POLS1301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Classical Liberalism, Totalitarianism, Max Horkheimer
Lecture 2 - Liberalism + Classical Liberalism
critical analysis:
identifying pol ideas being used
knowing the nature of these ideas - where they come from, what assumptions they
make about human nature and how the world works, what goals they seek to
achieve
engaging with these ideas yourself - what you believe, think + feel about them
Liberalism is foundational
most other ideologies are formulated in response to lib.
Western modernity and the context of liberalism
Modernisation in the West
Modern period = last 3 centuries
Pre-industrial -> Industrial
Feudalism -> Capitalism
Feudalism:
birth fully determines your position in society
no social mobility
sovereign power ordained by God, justifying social hierarchy
church inseparable from politics
Pre-industrial production
Primarily rural society
Religion justifies inequalities
Capitalism:
Revolutionary change in organisation of production
substantial market economy emerging
Rationalisation - emergence of accounting etc.
people move to cities - big pops to support big factories
Urbanisation
new class: industrialists/middle class/bourgeoisie
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Liberalism is foundational most other ideologies are formulated in response to lib. Western modernity and the context of liberalism (cid:1684)modernisation(cid:1685) in the west. Feudalism: birth fully determines your position in society no social mobility sovereign power ordained by god, justifying social hierarchy church inseparable from politics. Revolutionary change in organisation of production substantial market economy emerging. Rationalisation - emergence of accounting etc. people move to cities - big pop(cid:1685)s to support big factories. Martin luther + others: don(cid:1685)t need the church to mediate personal relationship with god violent wars between catholics and protestants: 1500s-1600s. Organising feudal system of god legitimating sovereign/political system became problematic. People wanted their own sovereign from their religion into power. Rationalisation of societies wrote that in all areas of life, we are moving from primary to mass societies that are highly rational, and we aren(cid:1685)t coping well with. Iron cage of bureaucracy trapped in cage of rationalisation and efficiency dehumanisation of politics.
