Concise notes on key terms, key thinkers, and the areas of agreement and disagreement within the ideologies.
Can be used to create essay plans. (E.g. To what extent do liberals agree on human nature?)
Non-Core (Feminism) and Core (Liberalism, Socialism, Conservatism)
Liberalism...................................................................................... 2
Terms...............................................................................................................2
The 4 Themes.........................................................................................................................3
Key Thinkers.......................................................................................................................... 5
Feminism........................................................................................ 7
Terms...............................................................................................................7
The 4 Themes.................................................................................................. 8
Key Thinkers..................................................................................................10
Socialism.......................................................................................12
Terms............................................................................................................. 12
The Strands....................................................................................................13
The 4 Themes................................................................................................ 14
Key Thinkers..................................................................................................16
Conservatism................................................................................ 18
Key Terms......................................................................................................18
The 4 Themes................................................................................................ 19
Key Thinkers................................................................................................. 20
, Liberalism
Terms
Individualism Liberal Democracy
● All humans are unique with equal worth, and ● Free elections, natural state with limited powers.
should not be used as objects. ● Protection of civil liberties.
Rationalism Social Contract
● Humans should be guided by reason not ● Government lacks legitimacy without support of
emotion, emerging from the enlightenment, the people
rejected unquestioning acceptance of tradition ● Mandate to rule.
and religion. ● People in society give up some freedom in return
● Humans need to be free to make self-interested for security.
decisions without being directed by external
agencies. Negative Freedom
● Mill and Wollstonecraft.
Egotistical Individualism ● Endorse egotistical individuals, maximum
● The view that people are self seeking and self freedom through minimum state power.
reliant. Society is a little more than a collection ● Reliance on state → Low self respect and
of independent individuals. undermines drive
● Nightwatchman state: Protect private property.
Social Justice/Equality → Harm Principle.
● Individuals are of equal value so therefore
should be treated fairly and impartially by Harm Principle
society. ● Individuals should be free to do anything except
● Equality of Opportunity: Humans have different harm other individuals.
abilities and potential they should be free to
fulfil. Positive Freedom
● Rawls
Mechanistic Theory ● Having the capacity to act on one's free will and
● That people created the state to serve them and to realise personal potential.
act in their interests. ● Freedom is self realisation
● Developmental Individualism should be
Enabling State promoted in society by an interventionist state
● A larger state that helps individuals to achieve and managed economy.
their potential and be free.
Keynesianism
Meritocracy ● An economic system that requires government
● A society organised on the basis that success is involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve
based on ability and hard work. full employment and price stability.
Laissez-Faire Capitalism
● An economic system organised by the market where goods are produced for exchange and profit.
● Wealth is privately owned.
The Beveridge Report
● Fondation of the post war British welfare state, argued that liberty should be available equally to all and this
was impossible if part of the population was held back by the “five giants”
● Poverty, Lack of Education, Ill Health, Poor living conditions and Unemployment.
, The 4 Themes
Human Nature The State
Shared: Shared: Both believe in putting limits on the power of
● All liberals believe that individuals are generally the state and believe in the decentralisation of power
rational, intelligent, keen to prioritise their and in the importance of citizens holding the state to
individual happiness and fulfilment and account, the purpose of the state is to serve the
respectful of other individuals’ wishes to do the individual and its institutions should be reformed as
same. necessary to promote this.
Classical Classical:
● Individuals are innately blessed with such ● The state should act as a ‘night watchman’, it is
quality. there to protect and lay down conditions for
existence and should have as little interference as
Modern possible, otherwise it reduces civil liberties.
● Such qualities are potential features of human ● Fear that state intervention may take decision
nature to be developed by enlightened liberal making out of the hands of the individuals and
authorities. reduce their self reliance.
● Mill’s concept of individuality, what individuals ● “Negative Liberty”
can become, once enabled to fulfil their potential ● Democracy is a threat to property rights
Modern:
● Qualified state intervention in the economy and
society, it widens opportunities available and
liberates people from social evils.
● Intervention develops individuals and they are
able to enjoy personal growth and
empowerment.
● Some state intervention is necessary to promote
a fair society in which people can make the most
of their talents and opportunities believing in an
enabling state.
● “Positive liberty.”
● Representative democracy.
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