Politiical Ideologies: LIberalism

7/29/2019 Politiical Ideologies: LIberalism

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LIBERALISM

Summary of Andrew Heywoods Discussion onIdeologies 5th Edition


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I- DefinitionII- Brief discussion of itsOrigin and Development

III- Central Valuesunderlying the IdeologyIV- Variants of the Ideology

CONTENTS


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An ideology which centraltheme is about: commitmentto the individual, desire toconstruct a society wherepeople can satisfy their interests and achievefulfillment.

Liberalism forwards the idea

that individuals are naturallyendowed with reason and assuch, be allowed to enjoy themaximum possible freedom.

WHAT IS

LIBERALISM?


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It gives emphasis on merit.This means that thoughindividuals have equal legaland political rights, they mustbe rewarded according totheir talents and willingnessto work.

It revolves around the twin

principles of constitutionalismand consent.


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Its origins can be traced backto early agricultural societieswhen people started living insettled communities and wereforced to find ways of trading and living with strangers(Seabright, 2004)

Nonetheless, as a developed

ideology; it can be tracedback to the breakdown of feudalism in Europe and theyrise of an aspiring middleclass.

HOW DID

LIBERALISM

COME ABOUT?


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The middle class gave rise to acapitalist society and amarket economy.

This change exposed people

to an array of choices and for the first time it created asense on individualism among the people

This gradually evolved intoradical demands for changefrom the people to abolishtraditional structures of power that conflict with their interests.


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Individualism:Is the belief in the supreme importanceof the individual over any social group or collective body.Society should be constructed so as tobenefit the individual giving moralpriority in individual rights, needs andinterests.Individuals should be seen as end inthemselves.

WHAT ARE ITS

CENTRAL

VALUES?


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Freedom:Is a consequence of the supreme belief inthe individual. For Liberals, this is thesupreme political value and in many waysthe unifying principle.For Liberals, freedom is the only statewhere individuals can fully develop their skills and potentials.


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However, Liberals do notbelieve in absolute freedom. John Stuart Mill argued inOn Liberty that The onlypurpose for which power canrightfully be exercised over any member of a civilizedcommunity, against his will, is

to prevent harm to others.


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ReasonCame about from the desire of the

enlightenment to Release humankindfrom its bondage to superstition andignorance Liberals believe that reason is innatebut not to the extent that it isinfallible. However, it opposesrestrictive paternalism that preventsindividuals from developing.It gives emphasis on the importance of discussion, debate and argument.


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JusticeDenotes a particular kind of moral judgement about the distribution of rewards and punishments.Human beings are seen as born equaland is of equal moral worth.Liberalism vigorously disapproves of a system of privileges that areenjoyed by a few and denied toeveryone else.


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For Liberals, arbitrary assignment of privileges through irrationalstandards like gender, race, color, creed,religion or social background is aninjustice.They believe in equality of opportunity,that every individual must be given thechance to rise and fall within the ranks

of society paving the way for the systemof meritocracy. For them, merit is theonly just basis for granting moreprivileges.


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TolerationThe Liberal social ethic ischaracterized by a willingness toaccept and in some cases celebratemoral, cultural and politicaldiversity.Is rooted on the assumption thathumans and separate and uniquecreatures, since toleration is a guarantee of personal autonomy.Toleration is necessary to strike abalance among conflicting interests

and to create harmony.


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Constitutionalism Although liberals agreeabout the need of aGovernment, they are also

aware of the dangers it posesagainst freedom.For Liberals, power naturallycorrupts and if it isnt

regulated or checked, it canbe abused.Power tends to corrupt andabsolute power corruptsindefinitely Lord Acton


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Liberals believe in a limited government and this can onlybe achieved throughconstitutional constraints

that ensure:The Rights of theGovernedThe Rule of LawChecks and Balances


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Classical LiberalismEarliest Liberal tradition whichdeveloped in the transition fromfeudalism to capitalism and reachedits height in the industrial era.

It is characterized by:First, a belief in egoisticalindividualism; that human beingsare rationally self interested and

capable of self reliance.Second, a belief in negative freedomor absence of external restraints.

VARIANTS OF

LIBERALISM


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Third, that the state is anecessary evil (ThomasPaine). They believe that theremust be minimal state

intervention.Fourth, it is characterized by abroadly positive view of civilsociety.


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Economic LiberalismCame about from the economictheories of political economists AdamSmith and David Ricardo.It applied the classical liberal belief of limited state to the handling of theeconomy. For economic liberals, theeconomy will flourish if left free fromstate intervention.Economic liberalism is an anti-thesisto Mercantilism.


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Neoliberalism

A revival of classical liberalism thatoccurred in the 1970s. A notch higher than EconomicLiberalism for it espouses MarketFundamentalism which sees themarket as morally and practicallysuperior to the Government interms of political control.It is a response to the increasing popularity of economic ideologiesthat expand the role of the government in the market.


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Modern Liberalism

Dubbed as the 20th

centuryliberalism. It is a response to the growing problems brought aboutby unrestrained economicindividualism which led to thedisadvantage of the working class,spread of poverty, disease andignorance.For modern liberals, the minimalstate approach is incapable of rectifying the injustices of civilsociety, as a consequence, theyvouch for a more interventionist or

enabling state.


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Modern Liberals place valueon affirmative action andpositive freedom contrast tothe Classical Liberals whovalue strict meritocracy andnegative freedom.

Modern Liberals believe thatthere must be a balancebetween the state and themarket. However, they staytrue to the liberal belief inthe primacy of the individualover the society.

Politiical Ideologies: LIberalism

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