Liberalism - Differing views and tensions

Question 1

What are the two main strands of liberalism?

Answer 1

Classical Liberalism - Associated with 18th and 19th Centuries
Modern Liberalism - Emerged in early 20th Century

Question 2

What are the two key areas of disagreement between the two strands?

Answer 2

Freedom

The State

Question 3

How do Classical Liberals view freedom?

Answer 3

Freedom is the lack of restraint and restriction

Question 4

What is the Classic Liberal theory of Utilitarianism?

Answer 4

The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number

Question 5

According to Classical Liberals what role should the state adopt?

Answer 5

Night Watchman - preventing citizens harming each other

Question 6

How do classical liberals believe equality of opportunity can be ensured?

Answer 6

Legal Equality - Formal Equality

Question 7

What approach do Classical Liberals take to the economy?

Answer 7

Support Free Trade and Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Question 8

How will govt intervention in the economy effect business according to Classical Liberals?

Answer 8

Will prevent them from being able to make a profit and leading innovation

Question 9

What is the classical liberal view of a welfare state?

Answer 9

Strongly Reject - Will encourage a culture of dependency

Question 10

What do classical liberals argue regarding taxation?

Answer 10

Taxation will destroy wealth and deprive people of the fruits of their success

Question 11

Why are Classical Liberals not anarchists?

Answer 11

They see human nature as selfish, so a state is needed to protect us from each other

Question 12

Why are Classical Liberals suspicious of the state?

Answer 12

They fear a tyranny of the majority

Belief that power corrupts

Question 13

What is the Modern Liberal view of freedom?

Answer 13

Positive Freedom with govt intervention is required to compensate for social evils such as poverty

Question 14

How do Modern Liberals see the state?

Answer 14

A source of empowerment rather than oppression

Question 15

What economic system do Modern Liberals Support?

Answer 15

Keynesian Economics with progressive taxation to enable individual freedom

Question 16

According to Modern Liberals what is the aim of state intervention?

Answer 16

To create a level playing field with true equality of opportunity

Question 17

How do the two strands disagree on Freedom?

Answer 17

Classical - Negative Freedom

Modern - Positive Freedom

Question 18

How would classical liberals expand freedoms?

Answer 18

Restricting state power

Question 19

True or False:

Self-Reliance is an important virtue for classical liberals

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Why do Modern Liberals oppose negative freedom?

Answer 20

They do not feel it is sufficient for equality of opportunity

Question 21

How would modern liberals expand freedom?

Answer 21

Qualified state intervention to widen individual opportunity

Question 22

Where do the two strands agree on the nature of the state?

Answer 22

Both believe in decentralisation of power - links to belief that power corrupts

Question 23

Where do the two strands disagree on the state?

Answer 23

Classical - State should act only as a night watchman to enforce laws for an orderly existence
Modern - State should act as an enabler to remove or reduce social inequalities

Question 24

What report acts as a foundation for Modern Liberals views on welfare?

Answer 24

The Beveridge Report

Question 25

What is Welfare Liberalism?

Answer 25

A sub-strand of modern liberalism inspired by the Beveridge Report

Question 26

What are the main focusses of Welfare Liberals

Answer 26

Welfare through taxation was fair because it would lead to social good
Welfare was necessary to negate the effects of the 5 Giants

Question 27

What are the 5 Giants from the Beveridge Report?

Answer 27

Poverty, Lack of Education, Ill Health, Poor Living Conditions and Unemployment