The Third Way

Question 1

Human Nature

Answer 1

• Shaped by changing socio-economic conditions.
• Increased sense of individual aspiration, believing that humans can prosper under capitalism and appreciate the core values of cooperation and collectivism.

Question 2

Giddens on Human Nature

Answer 2

• Capitalism liberated individuals = free to ‘self-actualise’ and carve out their identities.
• People may struggle more to develop due to society becoming more ill-defined. Less likely to be sure-footed when stripped of their communities and influenced by elites.
• Highlights the corrosive effects of capitalism and individualism upon community and fraternity as fairness now competes with sharpened individual aspiration.

Question 3

State

Answer 3

• Promotes reform rather than revolution.
• The existing liberal state should be improved with redistribution and decentralising of political power, whilst encouraging political participation.
• Differs in the belief that greater equality of opportunity required more inequality of outcome.

Question 4

Giddens on State

Answer 4

• For HN to flourish, the state (while removing itself from economics) must be more proactive and enabled.
• Investing in infrastructure (public transport and services) and a modernised system of economy (preparing citizens for knowledge of the economy).

Question 5

Economy

Answer 5

• Globalisation of capitalism has made Keynesian economics redundant and the failure of nationalised industries makes mixed economies appear dated.
• Argued to ‘go with the flow’ (neo-liberal economic policies) - encourages privatisation and deregulation to boost economic growth and tax revenues.

Question 6

Giddens on Economy

Answer 6

• Survival of S-D required recognition that free-market capitalism had an unmatched capacity to empower individuals economically. Worked best when there was a strong sense of social cohesion = triangulation of NL’s economics and S-D’s society.
• A NL economy, propelled by privatisation and deregulation, will provide huge tax yields and will finance public spending increases - securing greater equality of opportunities.
• Accepts that Crossland’s KE was obsolete and greater equality of opportunity is linked to greater inequality of outcome in order to generate wealth to fund services.
• Revitalised the case for further state intervention in an area of globalised capitalism.

Question 7

Society

Answer 7

• Undergoing a shift to more middle-class values and practices - society has become increasingly propertied, suburban and individualistic (embourgeoisement).
• Passed legislation promoting greater racial, gender and sexual equality - aimed to equalise social and political power in a modern society.

Question 8

Giddens on Society

Answer 8

• Emergence of ‘post-Fordist’ societies made triangulation crucial. Fordist capitalism created small, tightly-knit urban communities based on uniformity of income and employment. Complemented HN’s desire for solidarity which challenge both economic and cultural elites.
• Post this - fragmented such communities, ‘atomising’ the modern workforce and leaving individuals alienated.