Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

Introduction to Liberalism

• Liberalism emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries as thinkers began challenging absolute monarchy, religious authority and rigid social hierarchies

  • Early liberals such as John Locke argued that individuals possess natural rights and that government should only exist with the consent of the governed

• Over time, liberalism has centred on protecting individual freedom and limiting state power

• Although classical and modern liberals disagree on how far the state should intervene, all liberals share a commitment to core principles about the individual, society and government

Key principles of Liberalism

Core principle: individualism

Core idea

• Liberals believe individuals have inherent worth

  • They therefore possess rights that should be respected and protected

• Individuals are seen as rational beings

  • They are capable of making their own decisions and taking responsibility for their actions

• Liberalism supports freedom of conscience

  • Each person should be free to follow their own beliefs without unnecessary state interference

Key thinkers

• John Locke

  • Individuals have natural rights of  life, liberty, and property ownership

  • These existed before the formation of a government

• Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Women’s rationality means they deserved education to develop their individual potential

Different strands of individualism

• Tolerance is essential to individualism

  • If individuals want their freedoms protected, they must also allow others to live according to their own beliefs

Do Liberals agree on this principle?

Core principle: freedom and liberty

Core idea

• Freedom is essential to liberalism

• Individuals should be free to make their own decisions as long as they do not harm others

Key thinkers

• John Stuart Mill

  • The Harm Principle - defends individual freedom unless behaviour harms others

• John Rawls

  • Argued for basic liberties and equality of opportunity to allow individuals to flourish

Negative vs positive liberty

Do Liberals agree on this principle?

Core principle: the state

Core idea

• Liberals support a limited government with checks and balances to prevent tyranny

  • The main purpose of the state is to protect individual rights

  • The state exists only due to the consent of the governed, expressed through democratic participation

• The state is viewed as a necessary evil

  • It is necessary to protect rights but potentially dangerous if it becomes too powerful

Key thinkers

• John Locke

  • Argued for the social contract

    • Governments only have authority because citizens consent in return for rights protection

• John Rawls

  • Supported state involvement to prevent individuals succeeding at the expense of others

Do Liberals agree on this principle?

Core principle: rationalism

Core idea

• Liberals believe humans are rational, capable of reasoning and making informed decisions

  • Rationalism supports freedom

    • Because individuals can think for themselves, they should be allowed to choose their own path

  • Rational discussion and debate can lead to peaceful reform, rather than relying on tradition or authority

Key thinkers

• John Locke

  • Challenged traditional authority such as the monarchy

• Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Argued that women are rational and should have equal rights

Do Liberals agree on this principle?

Core principle: equality and social justice

Core idea

• Liberals support formal equality, meaning all individuals have the same legal rights

• They also believe in equality of opportunity, allowing individuals the chance to develop their abilities and talents

Key thinkers

• John Rawls

  • The ‘theory of justice’ argued for state-led redistribution to improve opportunities for the least advantaged

• Betty Friedan

  • Argued for personal and professional gender equality, supported by formal equality but also changing societal attitudes towards women

Types of equality

Do Liberals agree on this principle?

Core principle: liberal democracy

• Liberal democracy combines democratic participation with liberal values such as rights, tolerance and the rule of law

  • Features include free and fair elections, government accountability, constitutionalism, protected rights and political tolerance

• Liberal democracy protects freedom and ensures government power is limited

  • However, democracy can risk tyranny of the majority, where popular opinion undermines individual rights

• All liberals agree democracy is necessary to secure liberty and rights

  • Classical liberals emphasise meritocratic democracy

  • Modern liberals emphasise democratic systems that promote equality of opportunity

Key thinkers

• John Locke

  • Argued for the social contract and government by consent

• Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Argued for women’s equal rights so they could participate fully in politics

Do Liberals agree on this principle?