To what extent are liberals united in their views on the state

Introduction

Paragraph Focus

• Paragraph 1 = Size of State

• Paragraph 2 = Representation

• Paragraph 3 = Economy

Para 1 = Disagreement - Classical

• classical liberals argue for a minimal state

• thinkers such as Locke believe that if the state was unlimited, then it would abuse its power and force people to do things against their will, threatening their individual liberty

• therefore, there should be a government however it should be limited in its powers eg. maintaining law and order

Para 1 = Disagreement - Modern

• modern liberals disagree and argue for an enabling state

• thinkers such as Rawls believe the idea of a perfect state should be drawn from the veil of ignorance - he argued that this meant you would choose a state with as little inequality as possible

• if there was a smaller state, not everyone would achieve individual liberty due to societal disparities

• therefore, the state should intervene to ensure equality of opportunity to allow people to be truly liberated eg. through providing welfare or provide education

Para 2 = Agreement - Classical

• classical liberals believe that all people should have consent over how they are governed

• they argue that all individuals are born with natural rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

• thinkers such as Locke proposed that governments are formed through a social contract in which individuals collectively agree to establish authority in order to secure their natural rights

• this means that the state should exists to serve the population, and its authority depends on continuing public consent rather than unlimited rule

Para 2 = Agreement - Modern

• modern liberals agree and argue that all people should have consent over how they are governed

• they believe that the state can maintain stable liberal societies despite deep, moral, religious and philosophical disagreement

• thinkers such as Rawls believe that political principles should be justified through shared public reason rather than comprehensive moral doctrines

• this allows pluralism to coexist with democratic legitimacy and social cooperation

Para 3 = Disagreement - Classical

• Modern Liberals such as Rawls think that the state should spend to remove inequalities as Rawls argues that people would design a fairer economy if they were behind the veil of ignorance.

• This would mean that the state should engage in Keynesian economics, spending when there is a recession and redistributing wealth to the poorer.

Para 3 = Disagreement - Modern

• However, Classical Liberals strongly oppose this.

• They state that the state should stay out of the economic sphere and promote laissez faire economics instead.

• This is because if the state has too much power to decide things, individuals’ freedom is taken away.