Human imperfection, organic society, paternalism and libertarianism | Edexcel A-Level Politics
Updated: 2 days ago
For Specification 9PL0
Edexcel A-Level Politics | Free Revision Notes
Estimated study time:Â 55 to 65 minutes
These Human imperfection, organic society, paternalism and libertarianism A-Level Politics revision notes explain some of the most important disagreements within conservatism. You will examine the conservative belief that humans are psychologically, morally and intellectually imperfect, before exploring how this supports organic society, authority, hierarchy and paternalism. You will then contrast these ideas with New Right libertarianism, neo-liberalism and atomistic individualism. These concepts build directly on conservative pragmatism and tradition and prepare you to compare different conservative strands.
Learning Objectives 🎯
By the end of this revision page, you should be able to:
Explain psychological, moral and intellectual human imperfection.
Analyse how human imperfection supports conservative beliefs in authority and order.
Explain the conservative concept of an organic society and its relationship with hierarchy and authority.
Compare traditional and one-nation conservative interpretations of paternalism.
Explain why New Right conservatives reject paternalism.
Analyse New Right libertarianism and neo-liberalism, including economic liberty, atomism and individual autonomy.
Revision Notes đź“š
Human imperfection, organic society, paternalism and libertarianism A-Level Politics revision
The Edexcel specification presents conservative ideas as applying to four connected areas:
human nature
the state
society
the economy
This lesson shows especially clearly how these areas are connected.
Traditional and one-nation conservatives tend to begin with the assumption that human beings are imperfect. This contributes to their support for an organic society, authority, hierarchy and forms of paternalism.
Neo-liberalism within the New Right challenges much of this approach. It places greater emphasis on the rational, self-interested individual and therefore values liberty, autonomy, free choice, atomism and a free-market economy.
A useful overall comparison is:
Traditional and one-nation conservatism | Neo-liberal New Right |
Human beings are imperfect | Greater emphasis on rational individuals |
Organic view of society | Atomistic view of society |
Authority and hierarchy | Greater emphasis on individual autonomy |
Paternalism accepted | Paternalism rejected |
State may act for people's benefit | State intervention should be limited, particularly in the economy |
Society is more than its individual parts | Society consists of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals |
These differences will become particularly important in Traditional, one-nation and New Right conservatism.
Human imperfection
Human imperfection is the conservative belief that human beings are flawed and therefore may be incapable of consistently making good decisions for themselves.
Edexcel requires you to understand three aspects:
psychological imperfection
moral imperfection
intellectual imperfection
Traditional and one-nation conservatives use these assumptions about human nature to justify the need for stability, authority and social order.
Psychological human imperfection
Psychological imperfection refers to the conservative belief that human beings are dependent and security-seeking.
Rather than viewing people as naturally completely independent, traditional conservatives argue that individuals often need:
order;
familiarity;
security;
a clear place within society.
This helps explain conservative support for established institutions and authority. If people need security and predictability, a stable social structure can provide reassurance.
The chain of reasoning is:
Humans are psychologically dependent↓They seek security and familiarity↓Stable institutions and social relationships provide this security↓Authority and social order become valuable
This idea connects directly with tradition, because familiar institutions inherited from previous generations can contribute to the security conservatives believe human beings need.
Moral human imperfection
Moral imperfection refers to the belief that human beings may act selfishly, irresponsibly or immorally if their behaviour is not restrained.
Conservatives therefore do not assume that people will automatically act in the interests of others or of wider society.
The implications can include support for:
clear rules;
authority;
law and order;
institutions capable of restraining harmful behaviour.
Thomas Hobbes is particularly useful here. The specification describes Hobbes's view of human nature as one in which humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray. His emphasis on order supports the wider conservative argument that social stability cannot simply be taken for granted.
In an essay, the analytical step matters. Do not simply state:
Conservatives think people are morally imperfect.
Develop the consequence:
Because conservatives believe humans may fail to restrain immoral behaviour themselves, authority can be justified as necessary to maintain order and protect a stable society.
Intellectual human imperfection
Intellectual imperfection refers to the belief that human reason is limited.
Society is extremely complex and unpredictable. Conservatives therefore question whether individuals can fully understand all the consequences of political action.
Michael Oakeshott is directly relevant. The specification associates him with the argument that society is unpredictable and humans are imperfect.
Intellectual imperfection helps explain conservative suspicion towards schemes that attempt to redesign society according to abstract theories.
