This is a detailed summary of the ideology of liberalism. This is perfect for anyone struggling to understand modern and classical liberalism as taught for the Pearson Edexcel Government and Politics A Level course.
Liberalism
Key thinkers
John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
John Stuart Mill
John Rawls
Betty Friedan
Core ideas
Liberal thinking is focused on the nature and role of the state and organisation of government power
in relation to the individual. So, the core ideas that Liberalism says are central to a good society/life:
o Individualism – individual is important/self-expression/choice/responsibility
o Freedom – freedoms from state and freedoms to choose – independence
o Rationalism – rational thoughts/informed choices – don’t need to be told what to do
by the government
o Equality – everybody has equal start points, everyone born equal with same human
rights
o Toleration – tolerance of ideas – accept others and their choices and religious
toleration
These are OUR job to make happen
To achieve these… Classical Liberalists (Locke, Mill, Wollstonecraft) say that
we need…:
Government by consent
Guarantee of individual freedom
Representative democracy
Limited state role for society and the economy
Individuals are born with natural rights
First argument/dissent in the Liberal ideology – size, and role of the
state
Modern liberals (Rawls, Friedan) have argued that to achieve these ideals we need a larger
more involved state. Individualism needs a larger state to protect it and create it.
How?
State needs to be larger in order to help freedom to choose things – state funded education.
Why is this concept a betrayal of Classical Liberalism?
It goes against the idea of limited state role in society.
Why do we need the state to protect our
individual/freedom/choices/rationality?
Communication between state and the people.
Education allows for rationality – state funded education because some can’t afford
education
Scaffolding for equality – taxation and social cause
, Government and Politics
Classical Liberalists Modern Liberalists
‘Freeing state’ ‘Enabling state’ = ‘enfeebling’?
Individual freedom Help - benefits, opportunities, skills –
Autonomous gives individuals who are less well-off a
Best life because you are free to be ‘leg-up’
You are equal if you are free Rawls and Freidan – no gender equality
Rationality – right choices for you – needs to be addressed – rights/status
Social status – choose?
Free education and welfare
Betrayal of Classical liberalism – state
and size, autonomy, strength,
individualism
Neo-liberalism
‘Nanny state’
Want to return to classical liberalism rather than modern liberalism
Core ideas: Individualism
Classical liberalism – Locke – Foundational equality
The individual and their rights come above all else
Individuals are intellectually capable of making choices about their lives
Man’s natural stare is being left alone to think and act rationally. As individuals we make
choices – they are ours to take responsibility for.
To act rationally we then need freedom – freedom of influence and pressure from others
and the state. In this ‘state’ – individuals are best off.
Responsibility of the individual for themselves and their choices.
Man’s natural state = alone?
Need human contact.
‘atomistic’ – alone – egotistical – Scrooge
Modern liberal – Rawls – says this is nonsense “egotistical individualism”
Classical Liberalism – freeing state Modern Liberalism – enabling state
Primary motivation of individual is for Argue for Positive freedoms –
the egotistical – they are concerned developmental individualism. The
with maximises their utility and state needs to support development
personal wealth – thrive to the best of to encourage the possibility of
their ability individualism.
Freedom is sacrosanct – sacred – Argue with self-reliance but argue that
atomistic society – collection of the state must support. Freedom to
autonomous individuals. fail is no freedom at all.
Formal equality for the individual. We The state must expand to protect
are all born equal, and state should freedom.
preserve this through maintaining law
and order. Limited interference –
protect negative freedoms and let
individuals sort out the rest.
Human rights are natural, and the The state must ensure rights for all –
state should uphold them. interventionist state needed to ensure
such freedoms.
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