Liberal State

• Liberals believe a state is required as a mechanism to arbitrate effectively between the competing claims of rational individuals acting in pursuit of their own egocentric agendas.
• Liberals believe that the state makes society fairer, more efficient and rewarding for individuals
• Liberals promote government by consent. 'Government should always be the servant not master of the people' - Locke
• Rousseau - Social contract - In return for submitting to a state's laws, the governed should be guaranteed to certain rights. If those rights are violated so is the obligation to obey the state's laws.
• Liberals believe that the Government should be conducted by individuals through their own effort and talents who have won the trust of the governed through competence and integrity. Meritocratic state
• Liberals strive for a state that ensures formal equality in terms of political and legal rights