The reasoning is:
Human understanding is limited↓Society is too complex to understand completely↓Political plans may produce unintended consequences↓Caution, experience and pragmatism are safer approaches
This links directly with pragmatism.
Comparing the three forms of human imperfection
Type of imperfection | What it means | Political consequence |
Psychological | Humans seek security, familiarity and order | Stable institutions and social structures are valued |
Moral | Humans may act wrongly or irresponsibly | Authority and order are needed to restrain harmful behaviour |
Intellectual | Human reasoning and understanding are limited | Conservatives distrust abstract plans and favour caution |
These forms of imperfection reinforce one another.
If people have limited knowledge, imperfect moral judgement and a psychological need for security, traditional conservatives can argue that individuals should not be treated as completely independent decision-makers.
This provides an important foundation for the conservative ideas of organic society, authority, hierarchy and paternalism.
Hobbes and Oakeshott on human imperfection
Two specified thinkers are particularly useful when discussing human imperfection.
Thomas Hobbes
The specification associates Hobbes with:
order, in which an ordered society must balance the human need to lead a free life;
human nature, with humans described as needy, vulnerable and easily led astray.
Hobbes can therefore support arguments about the need for authority and social order.
Michael Oakeshott
Oakeshott is associated with:
human imperfection, including the unpredictability of society;
pragmatism, rather than rigid ideological planning.
Oakeshott is especially useful when linking intellectual imperfection to the conservative preference for practical experience.
You will examine both thinkers in more detail in Hobbes, Burke and Oakeshott.
Organic society
An organic society is the conservative view that society is more important than any of its individual parts.
Society is therefore not simply a collection of separate individuals. Individuals exist within a wider set of relationships, institutions and social structures.
Traditional and one-nation conservatives share this organic conception of society.
A useful way to understand the concept is:
Individual people
↓
belong within
↓
families, communities and institutions
↓
which together form
↓
a wider, interconnected society
The individual cannot therefore be fully separated from society.
Why is society described as organic?
The word organic indicates that society is viewed as a connected whole.
The different parts of society:
perform different roles;
depend upon one another;
contribute to wider social stability;
should not necessarily be treated as interchangeable.
This is why organic society links closely to hierarchy.
If society contains different roles and positions, conservatives can regard unequal social arrangements as a natural feature of an ordered society rather than necessarily as a problem that must be removed.
Organic society and social cohesion
Edexcel explicitly links organic society to a cohesive society.
Traditional and one-nation conservatives argue that society is held together when its different parts recognise their relationships and responsibilities towards one another.
Organicism can therefore support:
social stability;
shared obligations;
continuity;
hierarchy;
authority.
The important examination point is that organic society is not an isolated concept. It provides the foundation for several other conservative principles.
Hierarchy
Hierarchy is the conservative belief that society is naturally organised into fixed tiers, with different people occupying different positions.
The Edexcel glossary specifies that position within this hierarchy is not based on individual ability.
Traditional conservatism regards hierarchy as consistent with an organic society because different parts of society perform different functions.
Hierarchy can also contribute to stability by establishing:
clear roles;
expectations;
leadership;
responsibility.
Traditional conservatism therefore does not necessarily begin from the assumption that all inequalities within society should be removed.
Authority
Authority is the conservative belief that people in higher social positions are best placed to make decisions in the interests of society as a whole.
The specification therefore describes conservative authority as coming from above.
Authority differs from simply having power. Within conservative thinking, authority is regarded as legitimate because those exercising it are considered able to provide leadership and order.
The relationship can be expressed as:
Organic society
↓
contains different social positions
↓
Hierarchy
↓
places some people above others
↓
Authority
↓
allows those in higher positions to provide leadership
This relationship is especially important when explaining paternalism.
Human imperfection, hierarchy and authority
Traditional conservative ideas form a connected argument:
Human beings are imperfect.
Individuals therefore cannot always be relied upon to make wise decisions independently.
Society provides stability and security.
Society is naturally organised hierarchically.
Those in positions of authority can provide direction.
Authority can therefore contribute to social cohesion and order.
This does not mean every conservative agrees with every part of this argument.
Neo-liberalism within the New Right challenges the underlying organic and paternalistic assumptions, which creates one of the most significant divisions within conservatism.
Paternalism
Paternalism means benign power exercised from above by the state, governing in what it regards as the interests of the people.
The specification requires you to distinguish two conservative interpretations:
traditional conservative paternalism;
one-nation conservative paternalism.
It also requires you to understand why New Right conservatives reject paternalism.
