Core Ideologies - Liberalism Flashcards
How did Liberalism emerge as an ideology in politics?
Reaction to rule of monarchies and aristocratic privileges in , reflecting views of educated middle classes who wanted more opportunities
How is individualism important in liberalism?
- all individuals are unique and have equal worth
- classic liberals believe in ‘egotistical liberalism where people are sel-seeking
- liberals also believe in tolerance, accepting beliefs and values even if u disagree with it
Why is freedom the most important feature of liberalism
- early liberals objected to monarchists, and how they’d make one decision for everyone
- gov action should not prevent people from doing what they want unless it threatens others
- could mean interests of minorities are overridden by majorities
Why do liberals view the state as a ‘necessary evil’
- accept state is needed to avert disorder and protect the vulnerable from exploitation, but feel those who have power are self-seeking
- therefore argue for self government, with checks and balances on power, supporting constitutionalism to prevent a concentration of power eg: US system
What’s an example of liberals supporting devolution of power?
UK in 1990s, creation of Scottish parliament and assemblies for wales and NI
What economic policy do liberals believe in
18th and 19th century libs believe in laissez faire economics, created by Adam smith
Why is rationalism important to Liberals
- should be free to exercise their judgement without guidance from external authorities, people won’t always be right, but better to take responsibility for beliefs then take instructions
What’s an eg of rationalism in action
- 19th century libs were forefront of moves to develop methods of industrial arbitration, meaning a neutral third party would mediate between employers and trade unions, to avert costly legal action or strikes
Why is there a big emphasis on equality and social justice
- emphasis on equality of opportunity, people have different talents and abilities and should be free to reach their potential
- classic libs think people with different talents should be rewarded differently
, resulting social equality is good, incentive for people to work harder - good society is meritocracy
What is a meritocratic society
Organised on basis that success is based on ability and hard work
What are the key concepts of a liberal democracy
- free elections to give expression to the will of the people
- limitations on the power of the state, which should act as a neutral arbiter between different interests in society
- respect for civil liberties and toleration of different viewpoints
What is the idea of a social contract?
By john Locke, people must freely give their consent to be governed, they have right of rebellion if gov breaks the contract
Why do liberals like democracy
Enables citizens to hold government to account, also extends popular participation, performs educational function in society, gives political voice to different groups and interests
Why May liberals not be a fan of democracy
- leads to tyranny of the majority, or creates a culture of dull conformisms
- electoral system in USA, devised as a buffer against manipulation of the masses
As a whole, how do liberals view human nature
- importance of individual, people seen as rational capable of perceiving their own interests and taking their own decisions, stress potential of people and equal opportunities, tolerance of different values, classic libs think their should only be restriction when it threatens other people, modern libs more conscious of social injustice
As a whole, how do liberals view the state
- social contract between state and the people
- mechanistic theory - people created the state for security and in return give up some freedom
- checks and balences, not a concentrated power (devolution)
As a whole, how do people see society
- downplayed, and seen as a collection of Individuals
- advocated meritocracy, individuals succeed through their abilities and hard work
- foundational equality, born equal
- modern libs should be free to make choices, but society is more than just a sum of people, need some state intervention
As a whole how do liberals view the economy?
-Classical liberalism emphasis on individual led to belief in free market capitalism, best served by limited government intervention, laissez faire
- modern liberals argue for more state intervention to promote sustainable growth, limit injustice to do with unemployment and poverty, Keynesian economics
How do modern liberals and classical liberals disagree over ideas to do with freedom?
-Classicals believe in negative freedom: rolling back of state and encouraging individuals to take responsibility, self reliance a key idea, dependency on state is bad, leads to lack of self-respect and saps spirit of enterprise, important for economy
- neo-libs argue social welfare should be targeted to those who need it, and others should lift themselves out of poverty through their own efforts
- moderns say negative feedback is necessary, but not sufficient for society, doesn’t consider some people have no control over certain disadvantages, so moderns support positive freedom: self-realisation
How do both modern and classical liberals hold similar views over the state
- both believe in decentralisation and protection of civil liberties, eg: New labour gov 1997-2010 set up elected bodies for Scotland, wales, NI
- believe in mechanistic theory, people created state to serve them and their interests
How do modern and classical liberals hold different views over the role of the state
- classicals believe state should create conditions for orderly existence, and other issues to be in control by businesses, private individuals. Support idea of minimal state
- classicals in 19th century created social Darwinism (natural selection)
- moderns however believe in an enabling state because of awareness of inequality in 19th century. They supported policies such as welfare and equality of opportunity (social liberalism), providing people with opportunities who are disadvantaged
What were the reforms of liberal governments of H.H Asquith before ww1
- old age pensions
- national insurance
- labour exchanges
What was the beveridge report?
