Introduction Why do ideas matter?

helps us decide who gets what, when and why gives us standards for criticising the status quo helps us determine whats realistic and whats idealistic determine whether political principles ideas should reflect or express reality Reoccurring themes individual/collective freedom/equality progressive/anti-progressive the state property

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Progress and conservatism in political thought 06 03 12 The modernisation of Europe pre-industrial industrial and feudalism capitalism how knowledge distinguishes modern from pre-modern 1. agrarian power (control of land/materials) was very hierarchical, restricted literacy, was controlled by church and belief that social order was given by god/nature and shouldn't be questioned 2. enlightenment 3. natural social order and authority of monarch/church questioned as people gained more control over land/nature. shift to profit motive/capitalism/rise of bourgeoisie Modern political thought is characterised by reason perfectibility humanism (what diety says) universalism (anyone can use reason) have courage to use your own reason, that is the motto of enlightenment Kant Progress and tradition men make their own tradition but it is based on the current circumstances set by past generations Marx improvement and betterment considered inevitable by what criteria? efficiency, modernisation, technical control, societal improvement, human autonomy, freedom, equality phases: C18th enlightenment, C19th civilisation, evolution, C20th societal, material, democratic, C20th technological and moral? C20th was dominated by the idea of progress (liberal democratic capitalism, socialism, Nazism, fascism) Progressive Politics political manifestations use reason to solve problems based on use of science and knowledge welfare state, democracy and neo-liberalism reduction of unnecessary suffering, increasing freedom and equality (disabled rights/gay rights) Max Webber 1864-1920 world reduced to calculation rather than value based increased capacity for world mastery increasing rationalisation can both enhance and curtail freedom but increasing control of material life Horkheimer and Adorno when humans realise they can control everything they will want to Conservatism an ideology or just resistance to change? (preferring familiar to unknown oakshott) substance: hierarchy, family, order, authority, patriotism, obligation, tradition (rather than reason).

David Human anti-progressive, convention rather than reason common sense HUMAN IMPERFECTION Edmund Burke reformist, anti revolutionary should seek to reform system rather than destroy Oakeshot gov should not interfere but administer rules (not their job to direct or educate) Neo Conservatism and the new right socially conservative authoritarian BUT free market liberalism SMALL STATE anti-progressive, capitalism is fundamentally dynamic enacts change 1840s bugiousie Popular Rule: Democracy and Republicanism 27 03 12 distinct from oligarchy, aristocracy, tyranny and dictatorship who rules? the popular, aristocratic, rich, trained or good? Democracy rule by many Ancient comes from Polis in Athens, Pericles. free adult men (not women, slaves or foreigners) could vote in assembly and hold public office poor and rich (some paid compensation to attend) demos masses no guarantees of freedom of speech Modern liberal protects freedom representative best for large scale deliberative consensus decisions, take a long time direct republican common good De Tocqueville participation good praised republicanism but not democracy democracy values equality highly which leads to mediocrity and conformism risk of despotism populace to easily mislead by charismatic Problems unstable plato tryanny of majority De Tocqueville (mob rule, factionism, self interest, atomism) republicanism rule by few, many and good in interest of public good separation of powers (police, government and judiciary) rome no single government and people held power people: assemblies, aristocrats: senate, consuls: govern Renaissance Machiavelli liberty is self government rule of law not men liberty free speech, argument and critisism needed for republic to survive GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RESTRICTED liberalism and Libertarianism Liberalism rejection of absolutist rule 20 03 12

reflective of interests of the new class (bourgeoisie) sought freedom from the state to pursue profit and political representation to pursue their interests fundamentally individualistic egalitarian individuals equally free natural rights doctrine liberalism and Individualism individual is basic moral unit, reason, self interest (interest maximising), competitive, individual best judge of their own good Equal right to seek pleasure and avoided suffering (utilitarianism) Classical (18th and 19th Century) maximise individual freedom through removing obstacles night watchman state (enforcement of rules and protection from outsiders) constitutionalism state responsible to law (John locke and JS Mill state has to protect vulnerable) representative democracy laissez fair economy adam Smith Freedom of though, opinion, belief, conscience, expression, association, choose own goals, to own and dispose of property (THIS IS WHY MARRIAGE IS IMPORTANT) and to participate in government liberty preserved by recognising individual rights against the state LOCKE cant destroy own liberty John Locke men enter society to preserve there property (life, liberty and estates) CENTRAL natural rights social contract negative liberty JS Mill utility pursuit of individual happiness and purposes liberty allows individuals to develop talents ect only reason power can be exercised over others is to prevent harm we have a right to pursue freedom as long as we don't deprive others of theirs Isaiah Berlin POSITIVE: creating a capacity to think for ones self and that your own life should depend on your own reason and not others NEGATIVE: sometimes people need to follow to prevent disorder Social Liberalism: maximise individual autonomy by removing social obstacles like poverty and ignorance also fully develop individuality, skills, knowledge ect state has a role in enabling autonomy (regulates capital, welfare state, activist state) recognition that the unfettered market leads to inequality of opportunity government not the only source of unfreedom and coercion Libertarianism small state no right to interfere with private affairs, only for preventing monopolies and preserving private property and individual rights conflicts with social conservatism Socialism, Marxism and Social Democracy 27 03 12 History of Socialism the more men value money the less they value virtue plato material world v virtue (moral concerns) the love of money is the root of all evil bible st Aufustine found humans should be concerned with the sphere of god and morality Utopian Socialists the diggers (dug up hedges)

