Classical Liberalist View Of Democracy

Question 1

How does democracy impact classical liberalism

Answer 1

-democracy has posed partial problems for classical liberalism
-both Locke + US founding fathers thighs that universal adult suffrage threatens the ‘natural’ property rights of a minority due to this most classical liberals beloved right to vote confined to property owners

Question 2

How did later liberals view democracy

Answer 2

-later liberals like Mill + Bentham more resigned to inevitability of democracy
-Mill argued it would eventually complement ‘developmental’ aspect of human nature - mass engagement with election debates with process of ‘rationally’ deciding whom to support a form of political education that would enhance everyone’s capacity for reason

Question 3

What did Mill argue as a result of this view

Answer 3

-democracy could fortify rather than threaten liberal society
-prepared to champion votes for women

Question 4

Despite this why was Mill still hesitant

Answer 4

-by mid 19th C more adults in formal education + thus ill-equipped to make rational choices in Mill’s view
-universal adult suffrage must be followed by universal education

Question 5

How did Mill argue that this hesitancy could be overridden

Answer 5

-confident mass education est a liberal consensus + then ensure liberal outcomes in elections
-traditional liberal fear about democracy leading to a rule by an illiberal majorly would recede

Question 6

How are you Mill’s views on democracy seen today

Answer 6

-assumption that those who disagree with liberals views are those who simply don’t understand due to ‘limited’ education
-e.g. noticeable after 2016 Brexit referendum when many remainers regarding themselves as liberal observed that a small minority of uni grads voted leave + Brexit this a result of voters ignorant