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Ideology > Liberalism > Flashcards

Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

where can we find the origins of the liberalism?

A

in the enlightenment and the growth if the idea that humans are essentially rational beings.

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2
Q

a sentence to summaries liberalism over the course of the 20th-21st centuries?

A

although liberalism as a party has no had great electorate success the basic principles of liberalism have been adopted by all mainstream parties and are considered a bedrock for western society.

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3
Q

what does doctrine mean?

A

either a single or collection of beliefs which are strongly held by a group or individual.

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4
Q

how did the enlightenment contribute to Liberalism?

A

the enlightenment challenged assumptions about the nature of human kind suggesting that:
-each person is born a free and national individual
-each individual is the best judge of what is in their interests
-each individual should have free will
-society should not have a preordained order that fixes a persons status from birth
-we are born equal
what the enlightenment did was challenge the status quo

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5
Q

what did Locke suggest about government?

A

Locke rejected any form of government established without the expressed consent of the people

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6
Q

what did Rousseau suggest about government?

A

“man is born free but everywhere is chains”
humankind was being unjustifiably controlled by social and political restraints.
chains are anything which restrict an individuals rights. He supported natural rights

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7
Q

what are natural rights?

A

developed in the 17th-18th century and suggests that all individuals are born with rights that are granted by God or nature. The main nature rights were: life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights should not be reduced without the consent of the individual.

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8
Q

what is the relationship between capitalism and liberalism?

A

just as liberalism was made possible by Enlightenment philosophy, so it became necessary in order to underpin the development of free-market capitalism.

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9
Q

what is capitalism?

A

the economic system which emerged and spread over the 18th-19th century. It describes a system in which entrepreneurs take risks in organising production and extract the profit in return. to flourish capitalism needs a high level of economic freedom.

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10
Q

when did capitalism develop in europe?

A

in the early stages of industrial revolution and with the growth in international trade (early liberal fought for free trade)

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11
Q

what impact did capitalism have upon the social structure of society?

A

created a new social class with capital which wasn’t safeguarded by the status quo. Furthermore it encouraged workers to sell their labour to the highest bidder-encouraged migration to towns/cities.

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12
Q

what did Adam Smith believe governed the economy? (brief)

A

the invisible hand of the economy meant it tended towards equilibrium and interference within it (eg government activity) would knock it off.

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13
Q

what did both Smith and Richardo suggest about the relationship between individuals and the state and the free market?

A

vital for individuals to be free both for pursuit of self-interest and from over-regulation of government.
and they believed the economic success and growth in this period was a testimony to the virtues of economic liberalism and the free market

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14
Q

what further element is needed to complete liberalism as an ideology (rationalism, enlightenment, capitalism already named) and what events did it inspire?

A

a concept of liberty/freedom.
both French and American revolutions were inspired by a desire for freedom
-America from the autocratic rule of the British Crown
-French freedom from the undemocratic monarchy or “ancien regime”

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15
Q

what form of liberalism were the French and American revolutions based on?

A

revolutionary liberalism.
freedom from the existing authority and the establishment of a government by consent. Not concerned with individual liberty but with the freedom of the people as a whole from oppressive and arbitrary rule.
self determination.

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16
Q

what is political or revolutionary liberty?

A

not individual liberty but the freedom of the people as a whole from oppressive and arbitrary rule.
the freedom of a people to determine their own form of government and not to be ruled an external or oppressive power.
has become known as self-determination.

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17
Q

what is individual liberty?

A

freedom of the individual.
main enemy: over–powerful state, why?
-too paternalistic
-government controlled and regulated people’s behaviour without just cause because said actions did not affect anyone or threaten society.

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18
Q

what was bentham’s view in relation to individual liberty?

A

utilitarianism
we are motived to pursue pleasure and avoid pain and we can judge what will bring us the most of either.
To bentham being allowed to make those decisions for ourselves and to act on them was the essence of freedom.
government should not limit us or prevent us unless by doing so we prevent others from perusing theirs. Hence the enlightened pursuit of self-interest.

