What are the core political ideologies and how do they differ over human nature, the state, society and the economy?
An overview of the core political ideas covering liberalism, conservatism, socialism and nationalism, their core principles, internal strands, and the key thinkers required by AQA.
An overview of the AQA A-Level Politics political ideas module, covering liberalism, conservatism, socialism and nationalism, their core principles and strands, and the key thinkers, with guidance on how to study them.
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What this module is asking
The Political Ideas section of AQA A-Level Politics asks you to understand three core ideologies (liberalism, conservatism and socialism) and one ideology from a chosen group (here nationalism), to explain their core principles, to distinguish their internal strands, and to apply the named key thinkers. It is examined in Paper 1, Section B (core ideologies) and Paper 2, Section B (the non-core ideology), each with one 9-mark "explain and analyse three" question and one 25-mark essay using the prescribed thinkers. It rewards precise knowledge of ideas and thinkers and the ability to compare ideologies.
The four ideologies and their strands
Liberalism is the ideology of the individual: individualism, freedom, reason, tolerance, equality of opportunity and government by consent. Its classical strand favours negative freedom, a minimal state and laissez-faire; its modern strand favours positive freedom, an enabling state and limited welfare. Conservatism rests on a pessimistic view of human nature, valuing tradition, pragmatism, order, hierarchy and the organic society; its strands run from traditional conservatism through paternalist one-nation conservatism to the New Right's union of neo-liberal free markets and neo-conservative authority. Socialism rests on collectivism, common humanity and equality, and a critique of capitalism; its strands run from revolutionary Marxism through reformist social democracy to the market-accepting Third Way. Nationalism centres on the nation, self-determination and the nation-state, ranging from inclusive liberal nationalism to chauvinistic expansionist nationalism, conservative nationalism and anti-colonial nationalism.
The four analytical themes
The four themes give you a comparative grid. On human nature, liberals are optimistic (rational, improvable), conservatives pessimistic (flawed, imperfect), socialists see humanity as cooperative but shaped by society, and nationalists stress identity and belonging. On the state, positions run from the minimal state (classical liberals, New Right neo-liberals) through the enabling or social state (modern liberals, social democrats) to the authoritative state (conservatives, for order) and the revolutionary transformation or withering of the state (Marxists). On society, liberals are individualist, conservatives organic and hierarchical, socialists collectivist and class-focused, and nationalists rooted in the national community. On the economy, free markets (classical liberals, New Right) stand against the mixed economy (modern liberals, social democrats) and common ownership (revolutionary socialists). Strong answers show how a view of human nature drives the rest: conservative pessimism explains the conservative state, socialist faith in cooperation explains collectivism.
How to study Political Ideas
Learn each ideology's core ideas, its internal strands, and the distinctive contribution of each named thinker, then practise comparing ideologies across the four themes (for example liberal versus socialist views of equality, or conservative versus liberal views of human nature) and writing thinker-supported evaluative essays. For the 25-mark essay you must use the prescribed thinkers explicitly; for the 9-mark question you need three separate, developed and analysed points.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20209 marksExplain and analyse three themes used to compare political ideologies. (Paper 1, Section B, core ideologies)Show worked answer →
Three distinct themes, each developed with reference to at least two ideologies, with analysis.
One: human nature. Liberals see humans as rational, self-interested and improvable; conservatives see them as flawed and imperfect; socialists see human nature as cooperative but shaped by society. The view of human nature drives each ideology's politics.
Two: the state. Classical liberals want a minimal state, modern liberals an enabling state, conservatives an authoritative state for order, socialists a state that can deliver equality. Analyse how views of human nature feed views of the state.
Three: the economy. Classical liberals and New Right favour free markets, modern liberals and social democrats favour a mixed economy with intervention, revolutionary socialists favour common ownership. Analyse how economic positions follow from views of society and equality.
Markers reward the comparative framework, accurate ideology positions, and analysis linking the themes together rather than listing them.
AQA 20219 marksExplain and analyse three ways in which liberalism and socialism disagree. (Paper 1, Section B, core ideologies)Show worked answer →
A comparison question: focus on genuine disagreement, each point developed.
One: equality. Liberals want equality of opportunity and formal equality; socialists want social equality and, for some, equality of outcome through redistribution or common ownership.
Two: the individual versus society. Liberalism is individualist, treating the individual as the basic unit of value; socialism is collectivist, stressing cooperation, community and class.
Three: the economy. Liberals (especially classical) defend private property and the market; socialists are critical of capitalism and favour social or common ownership and intervention.
Markers reward precise contrasts, the use of named thinkers (for example Mill versus Marx), and analysis of why these disagreements flow from each ideology's view of human nature.
Related dot points
- The core ideas and principles of liberalism, the differences between classical and modern liberalism, and the views of the key thinkers Locke, Wollstonecraft, Mill, Rawls and Friedan.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the core ideas and principles of liberalism, the differences between classical and modern liberalism, and the views of the key thinkers Locke, Wollstonecraft, Mill, Rawls and Friedan.
- The core ideas and principles of conservatism, the differences between traditional, one-nation and New Right conservatism, and the views of the key thinkers Hobbes, Burke, Oakeshott, Rand and Nozick.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the core ideas of conservatism, the differences between traditional, one-nation and New Right conservatism, and the views of the key thinkers Hobbes, Burke, Oakeshott, Rand and Nozick.
- The core ideas and principles of socialism, the differences between revolutionary socialism, social democracy and the Third Way, and the views of the key thinkers Marx and Engels, Luxemburg, Webb, Crosland and Giddens.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the core ideas of socialism, the differences between revolutionary socialism, social democracy and the Third Way, and the views of the key thinkers Marx and Engels, Luxemburg, Webb, Crosland and Giddens.
- The core ideas and principles of nationalism, the differences between liberal, conservative, expansionist and post-colonial nationalism, and the views of the key thinkers Rousseau, Herder, Mazzini, Maurras and Garvey.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the core ideas of nationalism, the differences between liberal, conservative, expansionist and anti-colonial or post-colonial nationalism, and the views of the key thinkers Rousseau, Herder, Mazzini, Maurras and Garvey.
- The functions and features of political parties, party funding, the ideas and policies of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, the role of minor parties, and the development of the UK party system.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level Politics on the functions and features of political parties, party funding, the ideas and policies of the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, the role of minor parties, and the nature of the UK party system.
Sources & how we know this
- AQA A-level Politics (7152) specification — AQA (2017)