Liberal ideology Flashcards
Roots
Stems from the birth of Protestantism- affected much of northern Europe in the late 15th and 16th centuries.
Religious protesters like Martin Luther argued individuals seeking to communicate with God no longer needed to rely on middlemen
With the extension of the printed press and printed word and wider literacy, Luther argued that Christianity could now assume a more individualistic character-each person performing their own private prayers and completing God’s work on their own
The enlightenment
Coincided with the English Civil War
Defined by reason rather than faith
Turning away from the assumption that a King/Queen had been put in place by God- decisions should be instinctively accepted
For Locke and other Enlightenment philosophers, human beings were uniquely capable of the power of logic, calculation and judgement.
It was logical, they argued, that human beings should create, by themselves and for themselves, a political system based upon reason.
Mechanistic theory
Linked to Locke’s writings
Argues mankind is rational and therefore capable of devising a state that reflects mankind’s needs
A reaction to notions like the ‘divine right of kings, which argued that the state reflected God’s will and that obedience to the state was a religious duty
Human nature- core
Optimistic
Reject the idea of the Original Sin- born a sinner
Individuals are guided by reason or rationalism- calculate problems ourselves
Reject the idea of ‘fate’ and ‘God’s’ will’- set your own future, not defined
Human ‘problems’ are merely challenges awaiting reasoned solutions
Egotistical Individualism- core
A belief that human beings are naturally drawn to the advancement of their own selfish interests and the pursuit of their own happiness.
Naturally self-seeking and self-serving
Naturally drawn to a situation where they are independent and in charge of their own destiny.
Rationality stops this leading to destructive selfishness and competition.
Both egotistical and reasonable
Self-aware individuals, living in peace, harmony and mutual understanding.
Society- core
Locke and early's offered views citing the existence of a ‘natural’ society with ‘natural laws’ and therefore natural rights: Life Liberty Property Happiness
Individualism- core
Individual needs should be at the heart of political thought, economic life and social organisation
Society should prioritise the improvement of diverse, individual lives.
Liberal politicians seek to:
Maximise the number of individuals achieving control of their own lives
Maximise the number of individuals discovering their ‘true’ selves and potential
Maximise the number of individuals attaining a sense of one’s ‘personal mission’ being achieved.
Each individual seeks freedom
Property- core
Noticeable expression of an individual within society.
For later Liberals like Mill, owning property is also the “prism” through which individuals develop their potential, providing an opportunity for men and women to nurture their taste and judgement.
The economy- core
Devotion to property informs its approach to the economy- capitalism
Property is a ‘natural right’- inevitable they should support an economy that puts having private property at the heart
Strongly linked to its positive view of Human Nature.
Adam Smith- if obstacles to free trade were swept away, the “invisible hand” of market forces would guide traders to success.
Resulting wealth would “trickle-down” to everyone and the “wealth of nations” would be promoted globally.
Smith was reflecting the optimistic tone of Liberalism’s core values – and in the view of many non-Liberals, being rather naïve about the ability of market forces
Economic liberalism- core
Emerged in Europe in the late 17th Century.
Stems from 3 factors:
Involves private property, which early Liberals like Locke considered a ‘natural right’.
It is individualistic in theory, involving traders cooperating and competing.
It is thought to be of ultimate benefit to all – thus revealing Liberalism’s eternal optimism and belief in progress.
The state-core
Rejection of the ‘traditional state’- transition from pre-enlightenment views
Government by consent- volunteer to be under it
Promotion of natural rights/individualism- acting in the best interest
Promotion of tolerance- tolerate all actions and opinions unless they violate the harm principle, religious communities (especially minorities)
Meritocracy- worthy, trust, competency to inherit, effort
Equality of opportunity- all born equal, equal values+rights, opportunity to control your own life, responsibility for failure
Justice- fair despite identity, assume a just outcome from any complaints with a satisfactory outcome
Formal equality- same legal and political rights, laws apply to everyone
Fragmented government- power isn’t concentrated, dispersed through bodies and people, rational to carry out state functions
Constitutional/limited government- consent, contract, rules, prevent eroding natural rights
Early Classical Liberalism
An attempt, during the late 17th, and 18th centuries, to relate ideology’s core beliefs to the political and economic climate of the time.
It has 4 distinctive features: Revolutionary potential Negative liberty Minimal state Laissez-faire capitalism
England’s Glorious Revolution of 1688
The overthrow of the Catholic King James II by his protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband (William of Orange)
American Revolt against the British crown 1775
The split from the rule of the British in America- the war to become their own, independent state with their own government.
American Consitution 1787
A written document detailing the rights and liberties of the American people all in one.
French Revolution 1789
The removal of ing Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette as the heads of state and the dawn of new leadership in France.
Negative Liberty- classical
Conscious that ‘liberty’ was a somewhat vague term that needed clarification if individualism were to be protected.
Involved being left alone to pursue their destiny.
Any attempt to interfere with individual actions may therefore be judged as an infringement of liberty
Minimal state- classical
Reflected the concept of ‘negative liberty’ by minimising state activities.
The case for the minimal state was best summarised by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), one of the USA’s Founding Fathers
“The government that is best is that which governs least… When governments grow, our liberty withers
Laissez-faire capitalism- classical
Allows private enterprise and capitalism to operate with little or no interference
Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” 1776- the ‘invisible hand’ of market focus would help enrich society and allow wealth to ‘trickle down’ to the rest of the population- just as long as the government took a let-it-happen approach to the economy
Jeremey Bentham 1748-1832
“the greatest happiness of the greatest number” – proactive governments should prioritise the people
Samuel Smiles 1812-1904
Argued for more state intervention: “if self-help were usurped by state help… human beings would remain stunted, their talents unknown, and their liberty squandered.”
Herbert Spencer 1820-1903- contemporary of Smiles
Sought to apply the principles of ‘survival of the fittest,’ the fittest being those that could enjoy a minimal state and negative freedom. Saw that, however, an bigger state was inevitable.
Positive freedom- modern
Denotes the belief that individuals left alone are often obstructed rather than ‘free’.
Such individuals may need enabling so that they are ‘free’ to exercise their individual talents
Asserted that individuals had to be enabled in order for them to be free from socio-economic problems and social justice to be secured
Eg. poor health, unemployment or a lack of education
Enlarging and enabling state-modern
No qualms about claiming that only a larger state could repeal the new, socio-economic threats to freedom and individualism
Justifying a substantial extension of the state in the name of individual freedom:
More laws
More state spending- this brand of Liberalism became strongly linked to Collectivism
More taxation
More state bureaucracy (layers of the state)
