"Man is born free but everywhere is in chains." ROUSSEAU
Hello you prototype politicians! Here's a thought... Liberalism began with the discovery that people should be regarded as individuals, each imbued with dignity and capable of self-realisation. It was an expressed desire to release people from excessive government control and to allow them to be free.
However, from this starting point, liberals have increasingly seen the state as the guarantor of freedom rather than as oppressor; inviting ever greater government intervention into the lives of individuals. Indeed, some would say that the pursuit of individual freedom is now the preserve of the political right.
So, what do you think? Does modern liberalism in any way preserve the ideas of that ideology's founders? I look forward to seeing what you think... (feel free to quote key thinkers)
NOTE: One element of this is to investigate and represent the priorities/policies of CONTEMPORARY liberalism (eg the Liberal Democrats) as well as 'New Liberalism' as a 100+ year old school of thought. This debate should usher us into next week's topic.
Ideas put forward by liberals such as T.H Green have moved liberals away from individualism and towards a more collective role in society. Liberals now agree that the 'cycle of deprivation' prevents the poorer people in society from having equal opportunities for success in life. This means that liberals now support more state intervention in order to help people succeed. This is done through improving education and providing welfare. This 'positive' liberty illustrates how liberals have begun to move away from individual liberty by suggesting that we we have and individual and collective nature.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I believe modern liberals have simply adapted to modern politics by supporting more state intervention. As humans we have become increasingly aware of our need to help the less fortunate people in society which involves providing financial and medical help to people when necessary. This, to me, reveals how liberalism has modernised in order to try and give more people the opportunity to succeed in life.
(This is my second attempt at an answer- the blog erased my first one because I didn't sign in first!!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex's point about Booth's 'cycle of deprivation' findings being very influential in the liberal attitude to individual freedom. After all: if the state didn't interfere to help victims of this cycle, we would be denying them of their right to develop to their full potential as individuals. A belief in this right is what unites all liberals.
Modern liberalism does not preserve the ideas of the ideology's founders in that enforcing positive liberty is a fundamental role of government today. TH Green stressed the importance of social obligation; the need to consider others in society.
The Liberal Democrats appear to advocate state intervention, however this is to heal the effects of the economic crisis. For example, in their April 2010 'Pocket Guide to Policy' the party declares that 'People who have fallen on hard times should get a helping hand'. This positive liberty of initial help is to get people motivated to rebuild their lives.
In some ways individual liberty is hardly existent in modern society. T.H Green opened peoples eyes to ‘the cycle of deprivation’ and governments now acknowledge this. As Claudia mentioned, the Liberal Democrats stand for state intervention, in order to help others. In addition to mentioning that people should receive a ‘helping hand’, they furthermore state that ‘it’s right to reallocate some of the money we save to help them (people who have lost their jobs)’. This shows the modern day implication of social responsibility.
ReplyDeleteHowever, John Locke once suggested that the individuals rights surpass that of any social groups. He described ‘life, liberty and property’ as natural rights, as they are God-given to everyone. Natural rights theorists argue that society should be constructed to protect individual interests and needs. Atomism portrays a collection of individuals each seeking to satisfy their own needs and interests. To this day, this is true of society. Although we now have the first Liberal party in deputy power, society still reflects a collection of individuals rather than a one group, all helping one another.
Classical Liberalism was all about the individual and individual liberty. Many have argued that Liberalism has turned away from individual liberty and that modern liberalism is more about state intervention and positive liberty, where the state intervenes on behalf of the individual in order for them to be free. Modern Liberals, such as the Liberal Democrats, are strong believers in positive liberty and in state intervention, such as the welfare state (and the NHS). T.H. Green has been described as the stepping stone toward modern liberalism (thus a change in views to individual liberty), he believed that free individuals can be made happy in caring for each other and society, not just themselves. He passionately believe that people could be made free through state intervention as classical liberalism had shown to be selfish and harsh through Booth's report on how it showed a 'cycle of deprivation'.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do believe that Liberalism has not totally turned its back on individual liberty. Individual liberty is still around in many parts of society, there are many parts of society where the state does not intervene. I also believe that it is not only the state that intervenes to increase individual liberty, ordinary people can also intervene to improve other peoples lives and set them free.
Modern Liberalism moved away from classic liberalism by encouraging economic management. Thinkers such as Keynes saw an increased role in the state to alienate social problems, including the economy. Governments would be able to deliver prosperity by ‘managing’ the economy as unemployment would be controlled. An example of this is the recent bank bail-outs in the UK. On the other hand, classic liberals, such as Adam Smith believe that the economy performed best when left alone as markets self-regulate. Supply and demand would naturally control the economy. This was described as the ‘invisible hand’. European Free Trade and Thatcher’s policy of monetarism are excellent examples. The transition from economic liberalism to economic management is a clear difference between the two forms of liberalism.
ReplyDeleteHowever, both classic and modern liberals support individual rights. Classical Liberals think ‘we all know best’ and are thus entitled to act and be treated in a particular way. Locke strongly supported ‘Life, liberty, and property’ and as the advocator of natural rights thought that as we are all ‘equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions’. The ECHR demonstrates the belief and enforcement of rights. Modern Liberals, including Mill and Toqueville optimistically viewed individuals as unique and caring. People require assistance to develop skills and knowledge, and both free education and the NHS enable this. The Liberal Democrats favor an entrenched set of human rights, separate to Europe, to protect ordinary citizens. New measures enforcing rights and individuality support the concepts of classical liberalism.