Differing Views and Tensions in Liberalism

Question 1

What are the key beliefs of early classical liberalism? What developed early classical liberalism? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 1

Classical liberalism is based around a small state, individualism and personal freedoms. This was developed following the reformation and the questioning of previously deeply entrenched ideas in society.

Question 2

What events caused the development of later classical liberalism? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 2

The growth of industrialism, the rise of the trade union movement, and the Enlightenment all led to the development of later classical liberalism.

Question 3

What were the key beliefs of later classical liberalism? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 3

Later classical liberalism is founded on responding to the greatest excesses of capitalism and socialism, creating an enabling state which can assist individuals in fulfilling their potential. Increasing welfarism and looking after the the impoverished.

Question 4

What differences exist between early and later classical liberalism? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 4

Early classical liberalism is largely based around individual freedom from government interference and being a limited state, whereas later classical liberalism is beginning to shift towards being an enabling state.

Question 5

What are the key beliefs of modern liberalism? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 5

Modern liberalism is increasingly based around state intervention in the lives of individuals, progressive taxation and the limitation of laissez-faire capitalism. It is also focussed on social justice, constitutional reform and social liberalism.

Question 6

What are the key beliefs of neo-liberalism? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 6

Neo-liberalism believes in unrestricted free-market capitalism in order to generate maximum wealth. Taxation should be low to reward wealth, while the state should support private ownership.

Question 7

When did neo-liberalism develop? Why? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 7

Neoliberalism developed in the 1970s in opposition to expanded post-war states and welfare. Claimed that these states had become bloated and overly statist, with people depending on benefit payments and the state limiting the economy.

Question 8

What are early classical liberal ideas on human nature? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 8

Early classical liberals believed that humans are rational and independent individuals. They have a positive view of human nature, shown through Locke’s view of the ‘state of nature’ where humans existed harmoniously prior to the creation of a state.

Question 9

What are early classical liberal beliefs on society? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 9

Early classical liberals believed that society is atomised and made up of individual components. There are no collectives or groups and individuals pursued their own self interest. Society grants humans natural rights which predated the state.

Question 10

What are early classical liberal beliefs on the economy? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 10

Early classical liberalism is founded upon a belief in free market capitalism and laissez-faire economics. Individuals should be permitted to pursue their own economic interests.

Question 11

What are early classical liberal beliefs on the state? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 11

Early classical liberals strongly believe the state should be an enabler of negative freedom, with this the process by which the government refrains from intervention in the lives of individuals in order for them to best achieve their own aims and fulfil their potential.

Question 12

What are later classical liberal views on human nature? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 12

Later classical liberals believe that humans can be largely self-reliant, yet conflict began to emerge under these views over whether individuals had to overcome barriers and obstacles themselves or whether the state should have a role in providing assistance to its people.

Question 13

What are later classical liberal beliefs on society? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 13

Later classical liberals believe that society began to have greater levels of cooperation between individuals as the world became industrialised. However, society is still fixated upon self-determination and individual self interest.

Question 14

What are later classical liberal beliefs on the economy? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 14

Later classical liberals such as Jeremy Bentham could see the benefits in tempering laissez-faire capitalism and economics as trickle-down economics began to be questioned. Greater provision of welfare was encouraged in part.

Question 15

What are later classical liberal beliefs on the state? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 15

Later classical liberalism began to see a transition between a disengaged state and an enabling state. However, the primary focus remained that individual freedom should be maintained.

Question 16

How have later classical beliefs been shaped by the expansion of the franchise? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 16

The expansion of the franchise created fears among later classical liberals that majoritarian views would result in the tyranny of the majority and potentially marginalise the individual. This view was held by J.S. Mill.

Question 17

What are early modern liberal views on human nature? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 17

Early modern liberals still believed that humans should be self-determining and that they had the power to innovate and develop using their rationality. A greater level of altruism developed in this strand of liberalism, however.

Question 18

What are early modern liberal beliefs on society? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 18

Early modern liberals believed that society began to become more interlinked and decreasingly atomised due to industrialisation. However, self-interest and self-determination were still prevailing ideas within liberalism.

Question 19

What are early modern liberal ideas on the economy? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 19

Greater levels of economic responsibility for the wealthy were encouraged by early modern liberals in order to provide greater welfare provisions and deflect socioeconomic issues from the poorest.

Question 20

What are early modern liberal beliefs on the state? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 20

Early modern liberals became advocates of greater state intervention through positive liberty to reduce inequality. The state can protect its people from social and economic ills. However, the main ideals of a liberal state still remained.

Question 21

What are later modern liberal views on human nature? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 21

Later modern liberals believe that humans are becoming decreasingly self-reliant due to the rise in receptiveness to the idea of a welfare state. Humans still positive and rational beings yet are in need of guidance to best direct their qualities.

Question 22

What are later modern liberal beliefs on society? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 22

Later modern liberals conform to an increasingly social and interconnected society in which people would wish to reduce inequality so that if they were to enter society at a random point, they would not experience hardship (Rawls’ idea of the Veil of Ignorance).

Question 23

What are later modern liberal views on the economy? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 23

Later modern liberals believe in decreased focus on and importance of laissez-faire capitalism. Modern liberals of this ilk largely subscribe to Keynesian forms of economics, through which the economy can be managed and pushed towards constant employment.

Question 24

What are later modern liberal beliefs on the state? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 24

Later modern liberals believe that the state now has an obligation to create equality of opportunity between its citizens, with this equal start allowing individuals to develop themselves to reach their potential. Education, health services and social services all part of these obligations of the state.

Question 25

What are neo-liberal ideas on human nature? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 25

Neo-liberals believe humans to be inherently selfish and self-seeking, pursuing their own interests ahead of those of others. They are rational and do not require the interference of alternative actors in their affairs.

Question 26

What are neo-liberal beliefs on society? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 26

Society is atomised in the eyes of neo-liberals, with individuals existing on their own rather than as part of collectives. People only concern themselves with their own affairs and do not look out for one another.

Question 27

What are neo-liberal beliefs on the economy? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 27

Neo-liberals believe in unrestricted and extreme laissez-faire capitalism based around individual enterprise, competition, low taxation and wealth generation. Free market trade should be encouraged, with little/no government intervention.

Question 28

What are neo-liberal views on the state? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 28

Neo-liberals believe that the frontiers of the state should be rolled back to an incredibly minimalist form, disengaging from economic affairs and providing only the most limited state support for those in need.

Question 29

When did early and later classical liberalism develop respectively? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 29

Early Classical Liberalism: late 1600s-1800

Later Classical Liberalism: 1800-1850s

Question 30

When did early and later modern liberalism develop respectively? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 30

Early Modern Liberalism: 1850s-1900

Later Modern Liberalism: 1900-2000s

Question 31

When did Neo-liberalism develop? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 31

Neo-liberalism developed in the 1940s, carrying on to the present day.

Question 32

What are modern liberal views on groups within societies and reactions to these? - Differing Views in Liberalism

Answer 32

Modern liberals firmly believe that alternative sub-cultures within society should be respected, tolerated and embraced rather than disparaged. They should be placed at an equal standing as any other group or individual.