LIBERALISM - Democracy Flashcards
What kind of state do liberals want?
The Liberal fear of government
Lord Acton
They believe states have the potential to become tyrannies.
The Government exercises sovereign power, and so poses a constant threat to individual liberty. Humans in power will always self-seek and use their power for their own benefit.
Lord Acton – ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’
What kind of state do liberals want?
Constitutional constraints
Montesquieu
M: ‘Power should check power’ (separation of powers)
These are used to disperse government power within a number of separate institutions:
- Separation of powers
- cabinet government
- Parliamentary government
- Bicameralism (two legislative chambers)
- Decentralisation (federalism, devolution, local government)
- Codified constitution
- Bill of Rights
- The Rule of Law.
What kind of state do liberals want?
J.S Mill’s concern about democracy
There are concerns about democracy – the ‘tyranny of the majority’ as referred to by J.S Mill, is a massive fear.
What kind of state do liberals want?
What is a liberal democracy?
This is a version of democracy that balances the will of the people, as shown through elections with limited government and a respect for civil liberties in Society.
The Liberal part: network of internal and external checks on government that are designed to guarantee civil liberty and ensure a healthy society.
The Democratic part: based on a system of regular and competitive elections, conforming to universal suffrage and political equality which ensures that the government rule by the consent of the people.
What kind of state do Classical liberals want?
Two Treatises of Government (John Locke) used the social contract theory to argue that the government should be by the consent of the people, and that this was the only legit basis for their authority.
The earliest form of liberal democracy was representative democracy, where only a limited number of people voted for their representatives.
Locke, Wollstonecraft, and Mill favoured this form of democracy where the elite wealthy and powerful exercise power and have significant influence over the rest of the voters.
It is important to note, however, that Mill and Wollstonecraft both favoured extending the franchise to women, on the same basis as men qualified for the vote.
MODERN LIBERALS ON LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
Developmental Individualism
Supportive of universal franchise; all individuals should engage in official political debate, so that they can learn and express their views. This is developmental individualism.
This also preserves stability because it establishes a societal consensus.
CLASSICAL LIBERALS ON LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
Negative freedom
They are concerned by majoritarianism and the threat that extending the franchise posed to property rights.
So, they are critical of extending the franchise. E.g., Locke believes this with property rights. It is also negative for political stability. J.S Mill argues for more voting rights, but more votes SHOULD BE distributed, but only to educated people
