5.2 Liberalism tensions Flashcards
2
Describe the emergence of the liberal branches
- Classical - emerged during enlightenment (17th and 18th Centuries)
- Modern - emerged after WW2
2
Which areas do liberal broadly agree/disagree on?
- Agree - human nature, society
- Disagree - state, economy
5
Describe unity on human nature among liberals
- Both hold positive view of human nature
- All agree with Locke that individuals are born with natural rights that require protection and formal equality under law
- Agree on Locke’s tolerance in society, which supports liberty for all (harm principle)
- Women are as rational as men and require enfranchisement + equality of opportunity in public sphere
- Share concerns over popular democracy
3
List the areas of disagreement on human nature among liberals
- Type of individualism
- Type of freedom
- Democracy
5
Describe classical liberal views on human nature (individualism)
- Egotistical individualism governs human nature
- Atomistic society - view human nature as much more individualistic
- Therefore struggle to see human nature as striving for common good
- Formal equality
- Individual’s capability for rationality means that they succeed or fail due to own efforts
3
Describe classical liberal views on human nature (freedom)
- Negative freedom
- Human nature succeeds with freedom from oppressive government and laws
- Role of state should be limited to rule of law and protecting property rights
6
Describe modern liberal views on human nature (individualism)
- Developmental - prioritises common good over self-interest
- There exists a common good
- Rawls’ social justice suggests a more collective human nature, focusing on individuals’ connection to society
- For formal equality to exist, there must be equality of opportunity to facilitate development individualism
- Counters idea that individual success due to own efforts
- Expressed in Rawls’ 3 principles of justice
4
Describe modern liberal views on human nature (freedom)
- Positive freedom
- Enabling state needed to assist individuals in reaching full potential
- Criticised classical liberalism for being primarily concerned about men
- Rawls supportive of ideas such as affirmative action
7
Describe unity on the role of the state among liberals
- All accept Locke’s social contract
- Agreement on constitutionalism to define state autonomy and prevent centralism
- Separation of powers
- Mechanist theory of state - not organic, but created by individuals
- Some form of democracy (against monarchies)
- Foundational and formal equality should be enshrined into constitution
- State should promote rule of law, individualism and liberty
3
List the areas of disagreement on the state among liberals
- Size of state
- Type of democracy
- Economic model of state
4
Describe classical liberal views on the size of the state
- Minimal state
- Limited to maintaining law and order, preventing foreign invasion, harm principle, protecting private property rights (‘life, liberty and property’)
- Locke and Mill believed state should play nightwatchmen role
- Informed by negative liberty
4
Describe modern liberal views on the size of the state
- Enabling state
- State intervention to create conditions where individuals could help themselves
- e.g. state-education system, healthcare, welfare
- Accept required taxation to allow development individualism via positive freedom
1
Describe disunity on democracy among liberals
- Differ on how to deal with conflict between popular democracy and individual rights
6
Describe classical liberal views on democracy
- Popular democracy stifles individualism by valuing majority
- Mill and Locke favoured RD with limited suffrage
- e.g. electoral college in USA
- Mill adovcated plural voting for educated elites to counteract single votes of largely uneducated populous
- These individuals would represent everyone’s best interests
- Would control ‘tyranny of majority’
3
Describe modern liberal views on democracy
- RD based on universal suffrage for men and women
- Would more aptly prevent ‘tyranny of the majority’
- Greater participation advances self-development (developmental democracy)
5
Describe unity on society among liberals
- Society should allow individuals to flourish
- Ideal society has individualism co-existing with tolerance and self-improvement
- Society should be based on constitutionalism
- Foundational equality
- Society predates state and only exists once society grants consent
List the areas of disunity on society among liberals
- Freedom - state role in equality
- Rights
3
Describe classical liberal criticism of positive liberty
- Increased intervention is infringement of freedom
- Enabling state must tax individuals
- Enabling state reduces self-reliance and creates dependency culture
3
Describe modern liberal criticism of negative liberty in respect to society
- JSM argued negative freedom does not account for social disadvantage - stifled individual freedom
- Rawls’ advocated increased social justice where poverty, inequality and discrim in society would be tackled by the state
- Required increased state spending to fund enabling welfare state
4
Describe classical liberal views on rights
- Foundational equality
- Natural rights of society predate state
- In natural society, humankind will obey natural laws due to rationality
- Natural laws ensure tolerance in society
2
Describe modern liberal views on rights
- MW and Friedan felt society needed to be reformed to extend equality for women
- MW: patriarchal society ‘infantilised’ women and inhibited female individualism
5
Describe unity on the economy among liberals
- Private property (see other card)
- Free markets promote economic activity and best way to create wealth
- Removal of tariffs maximise wealth
- Individuals will rationally pursue self-interest in free market
- Capitalism leads to unequal outcomes for individuals
3
Describe unity on private property among liberals
- Both influenced by Locke’s idea that state should respect ‘natural right’ to private property e.g. Rawls property owning democracy
- Private property an essential tenet to freedom
- Protects individual from state
2
List areas of disunity on the economy among liberals
- Laissez faire v Keynesianism
- Taxation
3
Describe classical liberal support for laissez-faire capitalism
- State rarely justified in interfering in economic activity (save for controlling monopolies)
- Taxes and regulations hinder economic growth
- Subsidies distort free market
2
Describe modern liberal criticism of laissez-faire capitalism
- Can lead to exploitation, deprivation
- Accentuates inequality
3
Describe modern liberal support for Keynesianism
- General state management of economic cycle to negate effects of recessions
- Maintains full employment and price stability
- Assist developmental individualism and social justice
2
Describe classical liberal criticism of Keynesianism
- Critical of supposed efficacy of Keynesian economics
- State ill-equipped to plan or intervene in economy
5
Describe classical liberal views on taxation
- Taxes would hinder econ development/growth
- ideological opposition to compulsory welfare taxation
- Erodes egotistical individualism
- Leads to dependency culture
- Excessive welfare spending leads to unmanageable levels of debt that risk bankruptcy
2
Describe classical liberal’s ideological opposition to compulsory welfare taxation
- individuals can opt out of services provides
- individuals cannot opt out of taxation
2
Describe modern liberal views on taxation
- Rawls argued for individual/corporate taxation to fund state-managed welfare provisions
- Would aid developmental individualism
3
Describe liberal branches’ views on supranational organisations
- Modern liberal belief in modern capitalism saw growth of supranational entities (e.g. EU)
- Classical liberals argue they are obstacle to global free trade
- Incompatible with classical liberal idea of limited state involvement in economy