Traditional conservative paternalism
Traditional conservatives take a more authoritarian interpretation of paternalism.
The basic argument is:
The state knows what is best
↓
People cannot necessarily make the best decisions for themselves
↓
Those in authority should provide direction
↓
Individuals should accept that direction
This interpretation is closely related to human imperfection.
If humans are psychologically, morally and intellectually flawed, traditional conservatives can argue that authority must sometimes make decisions on their behalf.
Traditional paternalism therefore has a strongly top-down character.
One-nation conservative paternalism
One-nation conservatism gives paternalism a somewhat different emphasis.
According to the specification, one-nation conservatives believe there is an obligation on the wealthy to look after those unable to look after themselves.
This relates to noblesse oblige, defined by Edexcel as the duty of the wealthy and privileged to look after those who are less fortunate.
The reasoning is:
Society is organic and interconnected
↓
Different social groups depend upon each other
↓
Greater wealth or privilege brings responsibility
↓
The more fortunate have obligations towards the less fortunate
One-nation paternalism therefore focuses more explicitly on social obligation.
Traditional and one-nation paternalism compared
Traditional conservatism | One-nation conservatism |
Paternalism is strongly authoritarian | Paternalism stresses social obligation |
Authority knows what is best | Wealth and privilege carry responsibilities |
People may need direction from above | The wealthy should help those unable to help themselves |
Closely linked to hierarchy and obedience | Closely linked to organic society and noblesse oblige |
Both approaches are paternalistic because both reject the idea that individuals should always be left entirely to themselves.
However, their emphasis differs.
Traditional conservatism stresses authority from above, while one-nation conservatism particularly stresses responsibility from above.
Why does the New Right reject paternalism?
New Right conservatives challenge paternalism because it conflicts with individual liberty and autonomy.
The specification describes the New Right as combining:
neo-liberalism, concerned principally with free-market economics and atomistic individualism;
neo-conservatism, concerned principally with social fragmentation, law and order and public morality.
For this lesson, the important part is neo-liberalism.
Neo-liberals argue that individuals should have greater freedom to make their own choices, particularly within the economy.
Paternalistic intervention is therefore criticised because it can:
restrict autonomy;
interfere with individual choice;
increase state intervention;
reduce individual responsibility.
This creates a major disagreement between one-nation conservatism and the neo-liberal New Right.
Libertarianism
Libertarianism places individual liberty at the centre of politics.
Within Edexcel conservatism, you study libertarianism specifically in relation to neo-liberalism.
The specification defines this as an approach that:
upholds liberty;
seeks to maximise autonomy;
seeks to maximise free choice;
concentrates particularly on economic freedom.
This means the individual, rather than society as an organic whole, becomes the starting point.
Neo-liberalism
Neo-liberalism is the economic and individualist strand within the New Right.
Its main concerns within the specification are:
free-market economics;
atomistic individualism.
Neo-liberalism therefore challenges several traditional conservative assumptions.
Traditional or one-nation idea | Neo-liberal challenge |
Organic society | Atomistic individualism |
Paternalism | Individual autonomy |
Authority deciding what is best | Individual choice |
Social obligations from above | Greater individual responsibility |
State economic involvement may be justified | Free-market economics and reduced intervention |
This is one reason why the specification describes New Right thinking as having challenged much of what conservatism had traditionally stood for.
Atomism
Atomism is the belief that society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals.
Edexcel also describes this as egoistical individualism.
Atomism directly challenges organic society.
Organic view
Society → individuals
Society is the larger whole within which individuals exist.
Atomistic view
Individuals → society
Society is formed from separate individuals pursuing their own lives and interests.
This is one of the clearest disagreements between traditional or one-nation conservatism and neo-liberalism.
The 2024 mark scheme explicitly contrasts traditional and one-nation organicism with a New Right atomistic view in which individuals are more self-reliant.
Rand and neo-liberal freedom
Ayn Rand is a specified conservative thinker particularly useful for understanding neo-liberalism.
Edexcel associates Rand with:
objectivism, advocating rational self-interest;
freedom, supporting a pure laissez-faire capitalist economy.
Rand therefore provides a clear contrast with traditional ideas about paternalism.
If individuals are rational and should pursue their own interests, intervention by a paternalistic state becomes difficult to justify.
Rand also illustrates why some New Right ideas represent a challenge to traditional assumptions about human imperfection.
Nozick and libertarianism
Robert Nozick is directly associated with libertarianism.
