Volume 22, Number 4, April 2013
Political ideologies
The development of modern
liberalism
Clare Stansfield
You can use this extension piece alongside the ‘A2 focus on…’ article on classical and modern
liberalism on p. 29 of this issue of the magazine.
Did modern liberal ideas develop from classical liberal ideas and adapt to
reflect the modern world, or are they entirely different from classical
liberalism?
Key features of modern liberalism
Equality of opportunity
Positive freedom
Enabling state
Developmental individualism
Qualified welfare
The poverty and nature of life in Victorian Britain led to the development of modern liberal views and
values by the end of the nineteenth century. Politicians and theorists felt that there were weaknesses
in classical liberal ideas and policies, which could not provide freedom for everyone, as shown by the
high levels of disease and squalor. In a similar fashion to the development of paternalism or ‘one-
nation’ conservatism, modern liberal ideas developed in a specific historical context.
Key developments
Equality of opportunity can only be achieved if there is a reduction in social inequality, which may
lead to some equality of outcome. This would take place in conjunction with a more positive role for
the state. The state would create the conditions in which people could excel, through education or the
health service. This state would be an enabling state, one that would allow people to choose to
progress, rather than one which intervened and forced people to succeed. The notion that individuals
can choose to advance can be described as developmental individualism.
Positive freedom is one of the key differences between modern and classical liberalism. However, it
is important to recognise that although the two strands of liberalism have different views on the role of
the state, there are still overlapping themes between the two strands. Modern liberals believe in a
positive view of freedom, where the enabling state creates the conditions for people to choose to
progress. Both classical and modern liberals believe that freedom is the ultimate political goal, in
whatever form it takes. Modern liberals have also not rejected negative freedom entirely. The aim of
modern liberals is to enable people to help themselves, thus the aim of both classical and modern
liberals is to promote individual autonomy, or negative freedom. All liberal views on equality stem
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from a belief in individualism. This is true for modern liberals, who believe in a relative form of social
equality that is still grounded in individualism where equality of opportunity and positive freedom allow
individuals to choose to succeed.
Qualified welfare is the means by which positive freedom and equality of opportunity take place. A
free market, one that is unregulated and free of state intervention as favoured by classical liberals,
creates inequalities in wealth and conditions similar to those in Victorian Britain. The state has a role
to play for modern liberals in providing the welfare that enables individuals to help themselves. It is
important to note though that the increased role given to the state by modern liberals is limited to
providing qualified welfare and supervision of the economy, and does NOT mean that modern liberals
support unlimited state power.
Example essay plan
‘Modern liberals have abandoned individualism and embraced collectivism’. Discuss.
Introduction: Define liberalism and the terms in the question — individualism/collectivism
Explain that this is the argument advanced by classical liberals
Modern liberals have abandoned individualism:
Support for enabling state
Keynesian economics
How are these criticised by classical liberalists e.g. creating a dependency culture or limiting
economic freedom?
Modern liberals are still rooted in individualism and reflect changing circumstances, both economic
and social:
State intervention is limited and conditional — social and economic intervention only
Collectivism is a means to an end
Conclusion: Weigh up both sides — be clear that modern liberals are not aiming to create a nanny
state but to create an environment in which individuals can flourish
Task
Find out more about the following liberal theorists:
Charles Taylor
Thomas H. Green
John Rawls
Erich Fromm
Isaiah Berlin
Clare Stansfield teaches politics at St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College
in Clapham, London
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