The New Right - One Minute Sociology

The New Right are a political movement/ideology that emerged in the 1950's and becoming particularly influential from the 1970's onwards in the UK with links to the Conservative party.


They could be considered an extension of Functionalism. Functionalists such as Durkheim were writing in and around the mid 1800's which is a long time ago, but The New Right have adopted some of these ideas. 

The New Right believe that for society to function smoothly traditional values and structures must be maintained and protected. They strongly support the traditional nuclear family, believe in strong policing for law and order, anti-welfare state policies, anti state interference in markets or peoples lives and often oppose new movements in relation to ethnicity, gender and LGBT rights.

They believe that people should be financially responsible for themselves and should not rely on state support. Margaret Thatcher has many colourful quotes on this topic.

They see single parent families as dysfunctional and harmful to society and they support the traditional family.

They brought in the Education reform Act of 1988 which created competition between schools with league tables

The New Right are relevant to Sociology because the have been in power politically for long periods since the 1970's and there policies and ideology has impacted heavily on society - and as Sociologists we are here to study society!

An example of the New Right at work was when they cut EMA in England in 2011 after it was introduced by the Labour Party (left wing) to help keep underprivileged students in education.

The New Right appear in each topic in Sociology due to their policies and actions in relation to societal institutions and the impact those policies have had. 


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