Contemporary Liberalism

1
Contemporary Liberalism

• POSC 150Introduction to Political Theory
• Braunwarth

2
Classical Liberalism

• Liberalism Remove obstacles that block
  development of individuals
• In past, meant limiting government so can live,
  worship, compete in mkt, etc.
• Negative Liberty - Individual Free to do what
  they want
• Absence of Restraint (Religious Conformity,
  Ascribed Status)

3
Background

• Reaction to the Industrial Revolution
• Created much misery (Dickens)
• Believed Government should rescue people from
  poverty, ignorance, and illness
• Concerned for well being or well-faring of
  individuals

4
Government as a Positive force

• By 1800s largely accomplished
• T.H. Green (1836-1882) Oxford Prof.
• Time to recognize other obstacles to freedom and
  opportunity
• Poverty, Illness, Prejudice, Ignorance
• Positive Liberty - Individual has freedom of
  choices
• Government should establish schools, hospitals,
  aid for need, regulate working conditions

5
Economic Concerns

• Unrestricted/Free/Uncontrolled Markets
• lead to business cycles and economic instability
• lead to monopolies
• Create Externalities (pollution) that harm public
  welfare
• Dont provide Public Goods
• Dont account for those left out of market
  (young, old, disabled)

6
Need to Regulate the Economy

• Government should regulate the economy and
  protect people from its vagaries
• Liberals regard economic competition as a good
  thing
• Welfare State originally instituted to take the
  wind out of socialism
• very non-liberal Otto von Bismark Iron
  Chancellor of Germany
• Coincided with expansion of voting rights

7
Human Nature

• No Fixed Human Nature
• We all have the capacity for reason
• Can make our own choices to fulfill goals
• Social Pluralism Society consists of different
  people working together and is important to have
  contact with others
• Despite differences, we are intrinsically equal

8
Liberalism in the 20th Century

• Faith in Individual Competition shaken by Great
  Depression of 1930s
• Many turned to Communism/Fascism
• Response in U.S. was the Welfare State
• Keynesian Economics
• John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946)
• Governments use tax and spend powers to slow or
  stimulate economy

9
1960s

• Promises of Liberty and Equality still
  unfulfilled for many
• Civil Rights Movement
• Johnsons War on Poverty
• New Left - Government support economic interests
  and corporations while citizens reduced to
  consumers (Marcuse)

10
Liberalism Today

• Still a Revolutionary Force in some parts of the
  world
• Where do we find ascribed status, religious
  conformity, political absolutism?
• Islamic Fundamentalists, former Communist
  Countries, Developing World

11
How far should Liberalism Go?

• Mills Harm Principle
• Victimless Crimes Prostitution, Pornography,
  Gambling, etc.?
• Consenting Adults, but Exploitive
• Outlaw Discrimination on basis of race, religion,
  gender, etc.
• Affirmative Action to give special consideration
  to those who suffer discrimination?
• What about financially disadvantaged?

12
Communitarian Critique

• Need to Balance Rights with Responsibilities
• Common Good in addition to Me First
• JFKs ask what you can do for your country
• Clintons National Service Program
• CSL projects on campus

13
Is Liberalism Dead?

• 1980s used as a derogatory slur
• Perhaps not dead, but has been so successful,
  less places to go
• Racism/Discrimination
• Market Regulation
• Starvation Poverty less of a problem
• But free market still largely unable to deal with
  poverty