Liberalism - State

Question 1

what do Liberals agree in terms of the state?

Answer 1

should be limits on power of state

Question 2

what is govt necessary to do?

Answer 2

protect self-serving individuals from one another

Question 3

why should the state be limited? why do they believe this?

Answer 3

• state should be limited as power corrupts

- see human nature as rational and self-interested - which makes them corruptible

Question 4

what theory of the state do all Liberals subscribe to?

Answer 4

mechanistic theory of the state

Question 5

what is the mechanistic theory of the state?

Answer 5

-state created by people to save them to act in their interests

Question 6

what do liberals believe about parts of state?

Answer 6

• state’s parts are equal and interchangeable

- believe this as individualism is a key feature of liberalism

Question 7

what did John Locke argue?

Answer 7

• argued no rational person would submit to arbitrary rule
• arbitrary rule = form of govt in which ruler has unlimited power and is not restrained by law
• would not be in anybody’s interests

Question 8

who should the state serve?

Answer 8

the individual

Question 9

how do liberals disagree over state involvement?

Answer 9

disagree on how far state should get involved in people’s lives

Question 10

how did classical liberals view the state?

Answer 10

as necessary evil and should therefor play a minimal role

Question 11

what kind of freedoms do classical liberals value from the state?

Answer 11

• negtaive frredoms
• matters should be left in hands of individual as far as possible, in order to avoid the risk of undermining people’s independence

Question 12

what did John Stuart argue?

Answer 12

• ‘harm principle’

- state should intervene only to protect individuals against abuse of their own freedoms by others

Question 13

what kind of state do modern liberals believe in?

Answer 13

enabling stae

Question 14

why do modern liberals believe state intervention is needed?

Answer 14

without some state intervention, some individuals and groups will remain disadvantaged by their social circumstances and thus not truly free
-welfare helps to provide foundational equality

Question 15

what did John Rawls argue?

Answer 15

if people are invited to design a society that is just for all citizens, from behind a ‘veil of ignorance’, they would aim for one in which inequality is not too great

Question 16

what would people create if they didnt know the outcome for themselves? (John Rawls)

Answer 16

-will want to make sure that those at the bottom do not fall below a certain minimum standard

Question 17

what is developmental individualism ?

Answer 17

giving individuals best chance of realising their potential and enjoying freedom in making decisions about their own lives

Question 18

what did John Rawls argue about the economy?

Answer 18

rejected unregulated capitalism, instead favouring a ‘property-owning democracy’

Question 19

what did modern liberals prefer over a free market?

Answer 19

mixed economy

Question 20

what do modern liberals belive the state should do in the economy?

Answer 20

state should play a far greater role in economy so advocate Keynesian economy

Question 21

what is Keynesian economics?

Answer 21

staes sved money when doing well, and state injects money when economy is struggling

Question 22

what kind of freedoms do modern liberals want in economy?

Answer 22

positive freedom - many laws on businesses

Question 23

what kind of state do classical liberals want for the economy?

Answer 23

night watchman state

Question 24

why do classical liberals value night watchman state?

Answer 24

• value negative freedoms, particularly from state

- state should leave economy alone, so advocate laissez-faire capitalism

Question 25

what do classical liberals see the role of the state in the economy?

Answer 25

• maintain a stable framework for trade
• uphold value of currency
• generally create environment within which laissez-fair e capitalism can thrive