Political Ideologies

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Political Ideologies

Liberalism

  • Sometimes portrayed as a meta-ideology because it is able to embrace a broad range of rival values and beliefs
  • Consists of the break down in federalism and the growth of a market place or capitalist society
  • Early liberalism = aspirations of the middle classes
  • Attacks absolutism and feudal privilege – wants representative government
  • 19th century – laissez-faire capitalism + limited gov. intervention
  • Recently – more social state and economic intervention

Elements of Liberalism

  • Individualism
  • Supreme importance of the human individual as opposed to any social group
  • Humans are seen as individuals – all equal of moral worth
  • Aim to develop a society where each individual can flourish with different qualities
  • Lays down a set of rules for humans to make moral choices over

  • Freedom
  • Individual freedom is given more importance than equality or justice etc.
  • Humans must enjoy as much freedom as possible without encroaching on other’s freedom (there is a need for laws)

  • Reason
  • World has a rational structure
  • Places faith in the ability of humans to make wise judgements
  • Believe in progress – settle differences by debate and argument instead of bloodshed and war

  • Equality
  • Individuals are born equal
  • Legal equality, political equality but not social equality as everyone has different skills – equality of opportunity not outcome
  • Talented should rule, positions should be distributed on the basis of ability

  • Toleration
  • A way to protect individualism and allow social enrichment
  • Promotes debate about issues to test each one
  • Debate will not lead to conflict as there are usually a natural harmony between beliefs and views

  • Consent
  • Authority and social relationships should be based on willingness
  • Favour representation and authority ‘from below’

  • Constitutionalism
  • Government is needed to maintain order and stability but is aware that power can corrupt – limited government is therefore favoured
  • Want a codified or written constitution to protect rights
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John Locke (1632-1704)

  • Focused on the need for natural  rights – life liberty and property
  • End of absolutist rule replaced by constitutional monarchy was a good thing

Classical Liberalism

  • Commitment to an extreme form of individualism – humans are self-reliant people
  • Humans owe nothing to society or to any other individual
  • Atomist view of society is applied by which a society I made up of self sufficient individuals
  • No state or government intervention – but necessary to maintain order and stability – evil because it encroaches on individualism
  • Minimal government intervention is require
  • ...

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