CORE POLITICAL IDEAS - thinkers and their views - liberalism, socialism and conservatism

Liberalism: John Locke - human nature

human beings are rational, guided by the pursuit of self-interest, but mindful of others’ concerns

Liberalism: Mary Wollstonecraft - human nature

rationalism defines both genders, intellectually, men and women are not very different.

Liberalism: John Stuart Mill - human nature

though fundamentally rational, human nature is not fixed: it is forever progressing to a higher level.

Liberalism: john Rawls - human nature

Mankind is selfish, yet empathetic. they value both individual liberty and the plight of those around them.

Liberalism: Betty Friedan - human nature

Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self-advancement among women.

Liberalism: John Locke - the state

The state must be representative, based on the consent of the governed.

Liberalism: Mary Wollstonecraft - the state

The monarchical state should be replaced by a republic which enshrines women's rights

Liberalism: John Stuart Mill - the state

The state should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights.

Liberalism: john Rawls - the state

The state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance, via public spending and public services.

Liberalism: Betty Friedan - the state

The state should legislate to prevent continued discrimination against female individuals.

Liberalism: John Locke - society

Society predates the state: there were 'natural' societies with natural laws and natural rights.

Liberalism: Mary Wollstonecraft - society

Society 'infantilised' women and thus stifled female individualism.

Liberalism: john Stuart-mill - society

The best society was one where individuality' co-existed with tolerance and self- improvement.

Liberalism: john Rawls - society

The society most individuals would choose would be one where the condition of the poorest improved.

Liberalism: Betty Friedan - society

Society remained chauvinistic towards women were women, though complicit in their repression.

Liberalism: John Locke - the economy

State policy should respect the 'natural right to private property and arbitrate effectively between individuals competing for trade and resources

Liberalism: Mary Wollstonecraft - the economy

A free-market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women.

Liberalism: john Stuart-mill - the economy

Laissez-faire capitalism was vital to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative.

Liberalism: john Rawls - the economy

Free-market capitalism should be tempered by the state's obligation to advance its poorest citizens.

Liberalism: Betty Friedan - the economy

Free-market capitalism could be an ally of female emancipation if allied to legislation precluding sexual discrimination.

socialism: Marx and Engels - human nature

Human nature, which is originally fraternal and altruistic, has been contaminated by capitalism, ingraining the 'false consciousness' of bourgeois values. Revolutionary socialism, however, will repair this.

socialism: Rosa Luxembourg - human nature

Human nature has not been damaged to the extent Marx alleged. Fraternity and altruism still flourish in working- class communities punished by capitalist economics.

socialism: Marx and Engels - The state

The existing liberal- bourgeois state is a tool of the dominant capitalist class; it must be destroyed by revolution and replaced by a new socialist state: the dictatorship of the proletariat.

socialism: Rosa Luxembourg - the state

The existing capitalist state must be destroyed by revolution, but one arising from strike action. The replacement state should be a genuine democracy, complete with free speech and free elections.

socialism: Marx and Engels - Society

Capitalist society is sickeningly, yet fatally, defined by class interests and class conflict. A communist society will be the perfect 'end of history'.

socialism: Rosa Luxembourg - society

Capitalist society is class-ridden and morally indefensible, yet alternative societies, or sub- cultures, exist within downtrodden proletarian communities.

socialism: Marx and Engels - the economy

Capitalism is corrupt, inefficient and ultimately self-destructive. It should-and will -be replaced by a economy based on collective ownership

socialism: Rosa Luxembourg - the economy

Capitalism is more resilient than Marx allowed. It’s necessary destruction and replacement by an economy based on workers’ control will require determination and solidarity among the proletariat.

socialism: Beatrice Webb - human nature

The damage inflicted by capitalism upon the human psyche will be compounded only by violent revolution. Humanity needs to be guided back, gradually, to its original, cooperative condition.

socialism: Beatrice Webb - the state

If harnessed to universal suffrage. The existing, state could be used to effect a gradual transition to socialism

socialism: Beatrice Webb - Society

The poverty and inequalities of a capitalist society continue to depress human potential while fostering regressive competition.

socialism: Beatrice Webb - Economy

a chaotic capitalist economy will be replaced by one which secures the full fruits of the workers’ labour, based upon a common ownership of the means of production.

Socialism: Anthony Crosland - human nature

Human nature has a powerful sense of 'fairness' and an innate objection to huge inequalities of outcome.

Socialism: Anthony Crosland - the state

Democratic socialist governments (for example, Labour 1945-1951) prove that the existing state can be used to effect radical, socialist change.

Socialism: Anthony Crosland - society

Society is increasingly complicated, altered by the emergence of new social groups comprising meritocratic managers and ‘classless' technocrats.

