoliberals and neoconservatives.

  They are economically libertarian and socially authoritarian.

  They have strong support for a market economy , based on individual lines and private property in the means of production. They advocate for capitalism and believe in meritocracy.

  New Right had a radical agenda seeking to make large changes tosociety and not bound by the past.

  The 2 strands of new right disagree over the role of society : The Neo-liberals suggest that society is composed of individuals who are free to act as they choose and are independent (Rand) whereas the neo-conservative aspect appears to require obedience to a moral code in society.

  + They both accept inequality in society, but one is based on a fixed hierarchy (neo conservative) and the other on merit of individual (neo liberal).
• What is neoliberalism?


  a modified form of liberalism tending to favor free-market capitalism. The state should be minimalized and the economy dominated by free market thinking. This argues that the market acts as a central and organic nervous system that allows resources to be channelled where they are wanted and needed through the powers of supply and demand.

  
  

  Friedman argued that Keynesian economics caused problems for the economy , as they lead to inflation.

  He argued that there was a natural rate of unemployment in a healthy economy. If the state tried to remove this, the action would create a price rise and lead to a drop in the value of money (inflation).

  Friedman claimed that inflation was the most dangerous result because if people lost faith in their ability to create wealth (make money) they would not take part in economic activity; this would lessen freedom and undermine society.

  
  

  They oppose mixed economy as state owned businesses reduce competition and the need to make profit , making it less efficient.

  
  

  Nozick argued that taxation and redistribution through public spending is a violation of free property rights. He claimed that as long as a person had acquired their wealth legally any attempt to tax it and redistribute it amounted to 'legalised theft' against the individual.
• What is socialism?


  Socialism is the economic system in which the people control production and distribution through the government and then the people share the profits. Under socialism, everything and everyone was equal.
• What are the core values of socialism?

  Collectivism

  Fraternity

  Economic equality.
• What is collectivism?


  the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it. At the heart of socialism is the idea that people are unified by the concept of community.

  Socialists believe this because they agree with the idea that the group as a whole is more powerful than that of individual efforts.
• What is fraternity?


  People share commonality and have common goals and therefore share fraternity (humans are bound together by common interests and inclinations).
• What do socialists believe about human nature?

  They believe that humans are bound by a shared interest and are naturally caring for others.

  Socialists believe that human nature is not formed at birth and claim that it is entirely flexible or 'plastic' and is shaped by the environment and experiences of every moment of life.

  They think that people are therefore inseparable from society and it creates all aspects of a person's identity.
• What are key socialist thinkers?

  Marx and Engels {revolutionary)

  Rosa Luxemburg (revolutionary)

  Beatrice Webb (evolutionary)

  Crossland and Giddens (revisionists)
• Why do socialists criticise private property?

  -Unjust, wealth should be a community, not individual asset as there is more than one person working on its creation and therefore they should all share it.

  
  

  -Morally corrupting-encourages selfishness and materialism as it makes people want to own more.

  
  

  -Private property is divisive as it causes conflict between those with different priorities related to that property , for example owners of factories against their workers.
• What do marxists believe about collectivism and private property?

  They believe that collectivism is best achieved through the abolition of private property. They believe property should be collectivised through being owned by the state- nationalism.
• What do social democrats think about collectivism?

  They believe that collectivist goals should be promoted through ideas such as progressive taxation, welfare and public services.

  They think using a mixed economy is ideal such as the one Keynes suggested in the UK in the post war era. This was designed to achieve social justice rather than complete equality. In this system, capitalism is retained but the issues arising from it are addressed.
• What are the different branches of socialism?

  Revolutionary socialism

  Social democracy

  Third way
• What do revolutionary socialists believe?

  Karl Marx and Engels discussed a proleterian revolution whereby the class conscious working class would rise up against capitalism and overthrow it.

  Revolutionary tactics are necessary according to them for 2 reasons:

  -Industrialism and capitalism in the 19th century produced mass inequality and poverty so the working classes wanted a chance to change their circumstances.

  -the working classes had very few alternatives to revolution- there was no real representation or way of engaging in political life. In monarchies , countries were dominated by royalty and privilege and in constitutional democracies, the vote was restricted.

  
  

  They believe that the state is a device of oppression acting for 'capital' against 'labour' , this means that the political state would always preach and reflect the interests of the bourgeoise.