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Ideologies > Liberalism > Flashcards

Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

Natural rights

A

Rights that all humans have by virtue of being born which cannot be taken away

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2
Q

Formal equality

A

The idea that all individuals have the same legal and political rights in society

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3
Q

Social contract

A

The idea that the state is a ‘deal’ between the government and the governed, where the governed must submit to the state’s laws in exchange for rights

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4
Q

Meritocracy

A

A society organised on the basis that success is based on ability and hard work

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5
Q

Mechanistic theory

A

The idea that the state reflects the needs of mankind

Rebuttal to ‘divine right’ theories that state reflects the will of God

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6
Q

Tolerance

A

A willingness to respect values, customs and beliefs with which one disagrees

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7
Q

Limited government

A

The role of the government is limited by checks and balances, and a separation of powers because of the corrupting nature of power

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8
Q

Egotistical indiviualism

A

The idea that society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals

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9
Q

Developmental individualism

A

The idea that individual freedom is linked to human flourishing

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10
Q

Keynesianism

A

An economic system that requires government involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve fill employment and price stability

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11
Q

Harm principle

A

The idea that individuals should be free to do anything except harm other indivudals

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12
Q

Minimal state

A

The idea that the role of the state must be restricted in order to preserve individual liberty

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13
Q

Enabling state

A

A larger state that helps individuals to achieve their potential and be free

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14
Q

Freedom / liberty

A

The ability and right to make decisions in your own interests based on your view of human nature

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15
Q

Rationalism

A

The belief that humans are rational creatures, capable of reason and logic
Underpins an individual’s ability to define their best interests and make their own moral choices

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16
Q

Liberal view of human nature

A

Optimistic
Capable of bringing about progress and forging greater human happiness
Believe that individuals are guided principally by reason and rationality, which is manifested in debate and discussion, which leads to consensus
Capable of planning their own future and shaping their own destiny
Egotistical individualism - seek independence
Reason and rationality prevent egotistical individualism from leading to destructive selfishness and competition

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17
Q

Liberal view of the state

A

Believe that individualism and capitalism work best when accompanied by a state
Necessary to provide the formal structures required to resolve clashes between individuals, as individualism in the state of nature could have been impeded by stalemated disputes between competing individuals
Mechanistic theory - The state reflects the will of mankind

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18
Q

Liberal view of society

A

A ‘natural’ society exists with ‘natural’ laws and natural rights, which precede the state
Role of society is to facilitate individualism
Promotes the ‘right’ to property, as it is the tangible expression of an individual within society, and the prism through which individuals develop their potential

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19
Q

Liberal view of the economy

A

Supports an economy based on private property (capitalism)
Strongly associated with private enterprise and private ownership of the economy
Support for capitalism linked to its positive view of human nature - ‘invisible hand’ of market forces - Adam Smith

20
Q

Equality / social justice

A

Belief that individuals are of equal value and that they should be treated impartially and fairly by society

21
Q 
John Locke (classical liberal)
Two Treatises of Government (1690)
A

Human nature - Rational and mindful of others’ concerns
The state - Must be representative of the people, based on the consent of the governed. Responsible for arbitrating between rational individuals competing for trade and and resources
Society - Predates the state - natural laws / natural rights
The economy - ‘Natural right’ to private property should be respected by the state
Social contract - Society, the state and government are based on a theoretical voluntary agreement
Limited government

22
Q 
John Rawls (modern liberal)
A Theory of Justice (1971)
A

Human nature - Selfish yet emphatic (same as Locke)
The state - Should enable less fortunate individuals to advance via public spending and public services
Society - Responsible for improving the conditions of the poorest
The economy - Free market capitalism should be tempered by the state’s obligation to advance its poorest citizens
Veil of ignorance - hypothetical scenario where individuals agree on the type of society they want from a position where they lack knowledge of their own position in society

23
Q

Liberal democracy

A

A democracy that balances the will of the people with limited government and a respect for civil liberties in society

24
Q

John Stuart Mill (later classical liberal)

On Liberty - 1859

A

Human nature - Rational, continuously developing
The state - Should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights
Society - Individuality should co-exist with tolerance and self-improvement
The economy - Laissez-faire capitalism vital to progress and individual enterprise
Harm principle - Used to advance individual liberty
Tolerance - the belief that the popularity of a view does not necessarily make it correct
Negative freedom

25
Q

State of nature

A

What life might have been like before laws, rules and governments came into being

26
Q

Foundational equality

A

Every individual is born equal, and are therefore entitled to legal equality, such as equality before the law and recognition of individual rights

27
Q

Classical liberalism and modern liberalism similarities and differences

A 
Optimistic view of human potential
Rationalism
Tolerance
See individualism as the goal of politics and society
Capitalism
Limited government

Negative liberty v positive liberty
Minimal state v enabling state
Anti taxation v pro taxation
Laissez-faire capitalism v Keynesian capitalism

28
Q

Tensions within liberalism over society

A

Universal - See society as a collection of individuals seeking self-determination
Classical - Believe that human society predates the state
Modern - Individuals in industrialised societies are less autonomous, and thus require state support to be free (positive liberty)
Neo-liberals - See society as one where individuals have been stymied by positive liberty and that the dependency culture must be corrected

29
Q

Tensions within liberalism over human nature

A

Universal - Believe that individuals are rational and egotistical
Classical and neo-liberals - Believe these qualities to be innate
Modern - Believe this rationalism to be potential, needing to be developed by the state

