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A2 POLITICS > Liberalism > Flashcards

Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

Is liberalism a fixed term?

A

Fawcett 2014- Not a brand’
Not a dogma- 1 solution to a problem
More a state of mind

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2
Q

What is a success for liberalism?

A

All mainstream parties in modern democracies have liberal values as part of their core identity. Conservative and socialist parties have come to accept many key liberal beliefs. Liberalism has seeped into the social and political culture of all economically developed countries.

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3
Q

History of liberalism?

A

In western society
Breakdown of feudal system
Loss of belief in divine right of ruling class
Industrial revolution- expanded middle class
Emerging representative democracy

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4
Q

History of liberalism in other countries-

A

American independence 1776- from Britain
1789- French Revolution
Freedom, equality, brotherhood or death

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5
Q

What was the period to make the movement to liberalism possible?

A

The enlightenment period - 18th century

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6
Q

Significant new assertions made during the enlightenment period?

A

Each person is a free, rational individual.
Individuals are the best judge of their own interests.
Individuals possess free will.
Society does not have a determined fixed other, individuals are free to find their own place in society.
We are born equally and inherit equal rights.

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7
Q

Enlightenment thinkers

A 
John Locke (1689) 
Rousseau (1962) 
Thomas Jefferson (1776)
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8
Q

What did Locke say?

A 
John Locke (1689) 
'Man should not be governed without his consent'
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9
Q

What did Rosseau say

A

Rousseau 1962

‘Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains’

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10
Q

What idea does Lock reject?

A

Any form of government established without the expressed consent of the people.

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11
Q

What two things did Jefferson say?

A

‘All men are created equal’

‘Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’

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12
Q

How did liberalism increase during the industrial revolution?

A

Steam train invention- spread of ideas

Created middle class- unrbanisation

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13
Q

What are the core themes of liberalism?

A 
Individualism 
Freedom
Limited government  
Reason 
Toleration  
Pluralism 
Government by consent
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14
Q

What was the main cause of individualism?

A

Collapse of feudalism- people no longer had a fixed position in society
Increase in fluidity

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15
Q

What do liberals believe about the importance of individuals?

A

The individual is more important than any collective body

Change is made through the individual

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16
Q

What term do liberals use to describe society?

A

Atomistic

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17
Q

What is an atomistic society?

A

Self interested individuals acting self sufficiently to better their own self circumstances.
Sum of parts above the whole

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18
Q

How would Classical liberals describe individuals?

A

Egotistical

Emphasis on self interest and reliance

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19
Q

How do classical liberals believe individualism is achieved?

A

Through limited government and freedom

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20
Q

How would modern liberals describe individuals?

A

Developmental

Human improvement is key

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21
Q

How do modern liberals believe believe individuals should be achieved?

A

By an enabling society

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22
Q

What are common aims of both liberals in terms of individuals?

A

Society where all members can flourish

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23
Q

What are the liberties and freedoms we can enjoy?

A

Ability to behave and think as one wishes
Choice of life decisions
Freedom to elect ones leader

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24
Q

Why do liberals believe freedom is so important?

A

If an individual is free they can flourish to their full potential

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25
Q

What is a key theme of liberal freedom?

A

Utilitarianism

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26
Q

What is utilitarianism?

A

the doctrine that an action is right if it promotes happiness

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27
Q

Key thinker for utilitarianism?

A

Jeremy Bentham

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28
Q

What does Jeremy Bentham believe?

A

Life is about pleasure for the individual

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29
Q

Why should the government not tell us what to do?

A

Only individuals can know their self interest

People can’t know what they enjoy until they’ve tried it- free to experiment- e.g drugs

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30
Q

How does JS mills disagree with Bentham?

A

Not all about seeking satisfaction
Some pleasures are pleasures of the swine
Higher pleasures
Lower pleasures
It is ok for Govt to encourage higher pleasures

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31
Q

What is JS Mills quote on lower pleasures?