Socialism: Anthony Crosland - economy

A mixed economy, underpinned by limited public ownership and Keynesian capitalism, will finance the greater public spending, necessary to secure equality.

socialism: Anthony Giddens - human nature

socialism: Anthony Giddens - human nature

socialism: Anthony Giddens - the state

The existing liberal state should be improved, redistributing and decentralising political power while encouraging greater political participation.

socialism: Anthony Giddens - society

Society has undergone embourgeoisement - egalitarians must harness, rather than deny, these forces.

socialism: Anthony Giddens - economy

A neo-liberal economy, propelled by privatisation and deregulation, will provide huge tax yields. This will finance huge increases in public spending which will secure greater equality of opportunity.

conservatism: thomas hobbes - human nature

human nature is cynical: individuals are selfish, driven by a restless and ruthless desire for supremacy and security.

conservatism: thomas hobbes - the state

the state arises contractually from individuals who seek order and security. To serve it’s purpose, the state must be autocratic.

conservatism: thomas hobbes - society

there can be no society until the creation of a state brings order and authority to human affairs. until then, life is nasty, brutish and short.

conservatism: thomas hobbes - economy

constructive and enduring economic activity is impossible without a state guaranteeing order and security.

conservatism: edmund burke -human nature

human nature is sceptical: the crooked timber of human nature is marked by a gap between aspiration and achievement, we may conceive of perfection but we are unable to achieve it.

conservatism: edmund burke - the state

the state arises organically and should be aristocratic, driven by a hereditary elite, reared to rule in the interests of all.

conservatism: edmund burke - society

society is organic and multi-faceted, comprising a host of small communities and organisations (little platoons.)

conservatism: edmund burke - economy

trade should involve organic free-markets and laissez-faire capitlaism.

conservatism: Michael Oakeshott - human nature

human nature is modest: humanity is at it’s best when free from grand designs and when focused on the routines of everyday life.

conservatism: Michael Oakeshott - the state

the state should be guided by tradition and practical concerns. pragmatism, not dogmatism, should be it’s watchword.

conservatism: Michael Oakeshott - society

localised communities are essential to humanity’s survival, especially when guided by short-term requirements rather than abstract ideas.

conservatism: Michael Oakeshott - economy

free-markets are volatile and unpredictable and may require pragmatic moderation by the state.

conservatism: Ayn Rand - human nature

human nature is objectivist. we are guided by rational self-interest and the pursuit of fufilment.

conservatism: Ayn Rand - the state

the state should confine itself to law, order and national security. any attempt to promote “positive liberty” via state intervention should be resisted.

conservatism: Ayn Rand - society

society is atomistic, the mere sum total of it’s individuals. any attempt to restrict individuals in the name of society should be challenged.

conservatism: Ayn Rand - economy

free-market capitalism is an expression of objectivist individualism and should not be hindered by the state.

conservatism: robert nozick - human nature

human nature is egotistical. individuals are driven by a quest for “self-ownership,” allowing them to realise their full potential.

conservatism: robert nozick - the state

the minarchist state should merely outsource, renew and reallocate contracts to private companies providing public services. Limited and minimal state.

conservatism: robert nozick - society

society should be geared to individual self-fulfilment. This may lead to a plethora of small, variable communities reflecting their members diverse tastes and philosophies.

conservatism: robert nozick - economy

the minarchist state should detach itself from a privatised and regulated economy, merely mediating disputes between private economic organisations.

Fundamentalist socialism

capitalism must be abolished, but thinkers differ on the ways this must be done (whether through revolution or democratically.) belief in the inevitability of gradual change. thinkers are Marx, Luxembourg and Webb.

revisionist socialism

socialism can be achieved without the destruction of capitalism and can be achieved without revolution. involves the belief of social democracy and Keynesian economics where we must manage market forces under capitalism. thinkers are Crosland and Giddens.

revolutionary socialism

the belief that revolution is inevitable and desirable. Revolution is necessary to destroy capitalism for a socialist state to emerge. thinkers are Marx and Luxembourg.

socialism - the third way

a type of neo-liberal economics. under capitalism, greater economic growth linked with increasing unequal outcomes but can use tax revenues for public spending.

evolutionary socialism

revolution is unpredictable, chaotic, and counter-productive. it is inevitable that socialist governments will be elected. actions of these socialist governments will benefit everyone, and therefore these governments will be re-elected. there will be gradual progress towards socialism. thinkers include Webb, Crosland, and Giddens. (C and G don’t see the need to get rid of capitalism, so no need for revolution.)

traditional conservatism

reaction to radical change during English civil war and French revolution. emphasis on order, hierarchy and laissez-faire economics. thinkers are Hobbes, Oakeshott and Burke.

One nation conservatism

Emphasis on national unity and social reform. the belief against revolutionary change. thinker - Disraeli.

new right conservatism

socially conservative. economically liberal. emphasis on free market economics, privatisation and social discipline. thinkers are Rand and Nozick.

Classical liberalism

early liberals who believed that individual freedom would best be achieved with the state playing a minimal role. thinkers include locke, mill, Wollstonecraft

Modern Liberalism

emerged as a reaction against free-market capitalism, believing this had led to many individuals not being free. Freedom could no longer simply be defined as ‘being left alone’. thinkers are Rawls and Friedan