Edexcel Politics 5. Conservatism and Liberalism

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A philosophy proffered by John Stuart Mill that focussed on individuals' potential within a framework of education, individual liberty, and freedom of expression

An English philosopher and founding father of classical liberalism, refuting the idea of a divine origin to the state, instead promoting one based on the rational and individualistic character of human nature

A libertarian principle akin to the 'night-watchman state' that only exceeds anarchism in that it seeks a government that provides citizens with a military, police force, and courts, though nothing more

Those conservatives who adapted capitalism to conform to their beliefs by engaging in state intervention in the form of protectionism and Keynesian economic management

The conservative belief in a society composed of a collection of smaller communities providing people with security while limiting selfishness and individualism

That form of government championed by John Stuart Mill, though only under the conditions arising from the establishment of universal education

A modern liberal view of tolerance characterised by the criminalisation of some forms of discrimination and the use of positive discrimination/affirmative action

That which liberalism believes is inherently rational, thus causing people to realise that consensus is how best to solve problems

The oldest branch of conservatism, established under Edmund Burke in response to the French Revolution, which emphasised pragmatism, empiricism, organicism, tradition, and paternalistic hierarchies

A new right conservative and libertarian, who advocated a minarchist state which would be as small as possible, only enforcing laws, and allowing people to live generally how they wish

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The conservative belief that society should be built upon and remain connected to the lessons and experience of the past

The individual who viewed humans as fallible and imperfect, but also benign and benevolent, when framed by routine, familiarity, and religious principles

An American new right conservative who strongly advocated a small, libertarian state focussed only on order and security, governing over an atomist society, built by talented individuals, not ambitious governments

John Rawl's idea that in a just society, people can enjoy as much freedom as possible provided it wasn't exercised at the expense of others, and difference in economic outcome is kept to a minimum

That which liberals believe should find its origins in arbitrating between the competing demands of individuals, preventing anyone's rights from being infringed upon by another

An important modern liberal, known for promoting the idea of equal opportunity, and a greater role for the state in improving economic equality

The view that society is very loose, consisting of autonomous individuals, as espoused by the new right but rejected by most conservatives

That which conservatives are often sceptical of due to it promoting risk and innovation, while threatening excessive inequality, risking instability

An aspect of the conservative tenet of human imperfection, that holds that humans naturally crave security and safety, placing more importance on social order than on individual liberty

The conservative belief that the elites present in naturally occurring hierarchies have a responsibility to the less powerful, as a father to his children