tends to be guided by majorities-threatens some individuals with the tyranny of the majority
classical liberalism faovured a limited electorate to safeguard property rights
john stuart mill thought votes should be given only to those with appropriate formal education
modern liberals flirt with supranational bodies where there is a democratic deficit
liberals seek to mitigate democracy's effects via assorted constitutional devices
no
complements individualism, allowing individuals to shape their lives via the ballot box
complements government by consent
helps avoid the concentration of political power
optimistic about human nature- it presupposes an intelligent electorate, capable of rational decisions
john stuart mill thought democracy would have an educative effect upon voters and abet developmental individualism
1 of 4
has modern liberalism abandoned the principles of
yes
C defined liberty as individuals being left alone; M think individuals are not free unless they are actively enabled via interference from others
C championed a minimal state; M champion an enlarged, enabling state
C was inclined to see taxation as theft and sought to restrict it; M often see increased taxation as the key method for implementing positive freedom
C favoured laissez faire capitalism from which the state is detached; M favour keynesian capitalism where the state seeks to manage market forces
C had an ambivalent view of democracy, prioritising instead the interests of property owners; M has championed representative democracy
no
both C and M have an optimisitc view of human potential
C and M believe in rationalism and insist upon tolerance of minorities
C and M see individualism as the goal of politics and society; differ about how to achieve it
C and M believe in capitalism and oppose state ownership of the economy
C and M believe in a constitutional state and government by consent
2 of 4
do liberals have a coherent view of the state?
yes
optimistic, believing that human beings are rational; believe in a constitutional state drawn up as a result of rational discussion
believe in government by consent; their constitutional state should be seen as a contract between government and governed
believe in limited government with politicians restrained by the rules of the constitution
speak of a natural society where all individuals enjoy natural rights; support a limited state that embodies natural advantages via mechanisms like a bill of rights
reaction against the medieval state; liberal state should be one in which power is more dispersed
no
slow to adopt the principles of democracy, sexual equality and universal adult suffrage
fails to recognise that most individuals under the state's jurisdiction have not owned property
allows the consent of a majority to be defied via courts, checks and balances
modern liberals have advocated a significant extension of state intervention in the name of positive liberty
have compromised their belief in government by consent by supporting supranational bodies which erode the authority of elective parliaments and elected representatives
3 of 4
can liberalism be reconciled to conservatism?
yes
L and C support private property and capitalism
L and C see inequality of outcome as a sign of liberty
L and C deny the inevitability of class conflict
ML and C support gradual reform and reject revolution
NL and NRC reject keynesian economics and champion a more laissez faire economy
no
L have an optimisitc view of human nature; C are sceptical
L see rationalism as central to human behaviour; C stress habit, emotion. instinct
L prioritise individual liberation; C stress order and restraint
L see individuals as potentially autonomous; C see individuals as communal
L extol free market capitalism; TC are more sceptical and protectionist
Comments
No comments have yet been made