LIBERALISM

main content + edexel exam questions

John Locke

human nature: rational, guided by self-interest but mindful of others concern

state: representative, based on the consent of the government

society: predates the state: ‘natural’ societies with natural laws and natural rights.

economy: state policy should respect the ‘natural right’ to private property and arbitrate effective between individual competing for trade and resources

Mary Wollstonecraft

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

state: monarchical state should be replaced by a republic - enshrines women’s rights

society: existing society ‘infantilises’ women and thus stifles female individualism.

economy: a free market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women

John Stuart Mill

Human nature: it is not fixed, forever progressing to a higher level

state: proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights

society:;individuality’ co-exists with tolerance and self-betterment.

economy: laissez-faire capitalism is vital to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative.

John Rawls

human nature: selfish yet empathetic - valuing both individual liberty and plight of others

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

society: society would choose which allows unequal outcomes, but where the conditions of the poorest improves.

economy: free-market capitalism should be tempered by the states obligation to advance its poorest citizens.

Thomas Hill Green

human nature: guided mainly by reason, but reason is increasingly affected by social and economic circumstances.

state: actively eliminate social and economic obstacles to individual liberty.

society: altered by industrialisation which in turn requires a reappraisal of ‘freedom’

economy: free market is most conductive to individualism, can threaten equality of opportunity

Betty Friedman

human nature: evolved in a way that discourages self-advancement among women.

state: legislate to prevent continued discrimination against women

society: remains chauvinistic towards women - women are complicit in their repression

economy: free market capitalism could be an ally of female emancipation if allied to legislation precluding discrimination

core view of human nature

• egoistical

• rational

• progressive

• optimistic

core view of society

• the natural society - peaceful, voluntary action of multiple individuals

• individualistic society - maximum number of individuals can pursue self realisation.

• tolerant society

core view of economy

• defence on private property

• defence of capitalism and inequality

core view of the state

foundations

• rejection to anarchism - best to be served by the state

• rejection of traditional/pre enlightenment states

• the contractual state - social contract

objectives

• promotion of natural rights

• equal opportunities, unequal outcomes

• promotion of tolerance

structure and mechanisms

• a constitutional -limited- state

• fragmented state

• representative

• meteoritic

• democratic

• judicial supremacy

classical liberal

• john Locke, Mary Wollstonecraft and john Stuart mill

• revolutionary - potentially violent

• negative liberty - individuals being left alone to determine their own destiny

• minimal government

• laissez-faire capitalism

• ambivalent about democracy

modern liberalism

• T.H Green, betty Friendan and john Rawls

• positive liberty - enabling others to seek self realisation, fulfilment, rationalisation.

• enabling state - larger state

• Keynesian capitalism'

• liberal democracy

• social liberalism - tolerance, end of discrimination

to what extent is liberalism divided over its approach to the economy? AO1

AO1

agreement

• both united in their support of a free market economy endorsing competition in business and commence

• both support private property + large scale ownership is unproductive

• both agree economy should be designed to enhance individual freedom.

disagreement

• both disagree how much freedom a free market should enjoy

• both disagree over the size and role of the state in economy

• modern lib departs by having a positive view of the role of welfare in economy.

to what extent is liberalism divided over its approach to the economy? AO2+AO3

agreement

• both believe in the productive energy of a free market as the main driver of economy and the best economic model to ensure prosperity and growth. Nothing drives the economy as much as a free market. (AO2) Thus Liberals agree about the free market economy (AO3)

• both would agree that private property should form the basis of the economy and agree that the state should not have widescale involvement in ownership of industry (Locke). State ownership undermines the free market. (AO2) Thus Liberals agree about the limited role of the state in the economy. (AO3)

• All liberals support providing the maximum freedom to the individual via the economy, believing that the individual is the motor which powers the economy. Individual entrepreneurs create wealth which powers economic growth. (AO2) Liberals are therefore in agreement over the economic power of the individual (AO3)

disagreement

• Classical Liberals believe that the free market should be unfettered by the state arguing that this undermined the “invisible hand” of demand and supply. Whereas Modern liberals recognise the need for restrictions and regulations on the free market to support vulnerable workers. (AO2) Thus it is clear that there are key differences within liberals about the extent of the free market. (AO3)

• Classical Liberals seek a minimal state in the economy based on their views of egoistical individualism whereas modern liberals reject this and support an enabling state based on their view of developmental individualism. (Rawls) (AO2) Thus it is clear that there are differences within Liberalism over the size and role of the state.

• Modern liberals again depart from classical liberals over the provision of welfare. Classical liberals believe that individuals should be self-sufficient and self-reliant based. They recognise freedom in its negative sense – that individual should be left alone. Moreover they reject the notion that individuals should have to pay high taxes to provide welfare. Whereas modern liberals believe that welfare can support individuals to become free – positive freedom – to create a genuine meritocracy. (Rawls). Free individuals are able to develop their skills and talents and fulfil their potential, maximising freedom for all. (AO2) Thus it is clear that modern and classical liberals have significantly different views on welfare. (AO3)

to what extent does liberalism have a fear of the state? AO1

agreement

• both suspicious of the state, a ‘ necessary evil’. believe should maintain order, protect property and defend against external attacks - keen to see limits on state power

• both fear power of state as a restriction of freedom of individual ad personal liberty, supporting harm principle

• both fear state and believe its function should be limited by a social contract to project rights and liberties

disagreement

• modern libs began to revaluate classical view on the role of state and is advanced by Rawls.

• modern libs advocate for enabling state rejecting classical minimal state

• fear the state to different degrees

to what extent does liberalism have a fear of the state? AO2+AO3

agreement

• The state is a necessary evil as it can limit individual choice and personal autonomy. John Locke’s view of the state had limits and the state had to be bound by contractual obligations. (AO2) We can conclude that liberals base their fear of the state on the assumption that the state could be corrupted and corrupting if unlimited (AO3)

• Due to their fear of the state, Liberals have a mechanistic theory of the state, where the state must exist to benefit the people, not vice versa, and authority for the state comes from below. This is because Liberals fear that the unchecked power of a state can undermine freedom of the individual (JSMill). (AO2) We can conclude that all Liberals fear an unchecked state. (AO3)

• All Liberals accept the limits to the state based on Social Contract theory which requires individuals to give up the state authority over them in return for being protected from harm. Legitimate government can only be established by the consent of those governed (AO2) This shows liberalism’s clear position of fear of the state. (AO3

disagreement

• Modern and Classical Liberals fear the state to different degrees and subsequently disagree over the extent of the role of the state. Modern Liberals came to see the state less as a threat to individual liberty but more as its guarantor (Rawls) (AO2), Thus we can see that there are clear differences in the extent Liberals fear the state (AO3)

• Modern and Classical Liberals fear the state to different degrees shown by the fact that Classical Liberals believe in a minimal state and modern liberals believe in an enabling state. These differences are due to their respective views on individualism and freedom, with classical liberals believing in egoistical individualism and negative freedom and modern liberals believing in developmental individualism and positive freedom liberty (Rawls, Friedan). (AO2) Thus we can see that Modern and classical Liberals fear the state in different ways. (AO3)

• Classical Liberals believe in a free market, laissez faire economy with a minimal welfare and role for the state whereas Modern liberals support a Keynesian approach alongside a welfare state, (Rawls) which means a larger role for the state in the economy. (AO2) This shows a differing level of fear of state involvement.(AO3)