1.6 - Liberalism

Core Ideas and Principles

Individualism

Liberals believe individuals have rights that should be respected and protected

Liberals believe individuals are capable of making their own decisions and taking responsibility for their actions

Liberals believe people should be free to follow their own beliefs without unecessary state interference

Key thinkers are John Locke and Mary Wollstonecraft

• All liberals believe individual freedom must be protected

• Classic Liberals emphasise minimal interference whereas Modern Liberals support state interference to support individuals

Freedom and Liberty

Individuals should be free to make their own decisions as long as they don’t harm others

John Stuart Mill believes in the Harm Principle - defends individual freedom unless behaviour harms others

Limited Government

Liberals support a limited government with checks to prevent tyranny:

• the main purpose of the state is to protect individual rights

• the state only exists due to the consent of the governed, expressed through democratic participation

All liberals agree that the main role of the state should be to protect individual rights

Classic Liberals argue for a minimal state whilst Modern Liberals support an enabling of state to ensure equality of opportunity

Rationalism

Liberals believe humans are rational, capable of reasoning and making informed decisions → Rationalism supports freedom

John Locke challenged traditional authority such as the monarchy

Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women are rational and should have equal rights

All liberals agree humans are rational which justifies the need for freedom and rights

Classic Liberals believe rational individuals can thrive with minimal help whilst Modern Liberals argue rationality requires some state support to ensure fair opportunities

Equality and Social Justice

Liberals support formal equality meaning all individuals have the same legal rights

They also belive in equality of opportunity, allowing individuals the chance to develop

John Rawls has the ‘theory of justice’ as he argued for state-led redistribution to improve opportunities

Betty Friedan argued for perosnal and professional gender equality, changing societal attitudes towards women

foundational equality - everyone is born equal in rights

formal equality - laws must protect everyone equally

social justice - the state should remove barriers that prevent individuals reaching their potential

All Liberals support equality under the law

Classic Liberals emphasise formal equality whilst Modern Liberals want the state to play a role in achieving social justice

Liberal Democracy

combines democratic participation with liberal values

features include:

• free and fair elections

• government accountability

• constitutionalism

• protected rights

• political tolerance

Liberal democracy protects freedom and ensures power is limited

However, democracy can risk tyranny of the majority where popular opinion undermines individual rights

John Locke argued for the social contract and government by consent

Mary Wollstonecraft argued for women’s equal rights for political participation

All Liberals agree democracy is necessary to secure liberty and rights

Classic Liberals emphasise meritocratic democracy whilst Modern Liberals emphasise democratic systems that promote equality of opportunity

Differing Views and Tensions

Classic Liberalism

supports a limited nightwatchman state

• govt. should protect rights and maintain law and order rather than interfere in day to day life

supports negative liberty

• individuals should be free from state interference as long as they dont harm others

supports formal equality

• everyone is born with equal rights and should be treated equally

supports meritocracy

• individuals succeed based on talent, effort and responsibility rather than birth/class

supports free-market economy

• minimal state regulation as economic freedom supports prosperity

classic liberalism influenced the creation of the U.S

many ideas shaping the American Revolution and political system came from key thinkers like Locke

Modern Liberalism

freedom is understood as freedom to achieve one’s potential, often requiring state support to overcome social economic barriers

supports positive liberty

promotes social justice

• state should provide welfare, education and anti discrimination measure to ensure people can develop their abilities

believe in an enabling state

• state takes the role of ensuring equality of opportunity so all individuals can flourish

Liberal Thinkers & Their Ideas

John Locke:

• Natural rights: life, liberty, property (exist before government)

• Government’s role = protect rights, not grant them

• Social contract: power comes from consent of the governed

• Right to revolt if rights aren’t protected

• Supports limited government, rule of law, separation of powers

Mary Wollstonecraft:

• Women are rational → deserve equal rights

• Supports formal equality (education, work, politics)

• Critiques patriarchy & domestic roles

• Calls for legal + social reform

• Foundation of feminist liberalism

John Stuart Mill:

• Harm principle: freedom unless harming others

• Strong defence of individual liberty

• Supports freedom of speech & tolerance

• Believes liberty → progress & self-development

• Links classical → modern liberalism

John Rawls:

• Equal liberty principle: basic rights for all

• Difference principle: inequality only if it helps the least advantaged

• Veil of ignorance → knowledge of ones gender, race, age etc. which forces decisions that are fair and unbiased

• Supports redistribution + equality of opportunity

• Key thinker in modern liberalism

• State should provide education, welfare and healthcare

Betty Friedan:

• Critiques domestic confinement of women

• “Problem with no name” = female dissatisfaction

• Freedom needs state support (childcare, jobs, education)

• Supports positive liberty + enabling state