Modern Liberalism (late 19th Century-present)

Question 1

What time era was the modern liberalism period in?

Answer 1

Late 19th century- present

Question 2

Mill did not just offer solutions to the dilemmas of liberalism in the late nineteenth century; he also

Answer 2

raised a number of possibilities that later liberals could develop.

Question 3

A particular possibility that Mill raised, later liberals could develop

Answer 3

Mill’s notion of individuality began to prompt fresh questions about the precise nature of ‘liberty

Question 4

Mill’s notion of individuality began to

Answer 4

prompt fresh questions about the precise nature of ‘liberty’

Question 5

What were some of the questions Mills notion of individuality raised about the precise nature of ‘liberty’?

Answer 5

In order to liberate an individual’s potential, was it really enough just to leave them alone as supporters of negative freedom would argue)?

Was it enough for the state simply to guarantee equal political rights and equality before the law?

Question 6

Answer to the questions Mills notion of individuality raised about the precise nature of ‘liberty?’

Answer 6

The answers to such questions would produce a new and radical interpretation of what liberty involved, one that would lead to a very different form of liberalism. It was one that had a number of distinguishing characteristics.

Question 7

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a number of English philosophers were known as the ..?

Answer 7

‘new liberals’

Question 8

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, what did a number of English philosophers — later known as the ‘new liberals’ — do?

Answer 8

re-examined the core principles of liberalism and reached radical conclusions about liberty, individualism and society

Question 9

Positive freedom

Answer 9

A vital aspect of modern liberalism, this term denotes the belief that individuals left alone are often inhibited rather than
‘free’. Such individuals may need enabling so that they are ‘free’ to exercise their individual talents.

Question 10

Which three ‘new liberals’ were prepared to argue that: modern, advanced societies made a mockery of the idea that individuals were innately autonomous?

Answer 10

T.H. Green (1836-82)
L.T. Hobhouse (1864-1929)
J.A. Hobson (1854-1940)

Question 11

What were T.H. Green (1836-82), L.T. Hobhouse (1864-1929) and J.A. Hobson (1854-1940) prepared to argue?

Answer 11

were prepared to argue that: modern, advanced societies made a mockery of the idea that individuals were innately autonomous.

Question 12

What did T.H. Green (1836-82), L.T. Hobhouse (1864-1929) and J.A. Hobson (1854-1940) argue about the nature of modern economics and society?

Answer 12

The nature of modern economics and society, they argued, meant individuals were increasingly subject to socio-economic forces beyond their control. Such forces would then make it impossible for affected individuals to seek self-determination and self-realisation, even though they might not have caused the socio-economic problems now restricting their liberty.

Question 13

As a result these new liberal T.H. Green (1836-82), L.T. Hobhouse (1864-1929) and J.A. Hobson (1854-1940) argued that ?

Answer 13

As a result these new liberals argued that social justice, as well as legal justice, was now required if individuals were to fulfil their potential.

Question 14

What did the notion of new liberals arguing that social justice, as well as legal justice, was now required if individuals were to fulfil their potential lead to?

Answer 14

This led Green and others to revise the meaning of liberty, so as to make it a less ‘negative’ concept. In other words, instead of freedom being seen merely as the absence of restraint, it would now be interpreted as something more cooperative and altruistic, namely some individuals enabling or empowering other individuals.

Question 15

Green and others new approach to revise the meaning of lie thy go make it a far less negative concept allowed what?

Answer 15

This approach - helping others to help themselves — would then allow certain individuals to act in a way that would have been impossible had they simply been left alone: a concept that became known as positive freedom.

Question 16

The new liberals thus asserted that individuals had to be

Answer 16

enabled in order for them to be free from socio-economic problems (such as poor health care, unemployment or a lack of education) and for social justice to be secured.

Question 17

The new liberals thus asserted that individuals had to be enabled in order for them to be free from socio-economic problems but this raised…?

Answer 17

But this raised an obvious question: how might this ‘enabling’ take place? This leads to the second feature of modern liberalism.

Question 18

Earlier in the chapter, classical liberalism was strongly associated with the idea of what type of government ?

Answer 18

As we saw earlier in the chapter, classical liberalism was strongly associated with the idea minimal government — one that was closely linked to a belief in ‘negative’ liberty.

Question 19

By contrast to CL, modern liberalism had no qualms about

Answer 19

claiming that only a larger state could repel the new, socio-economic threats to freedom and individualism.

Question 20

Modern liberals like who found themselves justifying a substantial extension of the state

Answer 20

John Rawls (1921-2002)

Question 21

What did modern liberals like John Rawls (1921-2002) found themselves justifying ?