30
Q

Tensions within liberalism over the state

A

Universal - Belief that the state should function according to prearranged rules and procedures, with power separated and authority subject to the consent of the people
Classical - Believe state intervention should be minimal (negative liberty) / democracy threatens property rights
Modern - Advocate for extensive state intervention in order to ‘enable’ individuals to reach their potential (positive liberty) / representative democracy enhances constitutional government

31
Q

Tensions within liberalism over the economy

A

Universal - Support for a capitalist economy based on private property and private enterprise
Classical and neo-liberals - Support a laissez-faire attitude to the economy
Modern - Support regular state management of the economy to ensure full employment - link to EU support

32
Q

Objectives of the liberal state

A

Rejection of the traditional pre-Enlightenment state
Government by consent (social contract) - John Locke - “government should always bet the servant of the people”
Natural rights / individualism - only logical for individuals to consent to the social contract if it promoted natural rights, such as individualism, as they enjoyed these without a state
Tolerance / harm principle - views and activated should be tolerated unless that harm the freedom of others (Mill)
Meritocracy - (link to stress on individualism) opposed pre-Enlightenment sentiment
Equality of opportunity - foundational equality
Justice

33
Q

Methods and structures of the liberal state

A

Limited government
Separation of powers (Locke)
Formal equality - the rule of law

34
Q

Types of liberalism

A

Classical liberalism - split into early classical liberalism and later classical liberalism
Modern liberalism

35
Q

Early classical liberalism

A 
Represents the attempt to relate the core beliefs of liberalism to the political and economic climate of the 1690's - 1890's
Revolutionary potential
Negative liberty
Minimal state
Laissez-faire capitalism
36
Q

Later classical liberalism

A

Response to industrialisation in a bid to maintain relevancy of core liberal ideas
John Stuart Mill
Representative democracy in response to universal suffrage
Universal education preceding universal suffrage, promoting developmental individualism, which would advance individual potential and produce a liberal consensus in society

37
Q

Modern liberalism

A

Positive liberty / social justice
Enabling state (John Rawls) - guaranteed the equality of opportunity necessary to enable individual freedom (indifferent to equality of outcome)
Constitutional reform / liberal democracy - secures government by consent
Social liberalism - Large state creating legislation that may criminalise actions that discriminate against individuals

38
Q

Neo-liberalism

A

Friedrich von Hayek
Seeks to update the principles of classical liberalism within a modern setting - reapply the ideas of Adam Smith and Thomas Jefferson to modern, globalised economies
Offers a liberal critique of modern liberalism, accusing it of betraying individualism (enabling state)
Support negative freedom and a minimal state, wanting a reduction in public spending and less state regulation on the economy
Smaller government = lower rates of taxation and a greater focus on enterprising individualism
Routinely labelled as conservatives (New Right)

39
Q

Pro liberalism is incompatible with democracy

A

Democracy tends to be guided by the majorities - potential for ‘tyranny of the majority’
Classical liberals favour a limited electorate, so as to safeguard property rights
Mill thought votes should only be given to those with appropriate education levels
Modern liberals flirt with unelected, supranational bodies like the EU, where there is a ‘democratic deficit’
Liberals seek to mitigate democracy by supporting constitutional devices

40
Q

Anti liberalism is incompatible with democracy

A

Democracy complements individualism, allowing individuals to shape their lives via voting in a representative democracy
Democracy complements government by consent
Democracy helps to avoid the concentration of political power
Democracy is optimistic about human nature, presupposing an intelligent electorate that is capable of rational decisions

41
Q

Pro liberals have a coherent view of the state

A

Believe in a constitutional state, drawn up asa result of rational discussion, based on belief that human beings are rational
Believe in government by consent - social contract
Believe in limited government, with politicians restraint dby the rules of the constitution

42
Q

Anti liberals have a coherent view of the state

A

Supports foundational equality, with all individuals being treated equally, but was slow to adopt the principles of democracy, sexual equality and universal adult suffrage
Extols the natural right to property, but fails to recognise that most individuals under the state’s jurisdiction have not owned property
Supposed to be limited, but modern liberals have advocated a signifiant extension of state intervention in the name of positive liberty
Modern liberals have compromised their belief in government by consent by supporting supranational bodies such as the EU, which erode the authority of elective parliaments and representatives

43
Q

Pro liberalism can be reconciled with conservatism

A

Both support private property and capitalism
Both see inequality of outcome as a sign of liberty
Both deny the inevitability of class conflict
Neo-liberals and New Right conservatives support a laissez-faire economy

44
Q

Anti liberalism can be reconciled with conservatism

A

Liberals have an optimistic view of human nature, whereas conservatives are sceptical of it
Liberals see rationalism as central to human behaviour, whereas conservatives stress habit, emotion and expression
Liberals prioritise individual liberation, whereas conservatives stress order and restraint
Liberals see individuals as potentially autonomous, whereas conservatives see individuals as communal
Liberals extol free-market capitalism, whereas traditional conservatives are more sceptical and protectionist

45
Q

Pro liberalism can be reconciled with socialism

A

Both products of the Enlightenment
Both have a positive view of human nature, believing in the possibility of progress
Both stress liberty and equality
Both reject hereditary political power and paternalism
Socialism and modern liberalism endorse positive liberty and further state intervention

46
Q

Anti liberalism can be reconciled with socialism

A

Liberals prioritise individual liberty, whereas socialists prioritise a fairer society
Liberals think individuals shape society, whereas socialists think society shapes individuals
Liberals see inequality of outcome as a sign of freedom, whereas socialists think it prevents equality of opportunity
Liberals see capitalism as a condition of freedom, whereas fundamentalist socialists see it as a threat to freedom
Classical and neo-liberals wish to reduce the role of the state, whereas socialists wish to extend state intervention

Ideologies (4 decks)

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