the state

Question 1

key feature of the state: order and authority

Answer 1

-main goal of the state is to provide this
-without order there can be no liberty
-no order until the emergence of clear undisputed laws backed by firm authority - links to fundamental belief that the state proceeds society (top-down)
-example = Thatcher favoured strong law and order during poll tax riots where she used military tactics
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Question 2

key feature of the state: organic origins

Answer 2

-conservatives prefer a state that emerges gradually and has a pragmatic response to society’s needs
-prefer a UK style system where there’s an uncodified constitution that can adapt to circumstances
-disagree with Hobbe’s view of government by consent and the notion of the state being rationally created by a contract, as they believe humans have to sign the ‘contract’ for their own protection

Question 3

key feature of the state: a ruling class

Answer 3

-their power is aristocratic and hereditary rather than democratic
-traditional cons. believe the state should be overtly hierarchical, reflecting the elite society they endorse
-they see the merits of a class that was born and trained to rule, who were mindful of their paternalistic responsibilities to society e.g. Cameron’s The Big Society

Question 4

key feature of the state: the nation state

Answer 4

-state should be a big version of the ‘little platoons’
-the nation should be a mega-community that included all classes and became basis for the state
-attitude to state seems paradoxical - especially New Right approach - as they want to strengthen the nation by ‘rolling back its frontiers’ - this is because they believe if the nation state is burdened by a welfare system then it’s harder to focus on the true function of order and security - e.g. Thatcher reduced benefits
-aim to streamline the nation state’s functions to make it leaner and fitter in the process
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