6.1c Equality and Social Justice Flashcards
Equality
Equality is the belief that all individuals have equal rights, are of equal value, and should be treated equally by society.
Liberals believe that all individuals should be treated fairly and impartially.
Equality: Foundational equality
Foundational equality means the rights that all humans have, simply by being born.
These rights cannot be taken away.
These foundational rights are also known as natural rights and inalienable rights.
The phrase ‘inalienable rights’ appears in the Declaration of Independence in the American Constitution.
Equality: Socialists and Conservatives
Socialists also believe in foundational equality as they believe all humans are born equal and deserve equal rights & outcomes.
Conservatives do not believe in foundational equality as they accept inequality as a natural part of society.
Equality: Examples of foundational equality
The US Declaration of Independence
‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’.
The Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998 is centred around foundational equality.
The HRA is based upon the European Convention on Human Rights.
Equality: Formal equality
Formal equality is the idea that all individuals have the same legal and political rights in society.
Formal equality is different to foundational equality as it means that the state has to provide rights by law to ensure this type of equality.
Early liberal thinkers such as John Stuart Mill were opposed to formal equality, suggesting mechanisms such as weighted voting, where educated and land-owning voters had more of a say in elections.
Equality: Examples of formal equality
Formal equality before the law is also part of the Rule of Law, written by A.V. Dicey in Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution (1885).
The principles within it are considered part of the uncodified (not written down in one place) British constitution.
The Voting Rights Act 1964 in the US was aimed at providing equal voting rights across the US.
Equality of Opportunity
Equality of opportunity is the idea that all individuals should have equal chances in life to succeed or fail.
Equality of Opportunity is aimed at addressing inequalities caused by what TH Green identified as the ‘cycle of deprivation’ which provides barriers that prevent some people from progressing in life, such as poverty, lack of education and ill health.
Liberals believe that trying to create equality of outcome would lead to an unacceptable level of state intervention.
Equality of Opportunity: Socialists and Conservatives
Democratic socialists believe in Equality of Outcome, where people end up with equal circumstances in terms of wealth and property.
Social democrats (another type of socialist) believe in equality of opportunity, like liberals.
Modern conservatives believe in equality of opportunity.
They accept the need for an enabling welfare state, which provides basic welfare to ensure no-one falls below a certain standard of living, and which provides services like universal healthcare & education.
Equality of Opportunity: Examples of equal opportunity I
The HRA enshrines equality of opportunity in UK law.
The creation of the NHS in 1947 by the Labour government, based on the ideas of Beveridge, a Liberal peer (Lord), commissioned to research the big challenges facing Britain after WWII.
Liberal PM Gladstone created primary education for working class children, the beginning of universal education in the UK, in 1891.
Liberal PM Lloyd George introduced National Insurance in 1911 and the People’s Budget in 1909, aimed at creating equality of opportunity.
Equality of Opportunity: Examples of equal opportunity II
Sure Start centres introduced by New Labour in 1998 were aimed at ensuring children born into working class families were given an equal start in life.
The Race Relations Act 1967 was created to provide equality of opportunity regardless of race in the UK.
