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Is the current Conservative Party more influenced by One Nation principles than Thatcherism? - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 2
Is the current Conservative Party more influenced by One Nation principles than Thatcherism?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Is the current Conservative Party more influenced by One Nation principles than Thatcherism? - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Discussion of One Nation Principles
Answer
To argue that the current Conservative Party is more influenced by One Nation principles, we can highlight several key points:
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Shift in Ideological Focus: The removal of Thatcher in 1990 led to a re-evaluation within the party, steering it away from strict Thatcherite tenets, particularly those that were unpopular such as the poll tax. This paved the way for more centrist policies aligned with One Nation thinking.
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Cameron's Leadership: Under David Cameron, particularly in his 2005 election bid, there was a clear pivot towards environmentalism and social welfare—ideals intrinsically linked with One Nation values. Cameron even declared a return to ‘one nation’ principles, marking a significant ideological shift.
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Coalition Era: The period of coalition with the Liberal Democrats from 2010 to 2015 reinforced this ideological shift. Policies like prioritizing the environment and launching the ‘Big Society’ initiative reflected a move away from pure market-driven approaches towards a more inclusive 'big society' vision.
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Current Leadership: Leaders like Theresa May have demonstrated One Nation traits by expressing concern for the vulnerable in society, underlining the party's commitment to managing societal issues and fostering inclusivity.
Step 2
Counterarguments for Thatcherism's Influence
Answer
However, it is essential to consider the arguments supporting Thatcherism’s enduring legacy within the party:
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Economic Perspectives: Core economic thinking still reflects a preference for free market solutions, with an emphasis on minimal state intervention, which can be traced back to Thatcher’s policies.
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Law and Order Policies: There has been a resurgence of law and order policies framed within a Thatcherite context, favoring retributive justice, which advocates for stricter measures against crime.
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Fiscal Conservatism: The desire to minimize government spending and reduce taxes aligns with Thatcher's economic approaches, demonstrating a retention of her fiscal strategies.
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Marginalization of Social Policies: The ‘Big Society’ initiative and associated social policies have often been criticized as tokenistic and ineffective, illustrating a drifting back towards stricter market-focused objectives rather than comprehensive welfare solutions.
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Austerity Measures: Even under Theresa May, there has been a commitment to austerity, indicating a trend to limit state provision aligned with longstanding Thatcherite ideologies.