A

“Better to be Socrates dissatisfied, than a pig satisfied”

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32
Q

How is utilitarianism seen in America?

A

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness” Thomas Jefferson
Basis of the U.S. constitution

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33
Q

How do Lib Dems encourage higher pleasures?

A 
Focus on education
Reducing primary school class sizes to 15 
Abandonment of tuition fees- 2010
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34
Q

Who came up with the term negative freedom?

A 
Isaiah Berlin (1957) 
Believed that human existence must remain independent and free of social control
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35
Q

Meaning of negative freedom

A

Freedom from
People should be left alone to behave as they choose
Lacks any external restrictions or constraints

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36
Q

Describe positive freedom?

A

Society should be created to achieve self fulfilment and enable society to become a better place.
In order for people to be free they must make the most of their gifts and talents

37
Q

Where did positive freedom stem from?

A

Roots from TH Green (1836-82)
Believes that circumstances that prevent achieving an individual’s potential should be solved by the state- social justice

38
Q

Relationship between freedoms and types of liberals?

A

Positive freedom- Progressive
Negative freedom-
Classical

39
Q

What did Fawcett say on Negetive freedom?

A

“Any supposed negative freedom could be described as positive and vice versa”

40
Q

When does JS Mills believe is the only time the government should intervene on Liberty?

A

If your actions have a Negetive impact on someone else’s well being eg- Theft

41
Q

What actions are no business of the government? why?

A

Self regarding actions Smoking drinking sex

People should be free to make mistakes to learn from them

42
Q

Why do liberals believe in limited government?

A

Tyranny of the majority

Suspicious of state power- may lead to arbitrary power- power corrupts

43
Q

What is the solution to limit government?

A 
A constitution
Which: 
Limits government power 
Defines rights of all citizens 
Citizens must have control of any amendments
44
Q

What idea to liberals reject?

A

Paternalism

45
Q

Why do liberals believe in reason?

A

Following the enlightenment period

46
Q

Why do people behave rationally?

A

In their own self interest

Learn from previous mistakes

47
Q

Why do liberals reject tradition?

A

See tradition as something to be freed from in order to advance

48
Q

Why is debate inevitable?

A

People are rational not perfect
People are self centred and egocentric
Conflict is therefore inevitable

49
Q

What is the only solution to conflict?

A

Debate and negotiation

50
Q

Why do liberals believe debate is so important?

A

If you are right- you’re argument has been strengthened by debate
If you’re wrong you now know the right answer

51
Q

Liberal view on war?

A

Last resort and ultimate failure following debate

52
Q

When are the only times war is condoned by liberals?

A

Self defence

Countering oppression

53
Q

What is the lib dem policy to show reason?

A

Critique of UK “yah boo” politics - David Owen
Nick Clegg spoke of scrapping PMQ’s
Opposed Iraq war- Sought for negotiation

54
Q

Which two types of justice are there?

A

Legal and Social

55
Q

What are the key themes a liberal believes in legal justice?

A

Right to a fair trial
Right to a legal representative
Independence of the judiciary

56
Q

Lib dem policy regarding legal justice?

A

Opposed 90 days and On the spot fines
Opposed “legal aid” cuts
Opposed “guideline sentencing” - minimum 2 years for knife carrying

57
Q

What is social justice?

A

Giving each person what the are due
Based on equality
Social factors should not effect how well you do
Equal chance to be successful

58
Q

Liberal policies regarding social justice?

A

Beverage reforms
Education policies- class size, scrap tuition fees
Mansion tax
New Labour - focus on socially excluded

59
Q

Who spoke about religious toleration?

A

John Locke

60
Q

Voltaire’s quote?

A

“I detest what you say, but will defend to death your right to say it”

61
Q

Policies regarding toleration?

A

Abolition of section 28?

Legalisation of gay marriage

62
Q

“We’re all liberals now” for points?

A

Beverage and Keynes
Thatcher- neo liberalism
Cameron

63
Q

We’re all liberals now against?