Answer 21

a substantial extension of the state in the name of individual liberty: more laws, more state spending, more taxation and more state bureaucracy. In short, this brand of liberalism became strongly linked to collectivism

Question 22

Modern liberals like John Rawls found themselves justifying a substantial extension of the state in the name of individual liberty what did this brand of liberalism become strongly linked to?

Answer 22

this brand of liberalism became strongly linked to collectivism

Question 23

What does substantial extension of the state in the name of individual liberty look like?

Answer 23

More laws
More state spending
More taxation
More station bureaucracy

Question 24

Bureaucracy

Answer 24

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives

Question 25

Enabling state

Answer 25

Linked to the notion of positive liberty, an enabling state was one that extended its activities so as to ‘liberate’ individuals from restrictive social and economic problems, thus ‘enabling’ them to fulfil their potential.

Question 26

Having embraced collectivism, modern liberalism faced the charge

Answer 26

that it had betrayed the fundamental principles of classical liberalism and had seriously blurred the distinction between liberalism and socialism.

Question 27

From who did modern liberalism faced the charge that it had betrayed the fundamental principles of classical liberalism ?

Answer 27

from liberal critics like Friedrich von Hayek

Question 28

Later modern liberals, notably John Rawls, resisted such a suggestion, of modern liberal betraying fundamental principals of CL arguing

Answer 28

arguing that only an enlarged state could guarantee the equality of opportunity necessary to enable individual freedom.

Question 29

Later modern liberals resisted such a suggestion, of modern liberal betraying fundamental principals of CL such as?

Answer 29

John Rawls

Question 30

Rawls insisted that while an enlarged state would require some individuals to

Answer 30

sacrifice more of their earnings to the state in the form of progressive taxation, those same individuals could still be persuaded that this was a good and necessary thing.

Question 31

Why did Rawls argue the enabling state was perfectly consistent with the liberal principle of government by consent?

Answer 31

Rawls insisted while an enlarged state would require some individuals to sacrifice more of their earnings to the state in the form of progressive taxation, those same individuals could still be persuaded that this was a good and necessary thing

Question 32

What did Rawls argue about the enabling state ?

Answer 32

the enabling state was perfectly consistent with the liberal principle of government by consent.

Question 33

How did modern liberals wish to improve the lot of society’s least fortunate ?

Answer 33

Via extensive intervention

Question 34

Rawls also pointed out that, while modern liberalism wished to improve the lot of society’s least fortunate

Answer 34

(via extensive state intervention), it remained indifferent to inequality of outcome.

Question 35

For modern liberals, the inevitable side effect of individual freedom and was

Answer 35

the key difference with socialism

Question 36

What was the priority according to Rawls

Answer 36

The priority, Rawls insisted, was to ameliorate the social and economic condition of society’s most deprived members and thus enable them to exploit their individual potential and achieve control of their lives.

Question 37

As long the social and economic condition of society’s most deprived members was ameliorated , Rawls contested…?

Answer 37

The gap between society’s poorest and most prosperous elements was of secondary concern (a claim most socialists would vigorously refute).

Question 38

The third feature of modern liberalism has been a passion for ongoing,

Answer 38

constitutional change

Question 39

Why is the third feature of modern liberalism a passion for constitutional change ?

Answer 39

precisely because it has sought to extend the state, modern liberalism has also been keen to reform it.

Question 40

Who made an infamous quote about conditional change the 3rd feature of modern liberalism ?

Answer 40

Hobhouse

Question 41

Hobhouse made an infamous quote about conditional change the 3rd feature of modern liberalism which was ..

Answer 41

‘If the state is to be enlarged, it must also be improved’

Question 42

Why has modern liberalism been associated with ongoing constitutional reform?

Answer 42

To secure the principle of government by consent, modern liberalism advocates for ongoing constitutional reform to ensure this key liberal principle is continually updated.

Question 43

In the UK, such liberal demands for reform have included

Answer 43

a written or codified constitution, devolution of power from central government to regional government, electoral reform (especially proportional representation), and a more accountable House of Lords.

Question 44

What has been the most important facet of modern liberalism’s interest in constitutional reform?

Answer 44

Its support for liberal democracy, specifically completing the link between core liberal values and universal adult suffrage.

Question 45

Which UK political figure oversaw the enfranchisement of most women and nearly all men in 1918?

Answer 45

A Liberal prime minister.

Question 46

What significant change regarding voting rights occurred in the UK in 1918?

Answer 46

The enfranchisement of most women and nearly all men, irrespective of property ownership

Question 47

Since 1945, what voting-related changes have UK liberals championed?

Answer 47

Lowering the voting age, first to 18 in 1969, and more recently to 16.

