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Politics - Core Political Ideas > Liberalism - Core Ideas and Principles > Flashcards

Liberalism - Core Ideas and Principles Flashcards

1
Q

According to the UN, how many states are considered Liberal Democracies?

A

2/3 of all countries

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2
Q

How did Liberalism develop?

A

Reaction to elitist monarchies and aristocratic privilege

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3
Q

What class of views did liberalism originally represent?

A

Educated middle classes who sought greater civil liberties

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4
Q

What is the core principle of liberalism according to enlightenment thinkers?

A

People should be free to make their own decisions and to make the most of their talents and opportunities

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5
Q

What is the social contract theory?

A

Government is based on a contract between the citizen and the state.
Citizen agrees to give up a limited part of their freedom in return for protection and security through the law

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6
Q

What is the mechanistic theory?

A

Opposition to the Organic Society

State is an artificial creation devised by man to protect individual freedoms

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7
Q

According to liberals who is most important in society?

A

The Individual, who should always be at the centre of political thought

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8
Q

What did enlightenment thinker Immanuel Kant argue about individuals?

A

All are unique and have equal worth; should always be used as ends and never as means - people should not be used as instruments

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9
Q

What impact does the liberal view on individualism have on their views on the state?

A

The believe in a limited state to protect the interests of the individual

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10
Q

What is Foundation Equality?

A

Every person is born equal - challenges conservative view of a natural hierarchy

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11
Q

What is the liberal view on Human Nature?

A

People are rational - individuals are capable of making their own moral judgements

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12
Q

How do liberals believe Human Nature will lead to peace

A

Rationality allows us to understand that reason should be used to resolve conflict rather than force.

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13
Q

What is Egoistical Individualism?

A

Classical Liberal belief - People are egotistical and self-seeking and will put themselves before others

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14
Q

What is Developmental Individualism?

A

True freedom is the ability to achieve goals - we must all be free to reach our potential - Modern Liberalism

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15
Q

True or False:

Liberals have a fundamental belief in tolerance which extends from religious beliefs to sexual orientation?

A

True

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16
Q

What do Liberals believe regarding freedom?

A

Must be exercised under the law in order to protect interference with other peoples rights

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17
Q

What did thinkers such as Jeremy Bentham argue regarding freedom and liberty?

A

Govt should not prevent people from doing what they choose unless it would threaten another’s ability to do it themselves

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18
Q

What are the 2 different views on freedom within Liberalism?

A

Negative Freedom - Classical Liberals - (Stuart Mill) - Absence of restraint from govt
Positive Freedom - Modern Liberals - Govt should take steps to ensure people can fulfil their goals

19
Q

What is Mill’s Harm Principle?

A

There should be no intervention in a persons activities unless it would cause harm to another

20
Q

How do many liberals see the state?

A

A necessary evil

21
Q

Why do Liberals dislike the state?

A

Believe that those in power may use the power to further their own interests at others expense

22
Q

Why do Liberals want a limited government?

A

They see the state as a threat to individual freedons

23
Q

Why do Liberals not believe in anarchism?

A

They believe the state is required to prevent unsafe and lawless conditions

24
Q

How to liberals propose to restrict the power of the govt and give an example?

A

Through codified constitutions, for example the checks and balances in the US constitution

25
Q

How do liberals believe power should be concentrated?

A

They believe in devolution to ensure no-one has too much power

26
Q

What are the different views within Liberalism on the role of the state?

A

Classical - Night Watchman State

Modern - Enabling State

27
Q

What is the belief of Human Rationality?

A

Humans have an innate understanding of right and wrong and can make logical decisions

28
Q

How does the liberal view of human nature link to their view of progression in society?

A

They believe people will continue to make logical decisions which will enable society to progress overtime

29
Q

How does rationalism link to tolerance?

A

Liberals believe people will realise that the logical and rational thing to do is accept other people in society instead of going to war

30
Q

How do Liberals prefer to solve disputes?

A

Through reasoned discussion - potentially arbitration

31
Q

Why do many modern Liberals support the EU?

A

Opposition to War

Member States gain trade advantages by giving up some of their sovereignty.

32
Q

What type of equality to Liberals put forward?

A

Equality of Opportunity - Different people have different abilities and potential and therefore equality of outcome is unrealistic

33
Q

Where do Liberals base their view of equality?

A

Foundational Equality

34
Q

What is Formal Equality?

A

Equality before the law

Political Equality - One Person, One Vote

35
Q

How does the Liberal view on equality differ from the Socialist view?

A

Socialists aim to achieve equality of outcome by redistributing wealth

36
Q

What is the Liberal View of Competition?

A

Encourages people to work hard to make the most of their abilities

37
Q

Which thinker argued that women were just as rational as men and should be afforded the same rights?

A

Mary Wollstonecraft

38
Q

What are the two conflicting views on equality within Liberalism?

A

Classical - Equality of Outcome is neither achievable nor desirable
Modern - Needs to be some state intervention to reduce inequality

39
Q

In what way is democracy not a liberal concept?

A

Tyranny of the Majority - example - BREXIT

40
Q

Why did early liberals believe voting rights should be based on property?

A

To avoid an uneducated majority seeking to harm the educated minority

41
Q

What ideas of democracy have modern liberals supported?

A

Free Elections
Limited State
Respect for Civil Liberties

42
Q

What do Liberals argue gives government legitimacy?

A

The consent from the people - Social Contract - John Locke

43
Q

How can limited govt be protected?

A

Free Press
Pressure Groups
Regular Elections

44
Q

What voting system is preferred by modern liberals?

A

Proportional Representation - To give a voice to minority voters

Politics - Core Political Ideas (3 decks)

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