Political Science 2230E Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Positive Liberty, Liberal Democracy, Classical Liberalism
15 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Streams of political thought emerged from liberalism. Consent of the governed, rule of the people etc. Classical liberals negative freedom: freedom as a lack of interference or coercion, being left alone, the wider the scope of non-interference, the wider the freedom. Private realm, of family, free-market, voluntary associations non-state private realm to engage in self-actualization. Private realm gives citizens ability to engage and look to the life they want to achieve: markets should be unregulated state only justified in regulating to enforce contracts, ensure orderly exchanges, enforce property laws. Justice limited to legal justice for classical liberals (equality under law in legal system) New inequalities realized by laissez-faire, unregulated economy, market created vast inequalities and concentrated wealth. Looming specter of socialism radicals approaching workers, political leaders concerned and needed to maintain legitimacy of state and market: concerned if the working class was not protected, socialism may prevail.