Question 48

When was the voting age in the UK lowered to 18?

Answer 48

In 1969

Question 49

What recent voting age change have UK liberals supported?

Answer 49

Lowering the voting age to 16.

Question 50

Is modern liberalism’s enthusiasm for democracy unqualified?

Answer 50

No, it is not unqualified; modern liberalism has shown reservations, particularly regarding direct democracy.

Question 51

Why does modern liberalism show little interest in direct democracy?

Answer 51

It fears that referendums and initiatives could lead to the “tyranny of the majority.”

Question 52

How has modern liberalism been willing to dilute representative democracy?

Answer 52

By supporting measures like the UK’s Human Rights Act, which transferred powers from elected representatives to unelected judges, to protect liberal values.

Question 53

What is an example of modern liberals’ support for supranational bodies?

Answer 53

Their widespread enthusiasm for the European Union (EU).

Question 54

How do ‘Eurosceptics’ often depict the European Union (EU)?

Answer 54

As a vehicle for liberal bureaucrats afraid of democracy, allowing them to advance liberal initiatives without being accountable to voters.

Question 55

What was the liberal response to the UK’s 2016 EU referendum result?

Answer 55

Many modern liberals viewed the referendum result as an example of “the tyranny of the majority” and a vindication of Mill’s argument that vital decisions should be left to a more liberally-minded parliament.

Question 56

What percentage of voters wished to ‘remain’ in the UK’s 2016 EU referendum?

Answer 56

48% of voters wished to ‘remain.’

Question 57

What liberal value did modern liberals believe the UK’s Human Rights Act protected?

Answer 57

The protection of liberal values, by transferring certain powers to unelected judges.

Question 58

Social liberalism

Answer 58

This represents an updated version of the historic liberal belief in tolerance.
It involves legislation that may criminalise actions that discriminate against individuals on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and religious persuasion.

Question 59

Social liberalism

Answer 59

This represents an updated version of the historic liberal belief in tolerance.
It involves legislation that may criminalise actions that discriminate against individuals on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and religious persuasion.

Question 60

What is the final aspect of modern liberalism?

Answer 60

Its attempt to update classical liberalism’s emphasis on tolerance, especially the tolerance of minorities, known as social liberalism.

Question 61

When did modern liberalism become strongly linked with calls for greater racial and sexual toleration?

Answer 61

From the mid-twentieth century onwards.

Question 62

When did modern liberalism become strongly linked with calls for greater racial and sexual toleration?

Answer 62

From the mid-twentieth century onwards.

Question 63

Which key thinker is associated with modern liberalism’s emphasis on racial and sexual toleration?

Answer 63

Betty Friedan.

Question 64

What did Betty Friedan argue about western society?

Answer 64

She argued that too many individuals were held back due to innate factors such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and physical disability.

Question 65

What solutions did modern liberals like Friedan propose for addressing discrimination?

Answer 65

They proposed further legislation, state regulation, and sometimes ‘positive discrimination’ or ‘affirmative action.’

Question 66

What is ‘positive discrimination’ and where is it known as ‘affirmative action’?

Answer 66

Positive discrimination involves favoring individuals from historically discriminated groups to correct an imbalance; it is known as ‘affirmative action’ in the USA.

Question 67

What was the purpose of positive discrimination according to modern liberals?

Answer 67

To secure greater equality of opportunity by correcting historical imbalances.

Question 68

With what initiatives did modern liberalism become associated from the 1960s onwards?

Answer 68

Initiatives like President Kennedy’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and affirmative action.

Question 69

What was the purpose of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) established by President Kennedy?

Answer 69

To require those managing state-financed projects to take affirmative action in hiring employees from racial minorities.

Question 70

Which key pieces of legislation in the UK did modern liberals support to combat discrimination?

Answer 70

The Race Relations Act 1976 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Question 71

What forms of discrimination were targeted by the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 in the UK?

Answer 71

Negative discrimination against ethnic minorities and women, respectively.

Question 72

How did Betty Friedan justify reforms like criminalizing sexual discrimination within the liberal tradition?

Answer 72

By citing Mill’s ‘harm principle,’ stating these laws were meant to prevent the freedoms of female individuals from being harmed by others.

Question 73

How did Betty Friedan justify reforms like criminalizing sexual discrimination within the liberal tradition?

Answer 73

By citing Mill’s ‘harm principle,’ stating these laws were meant to prevent the freedoms of female individuals from being harmed by others.

Question 74

How did modern liberalism reconcile the support for an enlarged state with the liberal tradition, according to Betty Friedan?

Answer 74

By arguing that interventionist agencies like the EEOC were consistent with the liberal state’s original aim of protecting and advancing natural rights.