The specification identifies two key ideas:
individuals should not be treated as things or used against their will as resources;
self-ownership, meaning individuals own their own bodies, talents, abilities and labour.
This strengthens the libertarian case for autonomy.
If individuals own themselves, there are strong grounds for limiting the ability of the state to direct their choices.
You will examine Rand and Nozick more fully in Rand and Nozick.
Laissez-faire
The specification also identifies laissez-faire as relevant conservative terminology.
It means a preference for minimal government intervention in business and the state.
Laissez-faire therefore reflects the economic dimension of neo-liberal liberty.
The chain of reasoning is:
Individuals should have autonomy
↓
Individuals should be free to make economic choices
↓
Markets should operate freely
↓
Government economic intervention should be limited
Rand's defence of a laissez-faire capitalist economy is particularly useful here.
Moral and economic dimensions of libertarianism
Edexcel requires students to understand both the moral and economic values connected with libertarianism.
Moral values
The moral argument centres on:
liberty;
autonomy;
free choice;
rational self-interest;
self-ownership.
The individual should be able to make choices without unnecessary interference from the state.
Economic values
The economic argument centres on:
economic liberty;
free-market economics;
laissez-faire;
limiting government intervention.
Neo-liberalism therefore applies libertarian principles particularly strongly to the economy.
Organic society versus atomism
This is one of the most important comparisons in the whole conservatism topic.
Organic society | Atomism |
Society is more important than its individual parts | Society consists of individuals |
Individuals cannot be separated from society | Individuals are self-interested and self-sufficient |
Associated with traditional and one-nation conservatism | Associated particularly with neo-liberal New Right thinking |
Supports hierarchy and authority | Emphasises autonomy and individual choice |
Can support paternalism | Helps explain rejection of paternalism |
The two positions therefore reflect fundamentally different starting points.
Organic conservatism begins with society.
Neo-liberalism begins with the individual.
This comparison will be central when studying Traditional, one-nation and New Right conservatism.
Human imperfection versus neo-liberal individualism
There is also a significant tension over human nature.
Traditional and one-nation conservatives emphasise:
psychological imperfection;
moral imperfection;
intellectual imperfection.
Neo-liberal New Right thinking gives greater weight to:
rational self-interest;
autonomy;
self-reliance;
individual choice.
The 2024 mark scheme identifies this explicitly as an important area of disagreement. Traditional and one-nation conservatism are linked to human imperfection, while neo-liberalism embraces a more rational, atomistic conception of the individual.
How the ideas fit together
The strongest revision approach is to learn these ideas as connected chains rather than isolated definitions.
Traditional and one-nation chain
Human imperfection
↓
humans need security and guidance
↓
Organic society
↓
society contains different roles
↓
Hierarchy
↓
those above exercise
↓
Authority
↓
which may justify
↓
Paternalism
Neo-liberal New Right chain
Greater confidence in rational individual choice
↓
Atomism
↓
individual autonomy matters most
↓
Libertarianism
↓
paternalism is rejected
↓
Neo-liberalism and free-market economics
These chains give you ready-made AO2 analysis because each idea is connected logically to the next.
Hints from the Examiner Reports đź’ˇ
Political Ideas questions in Paper 1 are worth 24 marks, with 8 marks each for AO1, AO2 and AO3. Candidates must consider competing arguments and use at least two specified thinkers to avoid being capped at Level 2.
Examiner hint:Â Compare conservative strands directly rather than describing each one separately.
In the 2019 examiner report, stronger responses compared different conservative approaches within the same argument. Weaker responses often adopted a "storytelling" approach, describing traditional, one-nation and New Right conservatism one after another without enough direct comparison.
For example, rather than writing one paragraph entirely on organic society and another entirely on atomism, make the comparison explicit:
Traditional and one-nation conservatives regard individuals as inseparable from an organic society, whereas neo-liberal New Right conservatives adopt a more atomistic conception based on self-reliant individuals.
That immediately creates analysis.
Examiner hint:Â Do not claim that all conservatives believe in organic society.
The 2019 report specifically identified this as a misconception. Organic society is strongly associated with traditional and one-nation conservatism, while the neo-liberal New Right takes an atomistic approach.
Examiner hint:Â Distinguish the two parts of the New Right when it matters.
The examiner report praised stronger responses that distinguished neo-liberal from neo-conservative ideas rather than treating the New Right as completely uniform.
For this lesson, remember that libertarianism, atomism and free-market economics belong particularly to the neo-liberal side of the New Right.
Examiner hint:Â Keep thinkers tied closely to the exact argument.