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19
Q

Jeremy Bentham summary

A

-utilitarian
-view compatible with classical liberalism and free-market capitalism
-would conflict with Thatcher’s social policy
concerned with liberty and freedom:
-we are driven to pursue pleasure and avoid pain and we are the best judge of ourselves. Government should only intervene when we limit others pursuits. The enlightened pursuit of self interest.
equal rights:
-didn’t believe in natural rights or that we are born with equal skills and potential, rather that we should all be equal to reach our potential.
Utilitarian
-utilitarian:”greatest good for the greatest number” believed you could calculate utility and that government should act accordingly.

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20
Q

what was Mill’s view in relation to individual liberty?

A

developed the idea of true freedom based on the absence of constraint.
2 types of actions: self-regarding those actions which do not impact upon others and other-regarding those actions which do affect others.

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21
Q

John Stuart Mill summary

A

Concerned with liberty and freedom:
-classical liberalism
-his ideas developed into the idea of negative freedom
-2 types if actions :self regarding and other regarding
tolerance:
-principles of individual liberty: self-regarding actions
-arrogant to assume our own opinions are correct
equal rights:
-didn’t believe in natural rights or that we are born with equal skills and potential, rather that we should all be equal to reach our potential.

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22
Q

what is negative liberty or freedom?

A
  • freedom from restraint
  • mill 2 types of action self-regarding & other regarding
  • bentham pursue pleasure, avoid pain, we’re the best judge
23
Q

what is positive freedom?

A
  • rejection of the view that society is made up of self-interested individuals
  • society is organic and people are dependent as well as independent self interest and common good
  • freedom to
  • by pursuing social goals all will be empowered to self-forfilment.
24
Q

T.H.Green summary

A

concerned with liberty/freedom:

  • rejected classical liberalism
  • freedom to not freedom from
  • social welfare would empower more people to reach self-forfilment.
  • society is organic: both dependent and independence.
25
Q

why do liberals believe in tolerance?

A

comes from Mills principles of individual liberty and Locke’s argument for religious tolerance.
toleration of other’s view, beliefs, opinions, faith etc is one of liberalism’s most cherished goals.
in the 20th century the focus is heavily on minority groups and understanding of socio-economic context.
Voltaire: “I detest what you say, but i shall defend to death your right to say it”
Mill: arrogance to assume your views are right
is a limitation:when it threatens others (apply back to Mill when it becomes other regarding)

26
Q

Locke summary

A

Locke was concerned with religious tolerance and believed that people of all religions should “enjoy the same rights that are granted to others” regardless of religion.
believed in natural rights
government by consent:
wanted a real contract between the people and the government ie government by consent
regular and free elections and a use of referendums

27
Q

what do liberals believe about equal rights?

A
  • natural rights eg Locke, his entire belief system was based around them. Easy to translate into support for equal rights-God
  • Bentham and Mill don’t believe in natural rights but do believe we are all entitled to equal rights. Often because of a rational perspective-can see no reason for inequality
  • belief in equal rights is not the same as equality in general. Most liberals accept we have different abilities and potentials when we’re born and in this sense we are not equal however what we should all have an equal right to reach our potential. aka equality of opportunity
28
Q

what do liberals believe about equality of opportunity?

A

-classical liberals had suggested that society should be largely free from constraints and therefore individuals would be free to succeed for fail.
very positive freedom
emerged in the later part of the 19th century. Recognising that individuals who re born with disadvantage cannot always overcome it and it isn’t their fault. The moral principle that everyone is entitled to reach their potential and some will need more assistance than others.
-Gladstone, Bevridge and Lloyd

29
Q

what does pluralism mean?

A

pluralism is characterised by a flourishing collection of groups in which people can freely participate such a healthy civil society would prevent the state from becoming too powerful and balance out any potential for tranny

  • diversity of cultures, religions etc
  • state tolerance of these diversities
  • free participation in such groups
  • all having access to the political machinery
  • no single one is dominant
30
Q

what does civil society mean?

A

an expression which refers to the wide variety of groups that flourish in pluralist society.

31
Q

what is a liberal constitution?

