Liberalism Flashcards
What are the 4 strands of liberalism?
Classical Liberalism (17th-19th)
Classical Liberalism (early 19th - mid)
Modern Liberalism (late 19th - now)
Neo-Liberalism
What are the basic beliefs about human nature?
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
What are the basic beliefs about society?
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
What are the basic beliefs about economy?
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
What are the basic beliefs about state?
Important in resolving conflicts Guarantee and protect rights Government by consent which is limited Promotion of tolerance Meritocracy Equality of opportunity
What do they believe about human nature? Why?
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
What do they believe humans are?
Rational
Make decisions based on reason and humans naturally debate, discuss and question
Problems always have a solution
What is believed about humans for the future?
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’
What are humans believed to feel about themselves?
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?
What is believed about natural society and natural law?
Rights to life, liberty and happiness were accepted without state imposing them
Society before a state would naturally exist
Optimistic view of human nature
What is believed about individuals and freedom?
Individuals have unique talents and personality - rational and pursue own self-interest
Society promotes individualism
Promotes self-reliance and fulfilment of personal happiness
What kind of society do liberals want?
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
What is the worst case scenario of society?
Personal freedom is denied
State removes individuality
What are the objectives of the state?
Rejection of traditional state
Dismisses idea of divine rule - against power being concentrated in the hands of a monarchy
Government by consent
What is Social Contract Theory?
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
What does the state promote?
Individualism
Tolerance
Equality of Opportunity
Justice
Meritocracy
What type of Government does liberals promote?
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
What type of state does each strand advocate?
Big - Modern Liberalism
Small - Classical Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism
What type of economy do liberals advocate?
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
What is the principle of self-help?
Lack of state intervention
People from all classes could remain self-reliant in society - greater challenge for industrial classes
What do modern liberals advocate about the economy?
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
What is the Beveridge Report?
Tackles 5 giants of want:
Idleness
Want
Disease
Squalor
Ignorance
What do Neo-liberalism advocate about the economy?
Returns to classical liberalism beliefs
Privatisation
Minimal state intervention with a movement away from the welfare state
Classical Liberalism 17th-19th
What are their beliefs?
Negative freedom - absence of restraint Minimal state intervention Mechanistic theory - state is created to serve the people Laissez-faire capitalism Equal rights Revolutionary potential
Classical Liberalism 19th - late 19th
What are their beliefs?
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
Modern Liberalism 19th - now
What are their beliefs?
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
Neo-liberalism - Friedrich Von Hayek
What are their beliefs?
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’
What does John Locke believe?
Classical Liberalism
Rationalism of humanity Natural Rights Limited Government Social Contract Theory Society existed before the state Separation of powers between branches of government
What does Mary Wollstonecraft believe?
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
What does John Stuart Mill believe?
Classical - Modern Liberalism
Humanity looked to improve civilisation HARM PRINCIPLE Tolerance of minorities Feared democracy would lead to tyranny of majority Developmental Individualism
What does John Rawls believe?
Modern Liberalism
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
What does Betty Friedan believe?
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