Liberalism

 

Liberalism may be understood in a broad or in a narrower sense. In the broad sense, liberal ideas form the basis of a constitutional consensus in most of the mainstream parties in the states of the European Union, the United States and many other ‘liberal democracies’. In the narrower sense, liberalism is a doctrine of democratic parties distinguished from more conservative/Christian democrat parties on the right and socialist parties on the left. The Liberal International is a formal expression of this and includes the US (mainly New York) Liberal Party and the UK Liberal Democrats. Most Liberal parties would be viewed on the centre–left of the political spectrum.

The earliest phase in the development of liberal ideas is the establishment of the idea of constitutional government based upon individual rights. The United States constitution is a good example. It incorporates ideas such as government based on the consent of the governed, the constitution as a government of laws not of men. In the second phase, nineteenth-century liberal in Britain, and on the Continent, liberals increasingly were seen as the party of the new modernizing manufacturing elite opposed to conservative landed gentry. In both Europe and North America liberals were the party of political reform and universal suffrage. A distinctive feature of liberalism has been an emphasis on political freedom, in the national self-determination and in the freedom of speech, choice of occupation and way of life.

A third phase in the development of liberalism was marked by the writings of the English idealists including F. H. Bradley [1846–1924], Bernard Bosanquet [1848–1923], Josiah Royce [1855–1916]. Much of this idealist writing developed the idea that the state exists to guarantee a system of rights that will give individuals an opportunity for moral development.

The third phase of ‘social’ liberalism is associated in Britain with the political careers, speeches and writings of Lloyd George, John Maynard Keynes and Lord Beveridge. Lloyd George, as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the pre-First World War liberal government introduced old age pensions, state welfare schemes and progressive taxation.

 

1 Give Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and expressions.

Consensus, distinguished from, establishment, universal suffrage, national self-determination, welfare scheme, taxation.

 

2 Complete the sentences.

1. The earliest phase in the development...

2. Liberalism may be understood...

3. In both Europe and North America...

4. In the narrower sense...

5. It incorporates ideas...

6. Much of this idealist writing...

7. A third phase in the development...

3 Comprehension questions.

1. What does liberalism mean? What kind of doctrine is liberalism?

2. How did liberalism develop?

3. What parties are associated with liberalism? Where are those parties situated on political spectrum?

4. What is the distinctive feature of liberalism?

5. What philosophers and political scientists developed the doctrine of liberalism?

 

4 Say if the following statements are true according to the text.

1. Liberal ideas form the basis of a constitutional consensus in ‘liberal democracies’: the European Union, the United States.

2. Liberalism is a doctrine of democratic parties distinguished from more conservative parties on the left.

3. Today most Liberal parties would be viewed on the centre–left of the political spectrum.

4. Liberal ideas focus on individual rights as the basis for constitutional government.

5. Political reform and universal suffrage were important for liberals in Europe and North America.

6. A distinctive feature of liberalism has been an emphasis on economic freedom.

7. National self-determination and the freedom of speech are among the values of liberal democrats.