A
  • limitations on state power
  • defines the rights of the citizens and safeguards them against government
  • distributes power amongst different institutions
  • has arrangements to amend the constitution
32
Q

what and why do liberals believe in government by consent?

A

a key element of the enlightenment was questioning basis of political society eg the divine right of the king and the feudal system
-Hobbes and Locke developed the theory of government via consent
Locke: wanted a real contract between the people and the government ie government by consent
regular and free elections and a use of referendums

33
Q

what do liberals think of government?

A

merely ensuring government is established by consent is not enough to safeguard the interests of the people. Government should have to operate inside strict boundaries
3 potential consequences of government:
-power with no legitimate authority
-power concentrated in the hands of the few plutocracy or oligarchy
-tranny of the majority

34
Q

what forms of justice are there in the liberal ideology?

A
  • legal justice: the equal application of the law to all citizens
  • social justice: socio economic impact meaning full potential cannot be reached some social justice is necessary in order for people to reach their full potential
35
Q

Summaries the early forms of liberalism

A

-the first liberals were not called so-they were known as radicals or republicans. Many of them were champions of natural rights and tis gave way to the development of the following key liberal arguments:
-government has no right to encroach upon people’s rights. They may only do so with the expressed consent of the people and even so this consent can be revoked.
-all are born with equal rights and government should respect and promote that.
-after the basic right to life we have the basic right to be free. In this context freedom is the right to pursue ones own interests
-power without the consent of the people is not justified
These ideas gave way to revolutions

36
Q

Explain the form of liberalism that is utilitarianism

A

The concept of utility was developed by Jeremy Bentham. Utility being whatever gave and individual pleasure. Utilitarians believed it was possible to calculate the amount of utility an individual could derive from good and from there the level of utility for society as a whole. However it was not for outside powers to deci what gives an individual utility-the individual is the best judge.
Utilitarianism supported the argument for free trade because each consumer would be able to maximise their utility because the quantity of goods available-free market would increase utility and therefore guarantee common good.
Political utilitarians argues that government should calculate the total utility of an action and act according to whatever had the highest. “The greatest good for the greatest number”
Problem: simplistic view of what motivates people, tranny of the majority through government calculated utility and finally gives government the space to be over powering.

37
Q

Explain the term classical liberal in its historical context in detail

A
  • inspired by John Stuart Mill
  • freedom of the individual was the big thing
  • early liberals believed freedom can from natural rights whist utilitarians believed it came from the ability to peruse ones own interests
  • but to Mill individual liberty was associated with even higher ideals. He believed freedom would maximise human progression by promoting innovation, creativity and self-fulfilment. Mill sees humans as creative individuals with potential.
  • classical liberalism combines Mill’s view of the individual with Bentham’s economic utility
  • belief in freedom naturally led to tolerance because our own freedom depends upon others enjoying theirs
  • however limits were accepted (self regarding and other regarding)
  • concerned with the development of an oligarchy and too much gov power but popular democracy wasn’t the answer-tranny of the majority rather than answer was a minimal state only concerned with order,security, peace and the protection of individual liberty.
  • free market economics smith the invisible hand of the economy
  • Manchester school: free trade means goods are cheaper which improves the conditions for working class too.
38
Q

The basic principles of classical liberalism

A
  • individual freedom should flourish and be respected
  • the state should be limited to protecting people
  • tolerant society
  • economic freedom- the free market
  • representative democracy
39
Q

what is social Darwinism and libertarianism

A
  • a number of thinkers took Darwen’s theory of natural selection and applied it to human society.
  • such as Spencer leader of the movement “social Darwinism” developing the idea that social justice is individuals making what they can of their lives provided it does not interfere with others and from this some will succeed and others will fail. Those who adapt best will do best.
  • Smiles: Self Help same principle huge best seller more copies sold than people literate no one should reply upon the state or charities
40
Q

what does libertarianism mean?

