Liberalism (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

Morality, optimism and human nature

• Liberalism is an ideology that emphasises individual freedom, limited government, and the protection of civil liberties and rights

  • All human beings should be free to live the life they choose

    • With dignity and respect

    • They should have personal freedoms and liberty 

    • They should have free speech and religious choices

    • They should be able to choose who rules over them

  • All people have a duty to protect and enforce these principles

    • Because it is the right way to live and leads to a more peaceful world

  • The most powerful actor in global politics is the state and it is the duty of the state to protect its people

    • Other actors such as IGOs, NGOs and MNCs also play an important role in global politics

• Liberalism has an essentially an optimistic worldview of human nature

  • Human beings are essentially good if they are treated well

  • People are less likely to want conflict if their needs are met 

  • People working together are powerful and can bring about positive change 

  • Empathy and caring for others are part of human nature

Possibility of harmony and balance

• Liberals believe that peace (harmony and balance) is more sustainable in the world if:

  • There is a natural harmony of existence whereby governments should interfere less with social and economic mechanisms

  • Social order and personal freedoms are balanced

  • Diverse views and beliefs within society are accepted  so that individuals can coexist without conflict

  • Power must only be used to control an individual against their will if they are a threat to others

  • Democratic states are more peaceful because in conflict it is the ordinary people who suffer most, and they will not choose a pathway to conflict

Complex interdependence

• Liberals see global politics as a complex web of interdependence between actors and stakeholders

  • The result is a peaceful and prosperous planet

Today's interdependent world

• Liberals argue

  • It is impossible, and not at all desirable, for states to be completely isolated in our modern global political world

    • States that attempt to isolate themselves, such as North Korea, are seen as hostile, unstable places 

  • People and governments are impacted by events taking place in other states, both good and bad

    • For example, technological developments or conflict have global implications

  • Due to the complex interdependence of the natural world, issues like climate change impact all actors and stakeholders

Likelihood of global governance

• The term 'international community' is often used by global governance institutions when justifying or explaining their actions or policies

  • For Liberals the international community exists, supporting their  belief in the universality of 

    • desire for human rights

    • desire for peace

    • hope for a better life (development and economic stability)

• Although the state is the most powerful actor in global politics, global governance institutions are essential  to address the wider concerns of the international community

  • Especially when the state is unable or unwilling  to provide safety, peace and a comfortable life for its citizens

The United Nations and global governance 

• Liberals argue that the UN, though it has its faults, is an absolute necessity to address widespread global political challenges 

• They fear the consequences of our increasingly fractured world where the USA dominates the political agenda

Impact and growth of international organisations

• International organisations include

  • Intergovernmental organisations

  • Non-government organisations 

  • Multinational companies

Growth

• Liberals argue that the most significant reason for the growth of international organisations is a desire for a world with a rule-based international system and a reduction of barriers between states

  • States have been persuaded to join IGOs as they can see the advantages to cooperating either both the international and regional level

  • Non-government organisations (NGOs) grew extensively from the 1980s, driven by an increase in democracies where people have agency and a belief in universalism 

  • With reduced trade barriers and the promotion of economic development by IGOs, successful companies have been incentivised to expand globally 

  • Rules and norms provide stability - Liberals argue the growth of these organisations reflect this

Impact

• The impact of international organisations is variable depending on the purpose and size of the organisations and how the organisations interact with state and non-state actors

Examples

• The World Health Organisation has achieved success in

  • Eradicating smallpox

  • Greatly reducing diseases such as polio through its vaccine programs

  • Working collaboratively with multiple NGOs and NSA to lead a global response to the Covid pandemic

• The EU has mandated laws regarding the safety of consumer products in EU member states 

• The UN has promoted gender equality and driven legal change supporting access to education

  • Literacy rates for women has increased dramatically from 60% to over 80% globally since 1980

  • The World Bank published a report stating that only 14 states in the world have full gender equality as of 2023, demonstrating that impacting state laws does not equate to them being enforced