Liberalism

• Classical liberal views on the state

  • Elected Liberal Democracy; John Locke rejects 'divine right of kings' and advocates for 'government by consent'.
  • Minimal state; small state to maintain law and order, national defence, and preventing monopolies.
  • State should not interfere in the economy - laissez faire.
  • The State should not artificially intervene in society; Smiles and Spencer advocate extreme anti-welfarism, that people succeed or fail on their own accord.
• Classical Liberal views on Human Nature

  • Humans are enlightened, rational, and capable of self-improvement.
  • Focus on individualism.
  • Human equality and tolerance is key.
  • Humans prefer to pursue their own self-interest.
  • Humans will obey natural laws.
  • Humans want to own property for a sense of purpose.
• Classical Liberal views on Society

  • As long as the state respects natural rights and natural law, it will also be a 'natural state' and can preside over a natural society.
  • Humans will obey natural laws, ensuring mutual sympathy and tolerance.
  • Society should promote not just freedom, but also cultural, economic, and intellectual progress.
  • A truly free society will see those with the best abilities rise to the top - a meritocracy.
  • Society should have negative freedom - freedom from constraint.
• Classical Liberal views on the Economy

  • Laissez-faire capitalism; free market capitalism is the best way of creating and spreading wealth, there should be no state interference.
  • The state should not engage in economic welfarism.
  • Economic globalisation and free trade.
  • Faith in private ownership of the economy; workers can offer their labour to kinder employers, naturally leading to better job opportunities in the market.
• Modern Liberal views on the State

  • State should promote equality of opportunity; through education and reductions in the influence of privilege.
  • The state should provide welfare to help those who cannot protect themselves from deprivation, such as the unemployed and the elderly - led to Lloyd George's welfare reforms in 1918.
  • The state should promote social justice and reducing inequality.
  • Constitutional Democracy and elected government.
  • State should protect individuals and maintain law and order.
• Modern Liberal views on Society

  • Society is enriched by 'positive liberty'; the ability of an individual to achieve their aspirations freely.
  • Society should be equal; discrimination in society should be outlawed and fought by social action and cultural change - champion women's equality and LGBT rights.
  • Mechanistic Theory; social problems can be solved using rational solutions rather than ideological transformation.
• Modern Liberal views on Human Nature

  • Humans are willing to work collectively for a higher purpose; humans are not entirely self-serving and will support some form of welfare for those in need.
  • Optimistic attitude towards human nature; humans should be given as much freedom as possible.
  • Individuals have an obligation by nature to help eachother.
  • Positive Liberty; individuals should be encouraged to achieve self-realisation.
• Modern Liberal views on the Economy

  • Unregulated free-market can cause social problems.
  • State regulation is necessary to curb the excesses of the market and promote social equality and justice.
  • Support for capitalism still inherent.
  • Support for privatisation of most sectors.
  • Support for private property in the economy.
• Locke

  • Rejects 'divine right of kings' to govern; instead the state has to be the creation of humankind or 'government by consent'.
  • The state was the result of a social contract between citizens and the government.
  • Government should be limited and its powers divided between different branches, such as legislature and executive.
  • Tolerance of alternative religious and political views.
• Mill

  • Believed in 'negative freedom'; individual should be free to take whatever actions that they see fit - also known as 'harm principle'.
  • Belief in 'self-regarding' actions led to strong belief in tolerance of the views and actions of others.
  • Individualism breeds creativity which benefits all individuals in society.
  • Supported representative democracy with gradual suffrage based on higher education and property ownership.
• Wollstonecraft

  • People are rational and human nature is naturally good.
  • Women were as capable of rational thought as men were.
  • Individualism by men and women together was essential if society was to progress culturally and economically.
  • All citizens should enjoy equality under the law and be free from discrimination.
  • Women were to blame for their inferiority because they historically accepted male superiority.
• friedan

  • Individual freedom; people should be able to achieve their full potential.
  • Patriarchy meant that women were main victims of lack of opportunity and life choices in society.
  • A state based on liberal ideas would ensure equality of opportunity for men and women too.
  • Blamed dominant cultural attitudes for the patriarchy, not the state itself.
• Rawls

  • Equal social and political rights as part of 'formal equality'.
  • People prefer a society with little inequality and where there is equality of opportunity.
  • Distributive justice; inequality in capitalism justified so long as prosperity is not to the detriment of others.
  • Strong supporter of individual liberty; formal, social, and economic liberty should be available to all on an equal basis.