Liberalism Flashcards
Is liberalism a fixed term?
Fawcett 2014- Not a brand’
Not a dogma- 1 solution to a problem
More a state of mind
What is a success for liberalism?
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.
History of liberalism?
In western society
Breakdown of feudal system
Loss of belief in divine right of ruling class
Industrial revolution- expanded middle class
Emerging representative democracy
History of liberalism in other countries-
American independence 1776- from Britain
1789- French Revolution
Freedom, equality, brotherhood or death
What was the period to make the movement to liberalism possible?
The enlightenment period - 18th century
Significant new assertions made during the enlightenment period?
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.
Enlightenment thinkers
John Locke (1689) Rousseau (1962) Thomas Jefferson (1776)
What did Locke say?
John Locke (1689) 'Man should not be governed without his consent'
What did Rosseau say
Rousseau 1962
‘Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains’
What idea does Lock reject?
Any form of government established without the expressed consent of the people.
What two things did Jefferson say?
‘All men are created equal’
‘Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’
How did liberalism increase during the industrial revolution?
Steam train invention- spread of ideas
Created middle class- unrbanisation
What are the core themes of liberalism?
Individualism Freedom Limited government Reason Toleration Pluralism Government by consent
What was the main cause of individualism?
Collapse of feudalism- people no longer had a fixed position in society
Increase in fluidity
What do liberals believe about the importance of individuals?
The individual is more important than any collective body
Change is made through the individual
What term do liberals use to describe society?
Atomistic
What is an atomistic society?
Self interested individuals acting self sufficiently to better their own self circumstances.
Sum of parts above the whole
How would Classical liberals describe individuals?
Egotistical
Emphasis on self interest and reliance
How do classical liberals believe individualism is achieved?
Through limited government and freedom
How would modern liberals describe individuals?
Developmental
Human improvement is key
How do modern liberals believe believe individuals should be achieved?
By an enabling society
What are common aims of both liberals in terms of individuals?
Society where all members can flourish
What are the liberties and freedoms we can enjoy?
Ability to behave and think as one wishes
Choice of life decisions
Freedom to elect ones leader
Why do liberals believe freedom is so important?
If an individual is free they can flourish to their full potential
What is a key theme of liberal freedom?
Utilitarianism
What is utilitarianism?
the doctrine that an action is right if it promotes happiness
Key thinker for utilitarianism?
Jeremy Bentham
What does Jeremy Bentham believe?
Life is about pleasure for the individual
Why should the government not tell us what to do?
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
How does JS mills disagree with Bentham?
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
What is JS Mills quote on lower pleasures?
“Better to be Socrates dissatisfied, than a pig satisfied”
How is utilitarianism seen in America?
“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness” Thomas Jefferson
Basis of the U.S. constitution
How do Lib Dems encourage higher pleasures?
Focus on education Reducing primary school class sizes to 15 Abandonment of tuition fees- 2010
Who came up with the term negative freedom?
Isaiah Berlin (1957) Believed that human existence must remain independent and free of social control
Meaning of negative freedom
Freedom from
People should be left alone to behave as they choose
Lacks any external restrictions or constraints
Describe positive freedom?
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
Where did positive freedom stem from?
Roots from TH Green (1836-82)
Believes that circumstances that prevent achieving an individual’s potential should be solved by the state- social justice
Relationship between freedoms and types of liberals?
Positive freedom- Progressive
Negative freedom-
Classical
What did Fawcett say on Negetive freedom?
“Any supposed negative freedom could be described as positive and vice versa”
When does JS Mills believe is the only time the government should intervene on Liberty?
If your actions have a Negetive impact on someone else’s well being eg- Theft
What actions are no business of the government? why?
Self regarding actions Smoking drinking sex
People should be free to make mistakes to learn from them
Why do liberals believe in limited government?
Tyranny of the majority
Suspicious of state power- may lead to arbitrary power- power corrupts
What is the solution to limit government?
A constitution Which: Limits government power Defines rights of all citizens Citizens must have control of any amendments
What idea to liberals reject?
Paternalism
Why do liberals believe in reason?
Following the enlightenment period
Why do people behave rationally?
In their own self interest
Learn from previous mistakes
Why do liberals reject tradition?
See tradition as something to be freed from in order to advance
Why is debate inevitable?