Examiners found that some candidates knew what thinkers believed but failed to connect their ideas to the actual question. They also warned that political figures cannot substitute for the specified thinkers.
A thinker should therefore do analytical work:
Hobbes can support arguments about imperfection and order.
Oakeshott can support intellectual imperfection.
Rand can support rational self-interest and laissez-faire freedom.
Nozick can support libertarianism and self-ownership.
Examiner hint:Â Make a judgement about degree, not simply "yes" or "no".
Examiner guidance stresses that "to what extent" Political Ideas questions require assessment of degrees of agreement or disagreement. AO3 should be developed throughout the response, not added only in the conclusion.
Common Mistakes ⚠️
Mistake: Treating human imperfection as one vague idea
Why this is incorrect: Edexcel specifically requires psychological, moral and intellectual imperfection.
How to improve:
Learn the three-part distinction:
psychological = need for security;
moral = capacity for harmful or immoral behaviour;
intellectual = limits of human reason.
Then explain the political consequence of each.
Mistake: Saying all conservatives believe in an organic society
Why this is incorrect: Traditional and one-nation conservatives support organic society, but neo-liberal New Right conservatives emphasise atomism.
How to improve: Build a direct contrast between organicism and atomism whenever discussing conservative views of society.
Mistake: Confusing authority with hierarchy
Why this is incorrect: The concepts are connected but not identical.
How to improve: Remember:
hierarchy describes the existence of different social tiers;
authority describes legitimate decision-making from those in higher positions.
Mistake: Treating traditional and one-nation paternalism as identical
Why this is incorrect: Both accept paternalism, but they emphasise different reasons.
How to improve: Traditional paternalism is more authoritarian, while one-nation paternalism emphasises the obligation of the wealthy and privileged towards those less fortunate.
Mistake: Saying the whole New Right is simply libertarian
Why this is incorrect: The New Right combines neo-liberal and neo-conservative ideas.
How to improve: Associate libertarianism, free markets and atomistic individualism principally with the neo-liberal strand. You will distinguish the two elements more fully in Traditional, one-nation and New Right conservatism.
Mistake: Describing Rand or Nozick without linking them to the debate
Why this is incorrect: Thinker knowledge only becomes useful when it supports analysis of the question.
How to improve: Use Rand to demonstrate rational self-interest and laissez-faire freedom, or Nozick to demonstrate libertarianism and self-ownership, then compare this explicitly with organic or paternalistic conservatism.
Exam-Style Questions ✍️
Core Political Ideas are assessed through a 24-mark "To what extent" question in Paper 1. The shorter questions below are revision exercises designed to build the knowledge and comparison skills required for that extended response.
Question 1
Define human imperfection in conservative thought. (2 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Answer / mark scheme:
Award credit for:
recognising that conservatives regard human beings as flawed;
explaining that these flaws can make humans incapable of consistently making good decisions for themselves.
Question 2
Explain the difference between psychological and intellectual human imperfection. (4 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Answer / mark scheme:
A developed response should explain that:
psychological imperfection concerns human dependence and the desire for security, familiarity and order;
intellectual imperfection concerns the limits of human reason and people's inability fully to understand a complex and unpredictable society.
Question 3
Explain two ways in which an organic view of society supports conservative ideas about authority and hierarchy. (6 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Answer / mark scheme:
Possible points include:
organic society regards society as a connected whole rather than independent individuals;
different parts of the social organism perform different roles;
this supports the existence of hierarchical social positions;
authority can come from those occupying higher positions;
authority provides leadership and contributes to cohesion and stability.
Credit should reward developed connections between organic society, hierarchy and authority.
Question 4
Compare traditional conservative and one-nation conservative approaches to paternalism. (8 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Answer / mark scheme:
Students should identify similarities and differences.
Similarities:
both accept benign power or responsibility from above;
both reject complete individual independence;
both can be linked to human imperfection and hierarchy.
Differences:
traditional conservatism adopts a more authoritarian view, with the state knowing what is best;
one-nation conservatism stresses obligations placed on the wealthy towards those unable to look after themselves;
one-nation paternalism therefore connects particularly strongly with noblesse oblige and organic society.
Stronger answers should make direct comparisons rather than describing each strand separately.
Question 5
A conservative argues:
"Individuals should be free to pursue their own interests and make their own economic choices. Society does not need the state deciding what is best for everyone."
