Edexcel A-Level Politics | Paper 2 | 2026 Predicted Paper | Question 7(b) Mark Scheme
Question 7 Mark Scheme: Nationalism
Question 7 is a 24-mark Political Ideas essay, worth 8 marks each for AO1, AO2 and AO3. The command phrase “To what extent” requires students to compare areas of agreement and disagreement within nationalism, use the prescribed thinkers to illuminate those strands, and sustain a reasoned judgement about how far the different forms of nationalism agree.
The Edexcel specification requires students to study liberal nationalism, conservative nationalism, anti/post-colonial nationalism and expansionist nationalism, together with the ideas of Rousseau, Herder, Mazzini, Maurras and Garvey. It also explicitly identifies the concepts of progressive and regressive nationalism, inclusive and exclusive nationalism, chauvinistic nationalism, self-determination and internationalism.
Levels of response
Level | Marks | Characteristics |
Level 1 | 1–4 | Superficial knowledge, limited comparison and largely unsupported judgements. |
Level 2 | 5–9 | Some accurate knowledge and emerging comparison, but analysis and evaluation are only partly developed. |
Level 3 | 10–14 | Mostly accurate knowledge, focused comparison and generally effective evaluation with some supported judgements. |
Level 4 | 15–19 | Accurate and carefully selected knowledge, consistent comparative analysis and mostly substantiated judgements. |
Level 5 | 20–24 | Thorough knowledge, perceptive and sustained comparison, consistently substantiated evaluation and a fully focused, justified conclusion. |
Pearson's examiner reports stress that stronger nationalism answers compare the strands, rather than placing them alongside one another or comparing thinkers as though the thinkers themselves were the strands. They also reward answers that establish a clear judgement on “extent” from the introduction and sustain it throughout.
Question 7(b)
Question
To what extent is nationalism compatible with international co-operation?
The question requires students to distinguish nationalism from isolationism. Some nationalist traditions regard sovereign nations as capable of cooperating voluntarily, while others emphasise exclusivity, national superiority or competition. Students should therefore examine both the possibility and the limits of internationalism within nationalism.
The specification explicitly includes internationalism as a core nationalist debate. It requires students to understand that some forms of nationalism have an internationalist perspective, while some forms of internationalism reject nationalism. It also defines liberal internationalism as cooperation and interdependence between sovereign nations and socialist internationalism as the claim that class solidarity is more significant than national identity.
Indicative content
Arguments that nationalism is compatible with international co-operation
Liberal nationalism can combine sovereignty with internationalism.
Liberal nationalism seeks autonomous nation-states.
Liberal internationalism accepts sovereign nations but argues that they should cooperate and develop interdependence to reduce conflict.
National independence and international cooperation are therefore not inherently contradictory.
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