Paper 1 Core Ideologies · 2024 · 24 marks
To what extent is there more agreement than disagreement within Conservatism? (24 marks)
Core Ideologies: Conservatism
Mark scheme: agreement
AO1: Traditional and One Nation Conservatism both support an organic society. Traditional and One Nation Conservatism believe in an organic society and see a strong society as providing stability and security.
AO2: They argue that the delicate elements of an organic society should not be disturbed (Oakeshott) and acknowledge the importance of hierarchy and authority which reinforces organic society (Burke).
AO3: Thus it is clear that there is clear agreement within Conservatism over organic society.
AO1: Traditional and One Nation Conservatives both support a pragmatic approach to change. Traditional and One Nation Conservatives support a pragmatic approach to change based on the idea of 'change in order to conserve' (Burke). They are suspicious of abstract ideologies that claim to understand what is incomprehensible (Oakeshott).
AO2: Instead, they prefer to base their ideas in tradition, experience and history, embracing a cautious and moderate approach.
AO3: Thus when it comes to a pragmatic approach, there is clear agreement within Conservatism.
AO1: Traditional and One Nation Conservatism both believe that humans are intellectually, morally and psychologically imperfect.
AO2: Traditional and One Nation Conservatism agree that humans are intellectually imperfect, seeing the world as too complicated for humans to grasp (Oakeshott). They also agree that humans are psychologically imperfect, they are dependent creatures, craving order, familiarity and the security of knowing their place. Lastly humans are morally imperfect, unable to resist the temptation to act immorally. This is why they believe a strong state is needed to create order and stop crime (Hobbes).
AO3: Thus it is clear that there is clear agreement within Conservatism over human imperfection.
Mark scheme: disagreement
AO1: Traditional and One Nation Conservatism have an organic view of society whereas the New Right takes an atomistic view.
AO2: Traditional and One Nation Conservatism have an organic view of society where the individual cannot be separated from society, whereas the New Right takes an atomistic view where humans are self-reliant individuals and society is merely a collection of individuals (Rand). Consequently, while Traditional and One Nation Conservatism support a hierarchic society with authority coming from above (Burke), the New Right support meritocracy in society believing that individuals should rise and fall in society based on merit.
AO3: Thus it is clear that when it comes to views of society, there are fundamental disagreements within Conservatism.
AO1: While Traditional and One Nation Conservatives advocate a pragmatic approach, the New Right are highly ideological.
AO2: The New Right promote a highly ideological belief in economic liberty and an authoritarian state while Traditional and One Nation Conservatives seek to be pragmatic, flexible and responsive to change. The New Right's ideological approach tends towards radical change whereas Traditional and One Nation Conservatives seek to make only necessary changes gradually, recognising the importance of tradition.
AO3: Thus it is clear that when it comes to pragmatism, the differences within Conservatism are very clear.
AO1: Whilst Traditional and One Nation Conservatism believes in human imperfection, the New Right, particularly neo-liberalism, embraces rationalism.
AO2: Whilst Traditional and One Nation Conservatism believes in human imperfection, the New Right, particularly neo-liberalism, embraces a rational understanding of human nature based on atomistic individualism (Rand). Their differing beliefs on human nature results in differing approaches to society. For the New Right, society is merely a collection of self-interested individuals (Nozick) which completely contrasts with Traditional and One Nation Conservatism view of imperfect humans who support an organic society.
AO3: Thus it is clear that when it comes to human nature, there are fundamental disagreements within Conservatism.