Analyse how this argument reflects New Right neo-liberalism. (8 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Answer / mark scheme:
Relevant analysis includes:
"free to pursue their own interests" reflects rational self-interest;
individual choice reflects libertarianism;
freedom from state direction rejects paternalism;
emphasis on individuals reflects atomism;
economic choice reflects free-market economics;
limited state involvement links to laissez-faire;
Rand may be used to support rational self-interest and laissez-faire freedom;
Nozick may be used to support libertarianism and self-ownership.
Question 6
To what extent are conservatives united in their view of human nature? (24 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Indicative mark scheme:
AO1: Knowledge and understanding
Relevant knowledge may include:
psychological imperfection;
moral imperfection;
intellectual imperfection;
Hobbes on needy, vulnerable humans who may be led astray;
Oakeshott on human imperfection and an unpredictable society;
Rand on rational self-interest;
atomistic individualism;
libertarianism and self-ownership.
AO2: Analysis
Arguments suggesting agreement could include:
traditional and one-nation conservatives share a belief in human imperfection;
this supports stability, authority and social order;
Hobbes and Oakeshott can exemplify different aspects of this pessimistic conception.
Arguments suggesting disagreement could include:
neo-liberal New Right ideas place greater confidence in rational individual choice;
Rand's rational self-interest contrasts with traditional assumptions of human imperfection;
atomism and libertarianism imply individuals should enjoy greater autonomy;
different views of human nature therefore produce different attitudes towards paternalism and the state.
AO3: Evaluation
Students should:
assess the extent of genuine agreement;
distinguish traditional and one-nation conservatism from neo-liberal New Right thinking;
evaluate whether remaining conservative commitments to order outweigh disagreements concerning individual rationality;
reach a substantiated judgement.
A defensible conclusion would be that conservatism contains substantial agreement between traditional and one-nation conservatives concerning human imperfection, but the rational and individualist assumptions of neo-liberalism create a fundamental division within the ideology.
Question 7
To what extent are conservative views of society divided between organicism and individualism? (24 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Indicative mark scheme:
AO1: Knowledge and understanding
Relevant material includes:
organic society;
hierarchy;
authority;
paternalism;
noblesse oblige;
atomism;
libertarianism;
neo-liberalism;
Rand and Nozick;
relevant ideas from Hobbes, Burke or Oakeshott.
AO2: Analysis
Students may argue that conservatism is divided because:
traditional and one-nation conservatives regard society as organic;
neo-liberalism regards society in atomistic terms;
organicism supports hierarchy and obligations between groups;
atomism emphasises autonomous, self-reliant individuals;
one-nation paternalism conflicts with neo-liberal opposition to state paternalism.
Students may also analyse areas of continued agreement, including the conservative concern for maintaining an ordered society, while recognising that different strands explain that order in different ways.
AO3: Evaluation
Students should:
compare rather than narrate the different strands;
assess how fundamental the organicism versus atomism divide is;
weigh areas of continuing agreement against disagreements;
use specified thinkers to substantiate the argument;
reach a judgement about the extent of division.
A strong conclusion may argue that views of society reveal one of the deepest divisions within conservatism because organicism and atomism begin from fundamentally different understandings of the relationship between the individual and society.
Question 8
To what extent does New Right libertarianism reject traditional conservative principles? (24 marks)
reveal mark scheme and indicative content
Indicative mark scheme:
AO1: Knowledge and understanding
Relevant knowledge includes:
libertarianism;
neo-liberalism;
autonomy and free choice;
free-market economics;
atomism;
laissez-faire;
paternalism;
organic society;
hierarchy and authority;
Rand's rational self-interest and economic freedom;
Nozick's libertarianism and self-ownership.
AO2: Analysis
Arguments supporting the view may include:
libertarian autonomy conflicts with paternalism;
atomism conflicts with organic society;
rational self-interest challenges traditional beliefs about human imperfection;
laissez-faire economics challenges paternalistic state intervention.
Arguments qualifying the view may include:
New Right thought remains part of conservatism rather than abandoning it entirely;
the broader New Right combines neo-liberalism with neo-conservative concerns about order and public morality;
different conservative strands may continue to share concerns about maintaining social order despite disagreeing about how it should be achieved.
AO3: Evaluation
Students should assess whether the New Right represents:
a fundamental rejection of traditional conservatism;
a partial rejection concentrated primarily in economic and individualist thinking;
or a new combination of conservative principles.
A reasoned judgement could conclude that neo-liberalism represents a major challenge to traditional paternalism and organicism, although the New Right as a whole cannot be understood solely through libertarianism because it also contains neo-conservative ideas.
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