A

2016- rise of populism
Brexit
Donald Trump

Blair- law and order

Tory- education policies
Uni 9000, abolish student grants, grammar schools

64
Q

How has positive freedom been historically shown in policy?

A

Asquith govt introduces primary education for all

Lloyd George extends education

65
Q

Friedman quote?

A

“The government solution to a problem is usable as bad as the problem itself”

66
Q

What does Hayek say on the government and the economy?

A

Intervention will eventually lead to us all becoming slaves of the government

67
Q

Cobden quote

A

Look not to Parliament, look only to yourselves

68
Q

Sumner quote?

A

The drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be

69
Q

Who created the workhouse?

A

Edwin Chadwick

70
Q

Sammuel Smiles

A

Self help (1859)

71
Q

Policy of safety net welfare?

A 
Workhouse 
Benefit policy changes
Hands up not hands out 
More benefit sanctions 
Bedroom tax 
Universal benefit- coalition
72
Q

Thatcher quote on the market?

A

Is a more powerful and more reliable liberating force that government can ever be

73
Q

Paddy Ashdown

A 
Many issues left to Blair 
Higher top rates of tax 
More govt spending 
Blair considered offering Ashdown a position on cabinet 
Liberals most successful under Ashdown
74
Q

Clegg is progressive

A 
Scrap tuition fees 
FSM for all Primary 
Gay marriage 
Electoral reform 
Lords reform
75
Q

Clegg is classical?

A

Orange bookers- Vince cable - pro market
Privatisation of Royal Mail- step to far for Thatcher
Stricter welfare
Budget cuts- EMA, Sure Start, Pregnancy grant

76
Q

Similarities between classical liberalism and new right?

A

Suspicion of state
Free market economics
Dislike of welfare

77
Q

Differences between classical liberals and the new right?

A

Patriotism and war
Human rights
Toleration

78
Q

Portillo quote?

A

We know what is right and what is wrong

79
Q

Clegg quote on human rights

A

Recent governments have belittled and trashed human rights laws

80
Q

New right position of human rights?

A

Law and order is above human rights

81
Q

Liberals are small in social sphere?

A 
Pluralism
E.g.- elected HOL
Pro EU
Toleration
Gay marriage 
Opposed section 28 and snoopers charter 
Tim Farron pledge- end imprisonment  for drugs
82
Q

Liberals are large is social sphere?

A 
Beverage 
Positive freedom - TH green 
State provides social justice 
Clegg- We all love the NHS
Pupil premium and free school meals 
Farron- reinstate grants
83
Q

Clegg quote on green issues?

A

It’s not green crap, to us it’s important

84
Q

Liberals are small in the economic sphere?

A

Orange bookers
Clegg and Cable
Call for greater marketisation and Laisez fair approach
Privatisation of the Royal Mail

85
Q

Liberals are large in the economic sphere?

A 
Keynesian- interventionist 
Post 2008- support bank bailouts 
Support of fiscal policy 
Advocate legislation on bankers bonuses 
Clegg- mansion tax
Farron- 1% increase on income tax
200% council tax on second homes
86
Q

Liberal influence on other parties?

A 
Influence on thatcher- economics 
Influence on Cameron- gay marriage 
Influence on Wilson
Influence on Attlee 
Influence on Blair
87
Q

Liberals do not influence Conservatives?

A 
Euroskeptism 
Anti trade union 
Undermining LEA- free schools and academies 
Section 28 
Opposed electoral and lords reform
88
Q

Liberals do not influence the Labour Party?

A 
Law and order 
Invasion of Iraq
Tonies Cronies 
Corbyn pulled left- common ownership 
Milliban- capping unilities
Anti free market
89
Q

Other threats to liberalism?

A

Right wing populism
Le Penn- not religious tolerant- ban burqa- got 1/3 of vote
Trump- Protectionist
Anti pluralistic- firing FBI director
Brexit- anti pluralistic and anti immigration

A2 POLITICS (5 decks)

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