Liberalism

Question 1

What are the 4 strands of liberalism?

Answer 1

Classical Liberalism (17th-19th)

Classical Liberalism (early 19th - mid)

Modern Liberalism (late 19th - now)

Neo-Liberalism

Question 2

What are the basic beliefs about human nature?

Answer 2

Optimistic - capacity for progress and greater happiness
Rational - decisions based on reason and natural debate
Self-interest - people prioritise themselves
Destiny - life is not pre-determined

Question 3

What are the basic beliefs about society?

Answer 3

Natural rights exist - life, prosperity and happiness
Life is to be pleasant, civilised and long
Individualism and individual freedom are key to society
People’s rights should not be infringed upon by Government or anyone in society

Question 4

What are the basic beliefs about economy?

Answer 4

Private property
Supports capitalism
Wealth will trickle down
Very few restrictions - invisible hand of the market having a degree of control not imposed by the state

Question 5

What are the basic beliefs about state?

Answer 5

Important in resolving conflicts 
Guarantee and protect rights 
Government by consent which is limited 
Promotion of tolerance 
Meritocracy 
Equality of opportunity

Question 6

What do they believe about human nature? Why?

Answer 6

Optimistic view
Humanity is designed to continually progress and achieve greater happiness in doing so
People will generate a better future than the past
People will live in peace and harmony with self-awareness and mutual understanding

Question 7

What do they believe humans are?

Answer 7

Rational
Make decisions based on reason and humans naturally debate, discuss and question
Problems always have a solution

Question 8

What is believed about humans for the future?

Answer 8

Destiny is not pre-determined
Do not accept life as it is and there is the ability to plan and change futures
Idea of ‘self-help’

Question 9

What are humans believed to feel about themselves?

Answer 9

Self-interested
Egotistical Individualism - humans are naturally drawn to seek their own interests and happiness above anyone else
Reasoned discussion should lead to a consensus
Survival of the Fittest?

Question 10

What is believed about natural society and natural law?

Answer 10

Rights to life, liberty and happiness were accepted without state imposing them
Society before a state would naturally exist
Optimistic view of human nature

Question 11

What is believed about individuals and freedom?

Answer 11

Individuals have unique talents and personality - rational and pursue own self-interest
Society promotes individualism
Promotes self-reliance and fulfilment of personal happiness

Question 12

What kind of society do liberals want?

Answer 12

Individualism is the key concept - idealise home ownership, owning your own business and being your own boss
Society allow people to control their own lives
Maximum number of people reaching their full potential
Self-reliant people not co-dependent but can interact with one another

Question 13

What is the worst case scenario of society?

Answer 13

Personal freedom is denied

State removes individuality

Question 14

What are the objectives of the state?

Answer 14

Rejection of traditional state
Dismisses idea of divine rule - against power being concentrated in the hands of a monarchy
Government by consent

Question 15

What is Social Contract Theory?

Answer 15

Social Contract Theory is people giving up some freedom to the state for them to protect the rights of people.
People will obey the law as long as government upholds their rights

Question 16

What does the state promote?

Answer 16

Individualism

Tolerance

Equality of Opportunity

Justice

Meritocracy

Question 17

What type of Government does liberals promote?

Answer 17

Fragmented Government - power-split between branches

Formal Equality - everyone has the same legal and political rights

Limited Government - no autocracy - checks and balances on political power

Question 18

What type of state does each strand advocate?

Answer 18

Big - Modern Liberalism

Small - Classical Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism

Question 19

What type of economy do liberals advocate?

Answer 19

Laissez-faire capitalism
Market forces would be left without intervention
All barriers need to be removed
Wealth made by individuals would trickle down to rest of society

Question 20

What is the principle of self-help?

Answer 20

Lack of state intervention

People from all classes could remain self-reliant in society - greater challenge for industrial classes

Question 21

What do modern liberals advocate about the economy?

Answer 21

Keynesian Economics - government should manage the economy to ensure full employment
Promote freedom and full potential of all
Able to tackle socio-economic problems to enable people to succeed and be free

Question 22

What is the Beveridge Report?

Answer 22

Tackles 5 giants of want:

Idleness

Want

Disease

Squalor

Ignorance

Question 23

What do Neo-liberalism advocate about the economy?

Answer 23

Returns to classical liberalism beliefs
Privatisation
Minimal state intervention with a movement away from the welfare state

Question 24

Classical Liberalism 17th-19th

What are their beliefs?

Answer 24

Negative freedom - absence of restraint 
Minimal state intervention 
Mechanistic theory - state is created to serve the people 
Laissez-faire capitalism 
Equal rights 
Revolutionary potential

Question 25

Classical Liberalism 19th - late 19th

What are their beliefs?

Answer 25

Industrialisation meant greater difficulty for individualism
Shift to greater happiness of the greatest number
Self-help and not state help
Survival of the Fittest
Representative democracy
Harm Principle
Developmental Individualism

Question 26

Modern Liberalism 19th - now

What are their beliefs?

Answer 26

Social Justice and positive liberty
Individual need help achieving their potential which may be restricted or restrained by socio-economic factors beyond their control 
Equality of opportunity 
Bigger enabling state 
Keynesian Economics 
Beveridge Report 
Redistribution of wealth

Question 27

Neo-liberalism - Friedrich Von Hayek

What are their beliefs?

Answer 27

Updated classical liberalism?
Rejection of movement to an enlarged state under modern liberalism
Free people run the state and reduce public spending
Get rid of idea of a ‘nanny state’

Question 28

What does John Locke believe?

Classical Liberalism

Answer 28

Rationalism of humanity 
Natural Rights
Limited Government 
Social Contract Theory 
Society existed before the state 
Separation of powers between branches of government

Question 29

What does Mary Wollstonecraft believe?

Answer 29

Key to women reaching their potential is education and having the same opportunities and protections as men
Supported American and French Revolutions
Defended individual rights for both men and women
Argued women were just as rational and capable as men and so needed formal equality

Question 30

What does John Stuart Mill believe?

Classical - Modern Liberalism

Answer 30

Humanity looked to improve civilisation 
HARM PRINCIPLE 
Tolerance of minorities 
Feared democracy would lead to tyranny of majority 
Developmental Individualism

Question 31

What does John Rawls believe?

Modern Liberalism

Answer 31

Emphasised idea of natural rights and modernised idea of social contract by adding socio-economic aspects
Minimum standard of living
Natural Rights for all
Redistribution of wealth
Denied being aligned with socialism
Rejected communism and unregulated capitalism

Question 32

What does Betty Friedan believe?

Answer 32

Focus on individual controlling their own destiny
Women were held back from reaching their full potential by belief about jobs, oppressed by laws and society
Pushed for anti-discrimination laws by Government
Social attitudes oppress women
Need a cultural change and a change to the cultural channels
Change without violence