People are rational not perfect
People are self centred and egocentric
Conflict is therefore inevitable
What is the only solution to conflict?
Debate and negotiation
Why do liberals believe debate is so important?
If you are right- you’re argument has been strengthened by debate
If you’re wrong you now know the right answer
Liberal view on war?
Last resort and ultimate failure following debate
When are the only times war is condoned by liberals?
Self defence
Countering oppression
What is the lib dem policy to show reason?
Critique of UK “yah boo” politics - David Owen
Nick Clegg spoke of scrapping PMQ’s
Opposed Iraq war- Sought for negotiation
Which two types of justice are there?
Legal and Social
What are the key themes a liberal believes in legal justice?
Right to a fair trial
Right to a legal representative
Independence of the judiciary
Lib dem policy regarding legal justice?
Opposed 90 days and On the spot fines
Opposed “legal aid” cuts
Opposed “guideline sentencing” - minimum 2 years for knife carrying
What is social justice?
Giving each person what the are due
Based on equality
Social factors should not effect how well you do
Equal chance to be successful
Liberal policies regarding social justice?
Beverage reforms
Education policies- class size, scrap tuition fees
Mansion tax
New Labour - focus on socially excluded
Who spoke about religious toleration?
John Locke
Voltaire’s quote?
“I detest what you say, but will defend to death your right to say it”
Policies regarding toleration?
Abolition of section 28?
Legalisation of gay marriage
“We’re all liberals now” for points?
Beverage and Keynes
Thatcher- neo liberalism
Cameron
We’re all liberals now against?
2016- rise of populism
Brexit
Donald Trump
Blair- law and order
Tory- education policies
Uni 9000, abolish student grants, grammar schools
How has positive freedom been historically shown in policy?
Asquith govt introduces primary education for all
Lloyd George extends education
Friedman quote?
“The government solution to a problem is usable as bad as the problem itself”
What does Hayek say on the government and the economy?
Intervention will eventually lead to us all becoming slaves of the government
Cobden quote
Look not to Parliament, look only to yourselves
Sumner quote?
The drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be
Who created the workhouse?
Edwin Chadwick
Sammuel Smiles
Self help (1859)
Policy of safety net welfare?
Workhouse Benefit policy changes Hands up not hands out More benefit sanctions Bedroom tax Universal benefit- coalition
Thatcher quote on the market?
Is a more powerful and more reliable liberating force that government can ever be
Paddy Ashdown
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
Clegg is progressive
Scrap tuition fees FSM for all Primary Gay marriage Electoral reform Lords reform
Clegg is classical?
Orange bookers- Vince cable - pro market
Privatisation of Royal Mail- step to far for Thatcher
Stricter welfare
Budget cuts- EMA, Sure Start, Pregnancy grant
Similarities between classical liberalism and new right?
Suspicion of state
Free market economics
Dislike of welfare
Differences between classical liberals and the new right?
Patriotism and war
Human rights
Toleration
Portillo quote?
We know what is right and what is wrong
Clegg quote on human rights
Recent governments have belittled and trashed human rights laws
New right position of human rights?
Law and order is above human rights
Liberals are small in social sphere?
Pluralism E.g.- elected HOL Pro EU Toleration Gay marriage Opposed section 28 and snoopers charter Tim Farron pledge- end imprisonment for drugs
Liberals are large is social sphere?
Beverage Positive freedom - TH green State provides social justice Clegg- We all love the NHS Pupil premium and free school meals Farron- reinstate grants
Clegg quote on green issues?
It’s not green crap, to us it’s important
Liberals are small in the economic sphere?
Orange bookers
Clegg and Cable
Call for greater marketisation and Laisez fair approach
Privatisation of the Royal Mail
Liberals are large in the economic sphere?
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
Liberal influence on other parties?
Influence on thatcher- economics Influence on Cameron- gay marriage Influence on Wilson Influence on Attlee Influence on Blair
Liberals do not influence Conservatives?
Euroskeptism Anti trade union Undermining LEA- free schools and academies Section 28 Opposed electoral and lords reform
Liberals do not influence the Labour Party?
Law and order Invasion of Iraq Tonies Cronies Corbyn pulled left- common ownership Milliban- capping unilities Anti free market
Other threats to liberalism?
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
