The State Flashcards
1
Q
Basic ideas
A
- Locke and Hobbes both argued that the ‘State of Nature’ (before any laws were imposed) would see individuals clash as they followed their own interests.
- The state as they envisioned would act like a referee between individuals.
- It would also have ideas of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as demonstrated but the creation of liberal states in England, America and France.
2
Q
State objectives
A
- rejection of ‘the traditional’ state
- against power being concentrated in the hands of a monarch or autocrat. Dismissed ideas of ‘divine rule’ or exercise of any power not based on reason.
- Government by consent.
- government by the people rather than of the people. There should be a social contract people will obey the law as long as the government upholds their rights.
3
Q
Liberal state promotes
A
- individualism - state should not restrict rights but promote and protect them.
- tolerance - all actions that do not harm the rights and freedom of others in society should be tolerated (harm principle - Mill). More recently focus has been on the tolerance of minorities.
- meritocracy - position of power based on merit not birth.
- equality of opportunity - everyone is born equal and should have equal opportunity to develop.
- justice - treat everyone fairly without bias.
4
Q
Structures of government
A
- constitutional/ limited government
No autocracy, there are checks and balances on political power. Government has rules imposed on it and people’s rights are protected from it. - fragmented government
Power split - executive, legislature, judiciary and split over levels. - Formal equality
Everyone has the same legal and political rights no matter their gender, race, religion or sexuality.
5
Q
Big or small state?
A
- classical - small
- modern liberalism - larger
Economic role - Keynesianism
Welfare state - beveridge
Redistribution of wealth - John Rawls
Social liberalism - affirmative action, legislation to promote disadvantaged groups. - Neo-liberal - small
