Many students fail because they describe the theories separately. They write one paragraph on Liberalism and one on Marxism, but they never explain why they hate each other. To get a distinction, you need to master the Debate.

This guide breaks down the core theoretical conflicts you need to master.

1. The Nature of Political Theory

Before you dive into the “Isms,” you must understand the tool you are using.

• Normative vs. Empirical:

  • Empirical: Dealing with facts. “What is happening?” (e.g., “50% of people voted”).

  • Normative: Dealing with values. “What should happen?” (e.g., “Voting should be mandatory”).

• Exam Tip: POL3701 is almost entirely Normative. Don’t just give statistics; give moral arguments.

2. The Great Ideological Debates

You will be asked to compare ideologies. You cannot understand one without the other.

Liberalism (The Individual)

• Core Value: Liberty (Freedom).

• The Argument: The individual is the most important unit. The state’s only job is to protect your rights (Life, Liberty, Property).

• The Flaw: Critics say it ignores structural inequality. “You are free to eat at the Ritz, but you can’t afford it.”

Socialism/Marxism (The Community)

• • Core Value: Equality.

  • The Argument: Freedom is meaningless without economic equality. Humans are social creatures, not isolated individuals. The state must intervene to redistribute wealth.

  • The Conflict: Liberalism says taxation is theft; Socialism says profit is theft. You must be able to explain this clash.

Conservatism (Tradition)

• Core Value: Order and Tradition.

• The Argument: Society is fragile. Rapid change (like revolutions) is dangerous. We should stick to what works (religion, family, hierarchy).

3. Theories of Justice (Rawls vs. Nozick)

This is the heavyweight championship of Political Theory. You usually get an essay question on this.

• John Rawls (Justice as Fairness):

  • Imagine a “Veil of Ignorance” where you don’t know if you will be born rich or poor, talented or disabled.

  • What society would you design? You would design one that helps the poorest person, just in case you are that person. This justifies the Welfare State.

• Robert Nozick (Entitlement Theory):

  • He argues against Rawls. If I earned my money fairly, the state has no right to take it to help someone else. That is “forced labor.” This justifies the Libertarian State.

4. African Political Thought

You cannot ignore the local context.

• Ubuntu: “I am because we are.” It rejects the Western idea of the solitary individual. It emphasizes consensus and community survival.

• Black Consciousness (Biko): Psychological liberation. The oppressed must first free their minds from the idea of inferiority before they can free themselves politically.

Decksh’s Top 3 Tips for a Distinction

Tip 1: “Compare and Contrast”

The examiner will rarely ask “Define Liberalism.” They will ask: “Compare the Liberal and Socialist view on Freedom.”

• Liberal View: Freedom is “Freedom From” (Negative Liberty) – the government leaving me alone.

• Socialist View: Freedom is “Freedom To” (Positive Liberty) – having the resources to actually do things (like education and healthcare).

Tip 2: Contextualize Your Answer

Theory implies nothing if it doesn’t touch reality.

• If you are writing about Socialism, mention the National Health Insurance (NHI) debate in South Africa.

• If you are writing about Liberalism, mention the Property Rights debate.

• Showing that you can apply 100-year-old theories to today’s news is how you get 80%+.

Tip 3: Structure Your Essay

Political Theory essays can become messy. Use this structure:

1. Introduction: Define the core concepts (e.g., “Justice”).

2. The Thesis: State your argument (“I will argue that Rawls provides a better framework for SA than Nozick”).

3. The Counter-Argument: Explain the opposing view fairly (Steel-man argument).

4. The Rebuttal: Explain why the opposing view is wrong.

5. Conclusion.

Conclusion

POL3701 is about critical thinking. It doesn’t matter if you are a Capitalist or a Communist; it matters if you can defend your position logically. If you understand the Veil of Ignorance and the Liberal-Socialist divide, you will pass.

Good luck!