new farming technologies led to new social relationship between peasant and lord, became wage relationship land enclosure/hedges land became propertie of lord agrarian/egalitarian produce should go to everyone working on the lanf reactionary? also progressive because they wanted to overturn social order what if the diggers considered?? we wouldn't have urbanisation, labour pool why did these actions fail against Bourgeoisie

Two political trajectories of modernity one aimed at the increased liberalisation of markets and negative freedom of atomistic. the other Bruce S liberal and socialist tradition, not viewing individuals as being somehow responsible for their lives, he suggests that society had lead to a fallen condition of humanity must change individual and self-centeredness Saint-Simon embraced technology and science rabid individualism was dangerous found industrialism was just misguided scientist should rule not democracy liberalism against intentionality freemarkets maximise utility invisible hand realises common good (utopian liberals believe decisions are made morally, whereas socialists accepted human evil?) Marx turning the world right side up or against utopianism Darwin social Darwinism (survival of the fitist not why some societies are justified in being more wealthy) no need for god progress a result of material desire advantageous elements/mutations would be passed on material explanation of change marx says it is not ideas (morals) that drives society but material things and means of production stone axe - tribal relationship with elders plow feudal (serfs and lords) steam engine industrial (bourgeoisie and plebs) morality doesn't drive society, means of production does. heaven, morality leader, state family means of production (liberals past views) means of production family state, leader heaven morality (marx) those in control of production are in control of running society. rulling class = rulling ideas (marx) can pass moral ideas on others Reflexivity Problem once revealed people try to realise vision produces utopian elements produces danger of totalitarianism. Marx Political Economy in capitol society a commodity is something that is produced for the purposes of exchanging for something else 1. use value: properties that make an object useful. a commodity is primarily made to be sat on 2. exchange value: the apparent quantitative relation between comodities. ONLY ACT OF EXCHANGE Exchange value capatalism begins with price and therefore exchange value is a result of supply and demand marx does not simply disagree but argues that if use values are qualitatively different than what do two things share in common to enable exchange adam smith

Common Features of Labor power like must exchange w/ labor 4 hours = table 2 hours = chair 2 chairs = table exchange must be universal Money value can only express itself in the process of exchange cant pay more than what commodity is worth capitalism adds profit (capitalism fails to explain profit) through exchange profit occurs what people are willing to pay (supply and demand) quantification of enterprise of others (insentive) Market circulation claims will not pay consistently for same service so pay less for labour power in order to gain profit (exploitation) Surplus Value can take no more for tax and tithes but in capatalist society surplus become profit eg worker paid 70 to make 100 worth of goods 30 is profit so not paid full value of work (because the people don't own means of production) Means of production should be publicly owned (rather than entrepreneurs being rewarded) Marx cant value art as it serves no purpose if art is valued not because it is useful but because its tru, if we understand politics as art then marx gives an inadequate account of politics History of Socialism utopian/classical socialism scientific socialism/Marxism historical materialism economic theory social democracy from markets to politics Historical outline all early social democratic parties informed by marxs political economy increasing enfranchisement tension between democratic reform and revolution break with communism social democratic parties sided with nation states and supported WW1 Successful revolution in Russia encouraged Lennists vanguard communists social democracy lost support between WWI AND II Features right of citizen to equally share societies wealth o need for political system that can achieve this reform to achieve change (rejects Marx Utopianism) social democratic reform becomes easier the more developed the economy becomes high productivity essential Provocative way of thinking against dominat liberal beliefs o markets (not politics) should determine distrabution o only entitled to what YOU earn o entitlement should be limited by need Relationship with liberalism recognised that liberalism and liberal principles have: o created right to political democracy

