Modern liberalism

Question 1

where and why did modern liberalism emerge?

Answer 1

• it emerged in the late 19th century in europe and the USA.
• modern liberalism was a response to the social and economic changes that had occured since the era of Locke

Question 2

who are the key thinkers of modern liberalism?

Answer 2

• T.H Green,
• Betty Friedan
• John Raws

Question 3

what do classical liberals view about positive liberty?

Answer 3

-Green argued that freedom should not be seen merely as the absence of restraint and ‘freedom from’ oppresive rulers. instead it should be regarded as something more altrustic- a concept that involved individuals ‘enabling’ other individuals, thus allowing them to persue individual fufilment. it was about empowering individuals to help themselves, thereby enabling them to control their loves in a way that would have been impossible had they been left alone

Question 4

what do classical liberals view about the enabling state?

Answer 4

-enabling state= this is a state that has been ectended so its activities ‘liberate’ individuals from social and economic problems, thus ‘enabling them to fufil their potential
- modern liberals demand a much larger state to facilitate positive liberty
- liberals such as Rawls argue that individual liberty generally requires more laws, more state spending and more taxation
- rawls stated that only an enlarged state could create the equality of opportunity necessary for individual freedom
- rawls also claimed that, although an enabling state would require some people to sacrifice more in the form of taxation, they could still be rationally persuaded that this was consistent with their self-interest.

Question 5

what do classical liberals view about keynesian economics?

Answer 5

• modern liberalism is less prepared to endorse laissez-fair capitalism and more willing to back dirigiste capitalism, involving greater state intervention in a market economy.
• keynes argued that minimal state intervention led to mass unemployment, a resulting loss of freedom and the grave prospect of communism or fascism. keynes therefore argued that self-fufilment and liberty were seriously endangered by joblessness and resulting poverty.
• rawls believed that a sufficient tax yield could only be assured by the steady economic growth promised by keynesianism, in contrast to the ‘boom and bust’ cycles assocaited with LF economics.

Question 6

what do classical liberals view about liberal democracy?

Answer 6

• classical liberals were wary of democracy, fearing that it endangered natural rights and tolerance. however, modern liberals, because of their demand for an extension of the state, it became harder to ignore the extension of democracy.
• T.H Green admitted ‘if the state is to do more for its people, then the state must do more to secure their consent’. in other words, positive liberty and an enabling state required the embrace of universal adult suffrage
• yet modern liberalism’s support for democracy is not unreserved. it has shown little interest, for example, in democracy and referendums.

Question 7

what do classical liberals view about social liberalism?

Answer 7

-social liberalism= reflecting the work of Friedan, this updates liberalisms’ historic belief in tolerance. it calls for legislation which illegalises discrimination against individuals on grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identification
- given their acceptance of mdoern liberty and an enabling state, modern liberals like Friedan argued that solving such problems of people being denied equality o fopportunity required freesh legislation and various forms of ‘ affirmative action’
- as Friedan explained, such ‘corrective’ legislation was perfectly consistant with the original aim of the liberal state: namely the promotion of tolerance and equal opportunity.