Responses to Classical Liberalism Notes

Dominant political theory in the 19th century
Strong beliefs include:
- Individual Liberty: Emphasis on personal freedom and autonomy.
- Private Property: Protected as a fundamental right.
- Government Interference: Preference for minimal state intervention in personal affairs.
Support for:
- Parliamentary Government
- Self-Interest: Individuals acting in their own interests benefits society as a whole.
- Only property owners and literate individuals were allowed to vote during the Industrial Revolution.
Advocacy for Capitalism: belief that capitalism leads to prosperity.

Position on Government Role:
- Government should allow a capitalist, free market economy.
- Focus on individual happiness through market participation.
Support for:
- Industrialism and technological advancements as positive;
- Opposing Socialism and Communism due to their collectivist nature.

What he believed in:

✨ Individual freedom: People should be free to do what they want as long as they don’t harm others.
🗣 Free speech: Even unpopular opinions should be allowed, because debate helps society find truth.
🌱 Harm principle: The only reason the government should limit someone’s freedom is to prevent harm to others.
🎀 Equality: Supported women’s rights and believed men and women should have equal opportunities.
📈 Utilitarianism: Actions are good if they create the most happiness for the most people.

Core Concepts:
- Resources controlled by the public for societal benefit, not individual gain.
- Focus on Economic Equality and Security.
- Emphasis on Cooperation and central control in the economy.

🌸 Utopian Socialism
- A belief in creating a perfect, cooperative society through peaceful reform and ideal communities.
- Robert Owen

🔬 Scientific Socialism
- A theory (from Marx) that says socialism will develop through class struggle and historical forces, not idealism.
- Proletariats and the Bourgeoisie
🗳 Democratic Socialism
- A system where socialism is achieved through democratic means, with citizens voting for social programs, equality, and government involvement in the economy.

Elimination of Private Property: Seen as key to achieving true freedom.
Collective Ownership: Preference for democratic socialism as a route to reform.

Background:
- Welsh-born social reformer responding to industrial poverty.
Views:
- Economic distress appeared due to competition between human labor and machines.
- Proposed the creation of small cooperative communities, exemplified by New Harmony (1825).

Societal Changes by 1851:
- Urbanization led to poor and unsanitary living conditions:
- diseases,
- Overcrowding and poor housing,
- Child labor exploitation with harsh working hours.

Defined as a radical form of socialism, also called scientific socialism or communism.
Key Features:
- Many ideas lean towards socialist collectivism, with some leading to extreme forms of socialism.
- Marx argued for a revolution to establish proletariat rule.

Known as the Father of Communism.
Critique of capitalism:
- Saw it as inherently evil during the Industrial Revolution.

Historical Materialism:
- Economics as the primary driver of historical changes.
Class Struggle:
- Society divided into two main classes:
  - Bourgeoisie: Owners of production
  - Proletariat: Working class exploiting labor for wages.
- Bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat, benefiting at their expense.
Surplus Value:
- Bourgeoisie buys products at low prices and sells them at higher prices, profiting from the labor of proletariats.
Inevitability of Socialism:
- Belief that the lower classes will eventually revolt and establish a centrally planned economy.
Classless Society:
- A society where social classes disappear, with all work done for the communal good, leading to communism.

Abolition of private property; centralization of production means like factories and machinery.
Introduction of a command economy: Government makes all economic decisions, owning all means of production.

A British Socialist movement advocating for gradual reform through intellectual persuasion rather than revolution.
Emphasis on Democratic Socialism:
- Changes are implemented via education and influence within government structures.

Wrote Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790):
- Criticized the chaotic and violent nature of the French Revolution.
- Argued that society should be hierarchical and that stability is crucial.

Reactionary ideology to classical liberalism, aimed at restoring previous societal structures.
Key Beliefs of Edmund Burke:
- Acceptance of hierarchy and governance by a limited electorate for societal welfare.