o market principles o disagreement is the o ..! Developmental Account of Society unemployment not necessary part of society (not natural) 5 features of SD Tim Tilton 1. intergrative 2. solidarity and equity 3. socio-economic equality 4. socially controlled market economy 5. proper expansion of public sector extends freedom of choice Keynesian Economics aggregate demand is primarily influenced by fiscal policies more than monetary policy government spending influences fluctutation in markets low employment is more important than inflation influential thinkers john Stuart Mill production follows natural laws leads to great inequality educational and institutional arrangements distribute to those with wealth DISTRIBUTION A POLITICAL ISSUE Karl Polanyi markets arent natural wedded both monetary and fiscal policy political process can improve outcomes THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION (1944)? TH Martial argue for expansion for political sphere and social rights obligations society must meet in order for citizens to get most out of society is future liberal or neoliberal or SD? Social Democracy stagflation, caused by: o gov spending! o inability to control wage claims o oil crisis Addressing Inflation constrain wages but increase entitlements healthcare increase immagration through skilled labor programs increase productivity through high wages Liberal Welfare State low wage -> low skill/availability create more wealth but not for every one more tax and democracy = more social progress IQ isnt Nationalism 03 02 12 Nationalism is the idea that nations should be self-determining Debate over whether nationalism is and idea or ideology Modernity: decline of absolutism and hereditary rule emergence of mass societies (industrialism, capitalism, colonialism, technological innovations and common media ad languages) and individual right and that people should rule (but who are people) Today few think the monarchy has a connection to god, instead has a social role Nationalism: who are the people? Mass rule: Democracy, nationalism, fascism, state socialism populism 5 core elements of the nation (smith) 1. A historic territory, or homeland 2. Common myths and historical memories

3. A common mass culture 4. Common legal rights and duties 5. A common economy with territorial mobility for members Nation and state Max Webber defined the state as a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of legitimate use of physical force within a given territory State becomes a coercive institution Gellner Cultural: two men are of the same nation of they share the same culture (e.g. system of ideas, and communication) Voluntaristic: two men are of the same nation if the recognise each other as belonging to the same nation Ethnic vs civic Ethnic nationalism: ancestry, language culture and religion. In your blood. Civic: adherence with institutions. Should be composed of everyone who accepts nations political practises regardless of race/ethnicity (ignatieff) What is nationalism Political project that invokes a common identity: Political and national unity should be congruent (Gellner) Unite politic sphere State and nation should share same boundaries, state should represent and expression of the nation Nationalists seek to remake the world so that it fits their belief in the nation this is what makes it an ideology rather than an idea Developed when people identified with belonging to the nation rather than a social class 7 Common characteristics of nationalist ideology (Anthony Smith) Humanity is naturally divided into nations Each nation has its own character, the source of all political power is the collectivity of the nation For freedom and self-realisation we need our own nation Nations can only be fulfilled with in state Loyalty to nation overrides other loyalties (if Christian should still go to war) The primary condition of global freedom and harmony is the strengthen of the nation state Nations and modernity - Gellner It is nationalism which engenders nations and not the other way around Nationalism arose out of the need to create a homogenous mass of population to meet the needs of industrialisation Imagined communities (Anderson) Nation It is imagined as a community we dont see each other face to face In order to conceive our selves as nations needs the emergence of print capitalism and a revolution in how people perceived time itself. This allowed for a continuing story of a nation Vehicles to convey information to masses connecting and uniting people through shared story Periods of Nationalism: 1918 Versailles conference were societies broke up and form unified nations after ww2 the notion of nationalism became the fundamental political organisation of the world British empire fell apart as it was no longer acceptable Nationalism: progressive and conservative

in C18 and 19th was progressive/revolutionary/anti aristocratic/monarchic in late 19th and 20th : conservative nationalism emerged 20th: progressive, social, democratic, anti colonial ..

Liberal Nationalists popular sovereignty, republicanism, anti-monarchic, nations require freedom like individuals. Mazzini we all belong to humanity and that is our primary loyalty BUT we all need a nation state, this is were we get rights and protection Because freedom can only occur in a community of like minded people J.S Mill Individual freedom means you should have the freedom to join whichever group you want. Freedom to associate with others. This is impossible in a nation of diff values. Nation is a means to and end, means to achieve individual liberty. Socialism on Nationalism Normally committed to internationalism and cosmopolitanism However, has embraced nationalism as a defence against imperialism and foreign capitalism utilised it for their own means (useful mobilising ideology, getting people together) Also stems from a commitment to a strong state Conservatives on Nationalism Originally against, as it called for revolution but adopted in 19th century Unified in the face of socialism and class antagonism Nation associated with tradition, stability and order Eurosceptic, anti internationalism Military pride