POSC 1200U Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Classical Liberalism, Middle Ages, John Maynard Keynes
January 23, 2018
Liberalism
Lecture 2
History of liberalism
• A Western / European idea
• Began for a short period around 500BC
• Emerged again in the middle ages (500-1500 AD)
• Became fully formed in the mid 1800s
• ‘eais agualy the ost poeful ig idea fo guidig poliy
• To understand – foget eeythig you thik you ko aout the od lieal o the
Lieal Paty
• We ae eally talkig aout Classial Liealis
Athenian (greek) democracy
• In the year 507 B.C., the Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced a system of political
efos that he alled deokatia, o ule y the people.
• Citizens of the city-state directly voted on what actions should be taken politically.
• Not all could participate: only adult men who owned land and were not slaves
• Declined by 476 in Western Europe
• Continued in Eastern Europe until 15th Century
• Was a Christian Empire
• Gracchus's land bill 133BC (redistribute, killed, Dictatorship)
Feudal System
• Emerged after the fall of the Roman Empire especially in Western Europe
• Authoritarian
• Based on lineage
• Hierarchical power structure
• Justified by religion (Christianity)
Tensions emerged
• 1) Black Plague
o killed 50% of population 14th C
o Church nor King seemed to be able to do much
• 2) Perpetual War (1300s-1700s)
o Especially between Spain, France, England
• 3) Poverty of the masses / Wealth of the few
o Perpetually increasing economic inequality
o Peasants Revolt (1381)
• 4) Rise of the merchant class
o Arose as a result of colonialism (1492-mid 20th C)
o Became wealthy by trading with India, the Americas, Asia
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o But, were an underclass, not respected, and had no political power
o Could have their property taken by the king at any time
o Were heavily taxed
• 3) Enlightenment ideas
o 1. Human Autonomy – the Means and End of enlightenment
o 2. Reason and Rationality – lead to truth
o 3. Universality – All humans are equal and rational at their core
o 4. Progress – Reason and individualism will produce never ending improvement
o 5. Secularism – separation of church and state
o 6. Economy is Central – A healthy economy means progress / a free market is
connected to democracy
o 7. Democracy – Rational individuals can self-govern
Revolutions
• England (17th / 18th Century)
• American Revolution (1775-1783)
• French Revolution (1789-1792)
• These revolutions were ideologically propelled by the idea of liberalism, which had
emerged in the climate of the multiple tensions of the middle ages.
(classical) Liberalism
• Liberalism: An ideology that promotes the freedom of the individual in religious,
political, and economic matters.
• New constitutions and charters of rights were drawn up after the revolutions. These, in
multiple forms, contained the main tenets of liberalism.
o Bill of Rights (1689, England) – established constitutional monarchy
o US Constitution (1787)
o Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (France, 1789)
Key elements of liberalism
• 1. Individual autonomy
o The basis of society is the individual. Humans are primarily motivated by self-
interest.
• 2. Individual rights
o If the individual is autonomous, then all individuals must be free and equal. This
implies political equality, the protection of individual rights, respect for
individual choices, and the use of reason in making decisions. "I am free and thus
I rule myself." The key individual rights are freedom of speech, freedom of
assembly, freedom of worship, and the right to property.
• 3. Religious toleration
o Individuals and the state must respect one's right to worship as one pleases.
Implies a separation of church and state.
• 4. Popular sovereignty and consent
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Feudal system: emerged after the fall of the roman empire especially in western europe, authoritarian, based on lineage, hierarchical power structure. Human autonomy the means and end of enlightenment: 2. Reason and rationality lead to truth: 3. Universality all humans are equal and rational at their core: 4. Progress reason and individualism will produce never ending improvement: 5. Secularism separation of church and state: 6. Economy is central a healthy economy means progress / a free market is connected to democracy: 7. These, in multiple forms, contained the main tenets of liberalism: bill of rights (1689, england) established constitutional monarchy, us constitution (1787, declaration of the rights of man and citizen (france, 1789) Individual autonomy: the basis of society is the individual. Humans are primarily motivated by self- interest: 2. If the individual is autonomous, then all individuals must be free and equal.
