Modern liberalism (late 1800s - present) Flashcards
From the late 1800sthe pursuit of individual liberty and how exactly one could reach their potential took a new and radical direction…
Positive liberty/social justice
‘New liberals’ re-examined core principles and reached radical conclusions about liberty, individualism and society.
Argued that nature of modern economies and society meant individuals increasingly subject to socio-economic forces beyond their control, making it impossible to seek self- determination and self-realisation.
Argued that social justice as well as legal justice needed for individuals to fulfil their potential.
Positive freedom: helping others to help themselves – cooperative and altruistic – individuals need ‘enabling’.
enlarged and enabling state
Only a larger state could repel the new, socio-economic threats to freedom and
individualism.
Justified a substantial extension of the state in the name of the individual – more laws,
spending, taxation and public bureaucracy.
Strongly linked to collectivism, e.g. the Beveridge Report 1942 provided the bedrock of the
welfare state, predicted the five giants (poverty, unemployment, poor education, poor housing, poor healthcare) threatened freedom and potential but could be overcome by state provision (e.g. NHS).
Equality of opportunity not outcome.
Some individuals to sacrifice their earning (tax) but could be persuaded this is a good and
necessary thing – government by consent.
constitutional reform and liberal democracy
Passion for ongoing change.
In UK, such liberal demands for reform have included; written codified constitution;
devolution; electoral reform; and House of Lords reform.
Support for liberal democracy – completing the link between core liberal values and
universal adult suffrage e.g. in the UK liberal PM 1918 oversaw enfranchisement of most
women and men irrespective of property ownership. Lowering of voting age to 18 in 1969.
Shown little interest in direct democracy for fear that referendums and initiatives threaten
the tyranny of majority – regard Brexit result as an example of this.
Seemed willing to even dilute representative democracy – support for HRA and enthusiasm
for EU.
Social liberalism
Update to classical liberalism stress on tolerance – especially of minorities.
From mid 1900s onwards, modern liberalism became linked with calls for greater racial and
sexual toleration.
Solutions to these lay in further legislation, state regulation and sometimes ‘positive
discrimination’.
Securing greater equality of opportunity.
Associated with President Kennedy’s Equal Employment Opportunity Committee sought to
use affirmative action.
In the UK, Race Relations Act 1976 and Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
essence of Neo-liberalism
By the end of 1900s, term was used to describe political thinking in countries like US and UK.
Seeks to update the principles of classical liberalism within a 20th and 21st century setting.
Criticises modern liberalism, accusing it of betraying individualism and a sell out to socialism and
conservatism.
Neo-liberals re-advertised the merits of negative freedom and minimal state, calling for
politicians to ‘roll back the frontiers of the state’.
Have demanded reduction in public spending, often facilitated by privatisation of public services
and much less state regulation of the economy which would allow lower rates of taxation and
gradual replacement of ‘dependency culture’.
Friedrich Von Hayek: argued neo-liberalism was the third strand of liberalism, not conservative.
Favoured radical change, not conservative stability, and passionate as most liberals in respect of constitutional reforms that checked the executive government. Criticised the Beveridge Report for fostering ‘state paternalism’ and ‘dependency culture’.
Neo-liberals have routinely been described as conservatives; views are thought to be reactionary rather than progressive (seeking to restore economic arrangements of 1800s); and ideas have played a key role in development of New Right Conservatism – Thatcher and Reagan.
