5.2.3

New Right Conservatism

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New Right Conservatism

New Right conservatism had two different parts, which often conflicted - economic liberalism and social conservatism.

Neoliberalism

Neoliberalism

  • Neoliberalism is associated with a free-market economy and less government intervention in the economy.
  • In the 1980s Thatcher deregulated the stock market (known as the ‘big bang’) and privatised the industries that were nationalised after the second world war.
    • Privatisation is when publically owned companies and goods are sold, so private individuals and companies own and control them.
    • Thatcher privatised coal and steel companies.
  • Privatisation is supposed to make companies more efficient and competitive.
Neoliberalism: individualism

Neoliberalism: individualism

  • Neoliberalism believes that individuals are rational and self-interested, which is termed atomistic individualism.
  • Neoliberals believe that freedom can only be preserved through less government intervention.
    • For neoliberals, the free market is a guarantee of individual freedom.
    • The welfare state limits freedom and undermines atomistic individualism because people become dependent on state welfare.
New Right conservative examples

New Right conservative examples

  • New Right conservatism became important in the 1970s and 1980s in the UK.
  • Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan (US President between 1981 and 1989) are examples of New Right conservatives.
Neoconservatism

Neoconservatism

  • Neoconservatives are social conservatives who believe that changes in society have led to a break down of hierarchy and law and order in society.
    • They disagree with permissiveness and changes in public morality, such as social changes like acceptance of homosexuality, divorce and abortion.
  • Neoconservatives wish for a return to law and order and are tough on crime - for example by giving police greater powers of stop and search.
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Democracy & Participation

2

Political Parties

3

Electoral Systems

4

Voting Behaviour & the Media

5

Conservatism

6

Liberalism

7

Socialism

8

The UK Constitution

9

The UK Parliament

10

The Prime Minister & the Executive

11

Relationships Between Government Branches

12

US Constitution & Federalism

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US Congress

14

US Presidency

15

US Supreme Court & Civil Rights

16

US Democracy & Participation

17

Comparing Democracies

18

Feminism

19

Nationalism

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