Political ideas - Liberalism - thinkers and themes

strands of liberalism

classical liberalism, modern liberalism, neo-liberalism

main beliefs of classical liberalism

gov by consent so represent the will of the people not be master of the people
humans are rational, extended to women by Wollstonecraft
egotistical individualism
negative freedom
night-watchman state and harm principle
free-market capitalism
e.g. freedom driven

main beliefs of modern liberalism

positive freedom - freedom to
enabling state - welfare state and equality of opportunity
social liberalism - positive discrimination
e.g. liberty and welfare driven to allow for self-determination

main beliefs of neo-liberalism

reapply free-market and night-watchman state
private property and negative freedom are central to freedom and individualism
welfare state is the betrayal of individualism
free trade, free markets and globalisation are the best drivers for economic and social progress
e.g. economically driven

key thinkers of classical liberalism

John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
John Stuart Mill

John Locke

naturally free humans, social contract, constitutionalism, liberty and individualism, fiduciary power

Mary Wollstonecraft

formal gender equality, individualism, right to divorce and protection from domestic violence, republicanism

John Stuart Mill

Bridge between classical and modern liberalism
- negative freedom and harm principle
- potential of individuals and individuality
- criticised hedonism of early classical liberalism
- integrity and self respect of the individual
- self regarding and other regarding actions

fiduciary power

the state holds its power in trust and must act in the interests of and for the benefit of the people, otherwise the social contract is invalid

hedonism

devotion to pleasure as the ultimate good - quantity of pleasure over quality

Is democracy compatible with liberalism? Yes

- democracy enhances individualism. individuals use the vote rationally to shape the world
- democracy through regular, free and fair elections creates gov by consent - traditional liberalism
- democracy restricts concentration of power, places a limit on the state

Is democracy compatible with liberalism? No

- democracy may lead to the 'tyranny of the majority', especially where the people are not educated. universal suffrage should go hand in hand with universal education
- classical liberals wished to restrict the franchise to those with property, JSM suggested giving more voting power to the educated
- representative democracy, rather than direct democracy, dilutes majority rule as the elected representatives make the decisions not the people

key thinkers of modern liberalism

Thomas Hill Green
Betty Friedan
John Rawls

Thomas Hill Green

- freedom should not be understood in a purely negative sense
- freedom of the individual to rise above the narrow concerns of self-interest to contribute to the common good of society by making the best of their unique talents and abilities
- positive freedom can only be achieved by removing hereditary privilege in society and tackling poverty
- state take a more active/positive role in freeing the poor

Betty Friedan - from classical liberal

- the feminine mystique 1963
- argued that the societal idea that women could find satisfaction exclusively in their roles as wife and mother left women feeling miserable and empty 'the problem that has no name'
- role of mother and wife leaves no time for career limiting her development as a human
- women need to be set free by getting a good education and working productively outside the home - marriage, motherhood and a professional career can be achieved by individual effort if there is formal equality

Betty Friedan - to modern liberal

- the second stage 1981
- argued that there needed to be changes to public values, social institutions and leadership styles to allow all people to achieve personal fulfilment
- equality of opportunity - could include state benefits to single, divorced or widowed mothers so they had equal opportunities to compete in the job marketplace

John Rawls

A theory of justice 1971
- foundational equality - everyone should have equal rights and basic liberties
- thought experiment where people construct the society they would like to live in while under the 'veil of ignorance' (don't know race, wealth, sexual orientation etc) - rational individuals choose a more socially and economically equal society
- enabling state
- distributive justice

neo-liberal thinkers and politicians

Friedrich Hayek
Milton Friedman
- Thatcher and Reagan

john locke - human nature

Human Beings are rational, guided by the pursuit of self-interest, but mindful of others' concerns

john locke - the state

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

john locke - society

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

john locke - the economy

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

mary wollstonecraft - human nature

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

mary wollstonecraft - the state

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

mary wollstonecraft - society

Society 'infantilised' women and thus stifled female individualism

mary wollstonecraft - the economy

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

john stuart mill - human nature

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

john stuart mill - the state

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

john stuart mill - society

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

john stuart mill - the economy

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

john rawls - human nature

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

john rawls - the state

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

john rawls - society

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

john rawls - the economy

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

betty friedan - human nature

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

betty friedan - the state

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

betty friedan - society

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

betty friedan - the economy

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