Politics Essay: Liberalism

Using examples distinguish between individualism and collectivism

Collectivism is the belief that collective human endeavour is of greater practical and moral value than individual self-striving, whereas individualism is the belief in the supreme importance of the individual over any social group or collective body.

Collectivism reflects the idea that human nature has a social core. Egotistical individualism, however, believes that individuals are essentially self-interested and self-reliant.

As well as egotistical, individualism can be broken down into methodological and ethical individualism. Ethical individualism implies society should be constructed to benefit the individual and methodological suggests the individual is central to any political theory. Collectivism on the other hand implies that social groups are meaningful political entities and the state should work to benefit society as a whole.

The principle to which they subscribe can greatly affect an ideology’s ideas. Classical liberal’s belief in egotistical individualism has led them to believe society is atomistic, composed of an collection of largely self-reliant individuals. Modern liberals have advanced a developmental form of individualism that prioritises human flourishing over the quest for interest satisfaction. Socialists have used the collectivist idea of human nature to support their belief in community and the capacity of human beings for collective action. Anarchists have embraced both principles with collectivist anarchists stressing the human capacity for social solidarity and individualist anarchist extending individualism with the idea of individual sovereignty.

It can be argued that it is these two contrasting principles that create rivalries within and amongst different political ideologies. Socialism and liberalism can arguably be defined as society versus the individual and modern liberalisms advocation of an interventionist state led classic liberals to excuse them of abandoning individualism and enhancing collectivism.

Distinguish between economic liberalism and social liberalism

The abandonment of economic liberalism and the doctrine of laissez-faire occurred because of the increasing complexity of industrial capitalist economies and their inability to guarantee general prosperity if left to their own devices. The Great Depression sparked by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 was the most dramatic demonstration of the failure of the free market.

The UK philosopher T. Green believed the unrestrained pursuit of profit had given rise to new forms of poverty and injustice. The economic liberty of the few had blighted the life chances of the many. Green challenged the classical liberal notion of negative freedom as economic freedom can lead to exploitation. Therefore freedom of choice in the marketplace is an inadequate conception of individual freedom. Green proposed the idea of positive freedom which recognised liberty may also be threatened by social disadvantage and inequality. This is implied a revised view of the state and led to a modern liberal belief in social liberalism.

Economic liberalism reflected the classic liberal belief in a minimal state as Adam Smith argued that the economy works best when left alone y government. Social liberalism on the other hand believes the state possesses a social responsibility to reduce or remove social disadvantages to create more equal life chances, reflecting the modern liberal belief in personal self-development through freedom.

On the other hand, both social liberalism and economic liberalism are rooted in assumptions about agoism and self-interest and both share a preference for self-reliant individuals who take responsibility of their own lives. The difference is that modern liberals recognise that this can only occur if social conditions are conducive to it and social liberalism provides equality of opportunity through welfarism.

The modern liberal belief in social liberalism reflects the modern liberal idea of ‘helping individuals to help themselves whereas the classic liberal belief in economic liberalism reflects a belief in egotistical individualism.