Ideologies

• Core Ideologies


  • Liberalism
  • Conservatism
  • Socialism
• Liberalism


  Core ideas and principles
• Liberalism core ideas


  • Human Nature
  • The State
  • Society
  • The Economy
• Human Nature (Liberalism)


  Optimistic view, capable of self-improvement, individualistic but sensitive to others, inherently rational
• The State (Liberalism)


  Needed to regulate individuals and stop conflict, should promote tolerance and meritocracy, should be limited through constitution and separation of powers, should be democratic and governed by consent
• Society (Liberalism)


  Should be a meritocracy, limited state should promote a 'natural society' where humans can be individuals, should promote freedom in terms of culture, economics and expression
• The Economy (Liberalism)


  Private property and ownership is a natural right, free markets will promote freedom, capitalism will create wealth and therefore improve lives of individuals
• Differing views and tensions within Liberalism


  • Classical Liberalism
  • Modern Liberalism
• Classical Liberalism


  • Negative Liberty: freedom from restraint
  • Minimal State: state should be limited and serve to protect individual interests
  • Anti-Welfarism: state should not provide welfare as it goes against individualism
  • Laissez-Faire Capitalism: free market will improve everyone's lives without regulation
  • Suspicious of Democracy: concerned democracy will become 'mob rule'
  • Egotistical Individualism: humans are naturally egotistical with no interest in progress of others
• Modern Liberalism


  • Developmental individualism: individuals can be developed and educated to reach potential
  • Positive Liberty: freedom needs to be 'enabled' by state support
  • Enlarged and Enabling State: state needs to be larger to protect freedoms and enable self-development
  • Liberal Representative Democracy: larger state requires representative democracy to ensure consent
  • Social Liberalism: state should legislate to protect minority rights and remove discrimination
  • Keynesianism: state intervention in economy to ensure level playing field and enable individualism
• Modern Liberalism is completely different to Classical Liberalism
• Both Liberalism strands have an optimistic view of human nature, believe in promoting tolerance, and that humans are rational
• Both Liberalism strands believe in individualism as the goal of society, just have different methods
• Both Liberalism strands believe in capitalism and private property
• Both Liberalism strands want a constitutional state with separation of powers
• Tensions within Liberalism


  • Human Nature
  • The State
  • Society
  • The Economy
• Mechanistic Theory


  Mankind is rational and therefore clever enough to develop their own state that will satisfy their needs
• Egotistical Individualism


  Humans are naturally selfish and will be drawn towards their own advancement and pursuit of happiness, putting themselves before others
• Economic Liberalism


  A system that says private property is a right, humans can act as individual traders/shoppers, and this free market will ultimately benefit everyone
• Natural Society


  The system before the state, where individuals were able to act freely, but there was inevitable conflict between individuals
• Social Contract


  A contract between citizens and the state, where citizens agree to give up some rights in return for the state preserving their freedoms. If the state breaks the contract, citizens can legitimately get rid of the state
• Invisible Hand


  The invisible forces of the free market that ensure prices decrease and the demand of people is met
• Harm Principle


  The idea that the state is justified from restricting individual freedom, if that action 'harms' somebody else
• Foundational Equality


  Belief that all individuals are born with natural rights to liberty, happiness, private property and the avoidance of harm
• Liberal thinkers and key ideas


  • John Locke
  • Mary Wollstonecraft
  • John S Mill
  • John Rawls
  • Betty Friedan
• John Locke


  Humans are rational, guided by self-interest but mindful of others. State must be limited, representative and have consent of governed. Society predates state, state should respect private property and help settle economic disputes
• Mary Wollstonecraft


  Rationalism applies to both genders, monarchical state should be replaced by republic protecting women's rights, society 'infantilised' women, free market would be improved by emancipation of women
• John S Mill


  Though humans are naturally rational, this is not fixed and human nature can develop and progress. State should be representative democracy to stop 'tyranny of majority', society is where 'individuality' co-existed with tolerance and self-improvement, laissez-faire capitalism will allow individual enterprise
• John Rawls


  Mankind is selfish yet empathetic, state should enable less fortunate to advance via public spending, society most people would choose is one where condition of poor is best, free market should be supported by state's obligation to advance its poorest citizens
• Betty Friedan


  Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self-advancement among women, society has been made chauvinistic towards women, state should be enlarged and legislate to stop discrimination against minorities, free market capitalism could aid female emancipation if allied to legislation precluding sexual discrimination
• Individual traders/shoppers


  Free market will ultimately benefit everyone
• Natural Society


  The system before the state, where individuals were able to act freely. BUT there was inevitable conflict between individuals.
• Social Contract


  A contract between citizens and the state. Citizens would agree to give up some rights in return for the state to preserve their freedoms. However, if the state broke the contract then citizens could legitimately get rid of the state.
• Invisible Hand


  The invisible forces of the free market that ensure prices decrease and the demand of people is met. E.G. A shop with high prices closes down due to competition. If lots of people want ice cream, more ice cream shops open.
• Harm Principle


  The idea that the state is justified from restricting individual freedom, if that action 'harms' somebody else.
• Formal Equality


  Where the state protects that foundational equality through law.
• Equality of Opportunity


  Belief that all individuals should be allowed the same opportunities to develop.
• Meritocracy


  A society where everyone has the chance to better themselves and will be rewarded for their success (impossible without equality of opportunity)
• Limited Government


  Government is restricted in the way it can act (usually by a constitution) and where it can act (CLs wanted the private sphere to be protected)
• Separation of Powers


  States are divided via a constitution into separate powers to ensure tyranny cannot emerge. The different branches check each other's power.