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A Level Politics Yr12 > 9.4 - Different Views and Tensions within Liberalism > Flashcards

9.4 - Different Views and Tensions within Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

Why is there a disconnect between the two strands of liberalism?

A

They both have fundamentally different understandings of what freedom means and therefore, they have fundamentally different understandings on how this informs the role of the state.

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2
Q

What type of freedom does classical liberalism believe in?

A

Negative freedom.

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3
Q

How did classical liberals implement negative freedom?

A

Advocation for a society with freedom of thought, discussion, religion and assembly.

‘Harm principle’ as well.

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4
Q

Classical liberalism does not believe in egoistical individualism. T/F?

A

False.

They do believe in egoistical individualism.

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5
Q

Why did Mills think that egoistical individualism was the best way to organise society?

A

Individuals are sovereign and capable of free will to organise their lives.

This would make individuals freer in a negative-freedom based society and also facilitate development as individuals.

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6
Q

Why do classical liberals advocate for minimal state intervention for welfare and the like?

A

Expanding the role of the state for paternalistic functions is at the expense of individual liberty and therefore oppressive.

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7
Q

Why is compulsory welfare oppressive according to classical liberals?

A

Compulsory welfare states require taxation.

People might not need the welfare, but they must pay the taxation which is oppressive.

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8
Q

Who is known as the transitional liberal?

A

John Stuart Mill.

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9
Q

Why is John Stuart Mill a transitional liberal?

A

His later ideas advocated aspects of developmental individualism (universal education for an example)

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10
Q

How can modern liberalism be seen relative to classical liberalism?

A

Modern liberalism is both contradiction and continuation of classical liberalism.

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11
Q

Which key thinkers are most associated with modern liberalism?

A

T.H. Green
John Rawls

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12
Q

How do modern liberals argue that people can be self-reliant?

A

They require a hand up from the state for everyone to achieve this goal.

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13
Q

Why do modern liberals take issue with classical liberalism’s negative freedom?

A

The lack of state assistance only compounds the problems of economic and social disadvantage.

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14
Q

What do modern liberals think positive freedom will do?

A

‘Level the playing field’.

It should ensure everyone gets close to equality of opportunity and social justice.

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15
Q

What is the link between neo-liberalism and liberalism?

A

Classical liberals are seen as the predecessors to neo-liberals.

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16
Q

Which Conservative Key Thinkers were influenced by classical liberal ideas?

A

Rand and Nozick.

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17
Q

What is the mechanistic theory of the state?

A

The state is not organic, but created by individuals to serve themselves and their best interests.

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18
Q

How do classical and modern liberals disagree over the mechanistic theory of the state?

A

‘… and their best interests’
proves a point of contention.

Classical liberals feel the state should be small and limited to maintaining law and order.
Modern liberals feel the state should be larger to create conditions of freedom.

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19
Q

How did Mill argue on behalf of Negative Freedoms?

A
  • Atrophy
  • Overload
  • Initiative
  • Corruption
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20
Q

What was Mill’s argument for atrophy?

A

If the state intereferes and therefore restricts individual autonomy it will arrest individuals’ development.

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21
Q

What was Mill’s argument for overload?

A

The already overencumbered state does not need extra stress from welfare.

22
Q

What was Mill’s argument for initiative?

A

An overzealous government will sap commercial enterprise.

23
Q

What was Mill’s argument for corruption?

A

Making the state larger increases the probability for abuse of power.

‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ - Lord Acton.

24
Q

What were Mill’s arguments on behalf of positive freedoms?

A
  • Atrophy Counter
  • Overload Counter
  • Initiative Counter
  • Corruption Counter
25
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for atrophy?

A

The state must supply public goods i.e. clean air, water, defence etc.
The state must interfere on behalf of children.
The state must provide education.
There must be basic welfare for the poor.

26
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for overload?

A

Extra state responsibilities are necessary to maintain freedom.

27
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for initiative?

A

There must be regulation to working hours to prevent abuse.
Individual consumers must be protected from unfair and unscrupulous marketing.

28
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for corruption?

A

The aforementioned positive freedoms are altruistic in nature so will not corrupt.

29
Q

Which modern(ish) liberal PM was influenced by modern liberalism?

A

Asquith

30
Q

How was Asquith influenced by modern liberalism?

A

OAP Act 1908
Labour Exchanges Act 1909
National Insurance Act 1911
Trade Unions Act 1913

31
Q

What report did Modern Liberalism inspire?

A

The Beveridge Report (1942)

32
Q

What were the five ‘giants’ that Beveridge identified in his report?

A

Want (extreme poverty)
Ignorance (lack of formal education)
Disease (lack of free healthcare)
Squalor (poor living conditions)
Idleness (high unemployment)

33
Q

How was the role of state economic management changed during the development of the welfare state?

A

Keynesian economics overtook the laissez-faire economic of Adam Smith.

34
Q

What were Rawls three principles of justice?

A
  • Individuals had the same set of absolute liberties
  • Equal opportunities for all
  • Must be priority to help the disadvantaged
35
Q

What was the difference principle?

A

Despite some inequalities being inevitable, there must be priority to help the disadvantaged.

36
Q

What was the classical liberal outlook on human nature?

A

Individuals are capable of rationality and pursue their self-interest.

37
Q

What was the modern liberal outlook on human nature?

A

Individuals crave freedom while also understanding they have obligations to help the less fortunate.

38
Q

What was the classical liberal outlook on the state?

A

The state should be limited and controlled by government based on representative democracy.

39
Q

What is the modern liberal outlook on the state?

A

State intervention should only be enabling.

The power of the state and government should be controlled by constitution and robust democracy.

40
Q

What is the classical liberal outlook on society?

A

Society is naturally competitive.

There is no such thing as a ‘common good’

41
Q

What is the modern liberal outlook on society?

A

Society should embrace a degree of social welfare and social justice.

42
Q

What is the classical liberal outlook on the economy?

A

Laissez-faire free markets.

43
Q

What is the modern liberal outlook on the economy?

A

Injustices of capitalism should be reduced by welfare.

44
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with modern liberalism view on the enabling state?

A

It erodes rugged and egotistical individualism as people become dependant on a state that supports them.

It creates a dependancy culture.

45
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with modern liberal views on welfare?

A

They feel it will eventually bankrupt the state.

Most countries operate in huge defecits because they spend more than they tax.

46
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with modern liberal views of increased taxation?

A

‘Tax is, for the most part, theft’ - Nozick.

47
Q

Why did Nozick think modern liberalism betrayed Kant’s (classical) liberalism?

A

An individual should not be treated as a thing or resource - Kant.

Modern liberalism contravenes negative freedom and oppresses people to pay tax, obey intrusive laws and fight wars.

48
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with Keynesian economics?

A

The state is ill-equiped to plan or intervene in the economy as they have a lack of information about the economy.

49
Q

Is modern liberalism different to classical liberalism? (Yes)

A
  • Liberty / freedom is interpreted completely differently
  • Classical - minimal state, modern - enabling state
  • Classical - taxation as an infringement, modern - taxation to implement positive freedom
  • Classical - laissez-faire, modern - Keynesian
  • Classical - limited democracy with elites, modern - complete representative
50
Q

Is modern liberalism different to classical liberalism? (No)

A
  • Positive view on human nature
  • Government by consent
  • Rationalism
  • Individualism
  • Capitalism as good, nationalism as bad

A Level Politics Yr12 (48 decks)

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