A

emerged in the late 19th century and was revitalised in the 1980s this can be seen in that most 21st century libertarians would consider themselves Conservative. They believe the state is is a restriction on freedom and its interference should be kept to a minimum. they argue most social problems can be solved by the free market

41
Q

why did the new right adopt social Darwinism and libertarianism?

A

-the attempt/aim to privatise state run institutions such as education and health. make sure they are subject to the market forces and competition
a deregulated society would create dynamic individuals
the welfare state had created a dependency culture and this was sapping people of creativity and dynamism

42
Q

what is meant by the term new liberalism?

A

aka progressive liberalism
T.H.Green moving away from the negative idea of freedom and towards positive freedom-freedom to.
we cannot consider ourselves as completely free individuals who pursue their own interests we also have social obligations because through these obligations we can collectively achieve self-realisation.
as the industrial revolution intensified it came to light that social deprivation was wide spread and bad. Many argued it was because of excessive free markets the idea developed that the poor couldn’t benefit from classical liberalism. and that it was a cycle.

43
Q

examples of welfare liberalism

A
  • Foster’s education act 1870
  • the Bevridge report
  • 1944 Butler’s education act
  • Llyod George
  • Gladstone
44
Q

contemporary liberalism

A

-decentralising powers
-constitutional safeguards
-increasing use of referendums
-safeguarding individual rights
-freedom of information
-extension of rights: fem,homo etc
-workers rights
-environment
ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITHIN THE STATE WORK WITHIN THE CAPITALIST SOCIETY

45
Q

How can democracy be seen as an issue for liberalism?

A

-jean-jacques Roucceau problem: majority rule/tranny of the majority. the will of the people is merely an expression of their self interest-therefore the demands of the majority aren’t always the best thing to do.
although democracy emerged as a means for people to liberate themselves and express their individualism in excess it can actually damage the freedom of individuals (they didn’t want to extend the vote either) PARADOX OF DEMOCRACY
furthermore tranny of the majority

46
Q

What is the liberal answer to the paradox of democracy?

A
  • government by consent
  • gov limited by a sovereign constitution
  • rights must be protected
  • freedom of expression
  • referendums
  • representative systems
47
Q

how can the state be seen as an issue for liberalism?

A

for much of its existence the state has been considered a threat to individual liberty this is especially true in the 19th and 1980s
origins: MILL would interfere in private parts of life and would inhibit dynamism and creativity.
then smile and Spencer with social Darwinism,, self help developed into 1980s dependency culture snapping dynamism.
then progressive liberalism with it idea that the state can be used to enhance and widen freedoms-positive freedom-freedom to

48
Q

Liberalism in political parties?

A
  • after ww2 the liberal party declined into almost nothing-the liberal democrats
  • conservatives-new right neo-liberalism
  • new labour-remove clause 4 liberalism no more fighting the system, working in the system to help very progressive liberalism
  • francis fukuyama the end of history liberalism dominates
49
Q

what is unique about British liberalism?

A

unlike france and america liberalism came not with a political revolution but with an industrial revolution and therefore is even more interconnected with capitalism.

50
Q

problems with calling European countries liberal democracies

A
  • 1st past the post tranny of the majority
  • extension of the franchise
  • france and the hijab
51
Q

Pluralism and Civil society-how liberalism is no longer revolutionary and protects the status quo

A

pluralism is where different groups all have access to power and influence. In a pluralist society there is also a civil society- where services are offered beyond state control-with autonomy (to spread the power)
HOWEVER
this stabilises capitalism as everything thing around it-the civil society protects its and the state.

52
Q

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations

A

interference of government in the economy limits its success.
If we leave the economy its was naturally look after itself
the invisible hand of the economy supply and demand balance out when left alone -they create an equilibrium
economy is too complex for us to understand

53
Q

David Richardo’s work

A

if you leave people to pursue their own interests it benefits everyone- Manchester school- trickles down- free trade is cheap for everyone therefore remove trade limits
if we divided wealth equally all would be screwed because businesses would collapse as we would all have very little property

54
Q

free enterprise in the economic sphere

A

freedom from

state places minimal restraints on bussinesses both at employers level and employee-flexible work force

Ideology (5 decks)

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