Sir William Beveridge
- argues liberty should be available equally to all, and that this was impossible if part of population was held back by the five giants: poverty, lack of education, ill health, poor living conditions, unemployment
- this had a major influence on post-war labour government
- resulted in NHS, improved housing + education
What economic theory do modern liberals advocate for
Keynesian economics, by John Maynard Keynes - requires gov involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve full employment and price stability
- he critiques TOV on Germany used Great Depression of 1930 to shape his theory
- was very influential in decades after the war when governments acted more to correct failings of the markets
What are some similarities between classic and modern liberals?
- both enhance individual freedom
- both believe in equality of opportunity and equal civil rights
- devolution of power + checks and balences
- concept of private ownership and capitalism is supported
What are some differences between classic and modern liberals
- classicals negative freedom, moderns positive freedom
- classicals see society as sum of individuals, moderns have holistic view: in which promotion of common good must be hand in hand with individual freedom
- classicals mostly oppose state intervention, reduces self-reliance. Moderns believe some intervention is necessary, believing in an enabling state
- classicals believe in free marketing economy, laissez faire. Moderns believe in Keynesian economics, need gov to stimulate growth and minimise downturns
Who are the 5 main key liberal thinkers
- John Locke
- Mary Wollstonecraft
- John Stuart mill
- John Rawis
- Betty Friedan
What were John Locke’s key ideas (1632-1704)
- society, state, gov are based on a voluntary agreement/ contract
- gov should be limited, based on consent from below
Why did Locke believe in his key ideas
- leading philosopher in Whig movement, supporting the ‘glorious revolution’
- argued both rulers and ppl are subject to law or people would end up like animals in a farmyard (limited government)
- believed in philosophy of natural rights and natural law, all are equal. Gov derives its legitimacy from the people and should govern in accordance of natural rights
- led to idea of social contract
What conclusion can be made on Locke’s key ideas
- his philosophy is based on reason, no rational person should submit to arbitrary rule where there is someone with unlimited power, state should serve individual
- didn’t believe in democracy in the modern sense our society might, unclear his beliefs on equality of men and women
- clearly emphasised importance of civil society. Locke is considered most important classical- liberal theorist of gov and society
What were the key beliefs of Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97)m
- women are rational independent beings capable of reason
- to be free, women should enjoy full civil liberties and opportunity to pursue a career
Why did Mary Wollstonecraft believe in her key beliefs?
- she was an early feminist writer, at a time where women lacked legal independence
- she described women as ‘slaves in a political and civil sense’
- she valued marriage as an institution, but thought tyranny of males over females should be resisted, stops people from being good citizens
What conclusion can be made on Mary Wollstonecraft
- she exemplifies the liberal concept of equality of opportunity and wanted this extended to men and women without distinction
What were the key ideas of John Stuart Mill (1806-73)
- individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals
- it’s important to tolerate behaviour or ideas that are different from one’s own
Why did John Stuart mill believe in his key beliefs?
- was son of a utilitarian philosopher, he derived the idea that individuals are qualified to judge their best interests, disagreed however with idea that pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain was sole motivation of people
- believed in the ‘harm principle’, where there’s a strictly limited view of the role of government. Mill also believed in inheritance tax as it would give some individuals an advantage over others.
What conclusion can be made on John Stuart Mill
- in some ways he was abridge between classical and modern liberalism
- he believed in idea of tolerance, even going to jail for a night because of advising the poor on contraception
- he also advocated for equality of men and women
What were they key ideas of John Rawls (1921-2002)
- society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living
- a fair society is one which the difference in outcomes for the richest and the poorest is kept to a minimum
Why did Rawls believe in his key beliefs
- rejected utilitarianism, thought some would find their interests ignored. He believed everyone has an equal entitlement to certain basic rights and liberties, but must have a society with economic justice. His ideas are linked to idea of a social contract
- said society should aim to minimise the difference between the outcomes for the best off and the poorest.
- envisaged an ‘original position’
- he rejected the 2 extremes of communism and unregulated capitalism, favouring a ‘property-owning democracy’ where ownership is distributed and poorest people can be economically independent
What conclusion can be made on Rawls key beliefs
- he envisaged a range of liberal principles, with his main 2 equal rights and economic justice forming one of a number of options
What were Betty Friedan’s key beliefs (1921-2006)
- women are as capable as men and oppressive laws and social views must be rejected
- women are held back from fulfilling their potential by unfair ideas about employment they can take up
Why did Friedan believe in her key beliefs?
- liberal feminist, helped found the national organisation for women
- she argued for wider opportunities for women and for a change in attitudes in favour of greater equality between the sexes.
- she wanted reforms with the existing structure of society, rather then transforming it as she accepted many women have a desire to be wives and mothers, she wanted women to have more of an opportunity to choose what they wanted
What conclusion can be made on Friedman’s key beliefs
- some could argue it’s a continuation of the work of Mary Wollstonecraft
- belief was grounded in liberal belief that individuals are of equal worth and therefore entitled to equal rights
