SOCIAL LIBERALISM: ORIGIN, CHARACTERISTICS, REPRESENTATIVES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The social liberalism or social liberalism is a political doctrine that seeks to find a balance between individual freedom and social justice. This ideology is based on the defense of individual initiatives. At the same time, socioliberalism seeks to limit the influence of the State in matters of the social and cultural life of individuals.

According to the postulates of social liberalism, the exclusive function of the State should be to guarantee equal opportunities and promote both individual development and the freedom of all citizens. But in no case should you intervene in making your decisions.

Portrait of Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse around 1910, one of the main representatives of social liberalism.

In this sense, the followers of this current are situated in an intermediate point between the socialists and the conservative liberals. Of the former, they criticize their desire to socialize the economy. They consider that this type of policy inevitably leads to ineffective state paternalism that ends up repressing individuals.

On the other hand, they do not agree with conservative liberals in their position of considering all individuals in society equal. In his opinion, this is redundant since it is contemplated in the laws. Instead, they promote the idea of ​​equal opportunity, allowing for a more equitable distribution of wealth in the long run.

The theoretical foundations of social liberalism were taken from such thinkers as Locke (English philosopher, 1632-1704), Bentham (English philosopher, 1747-1832), Thomas Jefferson (American politician, 1743-1826), John Stuart Mill (English philosopher, 1806 -1873) and Norberto Bobbio (Italian philosopher, 1909-2004).

Origin

The term "liberal"

The term liberal applied to the political sphere appeared in the Spanish Cortes in 1810. The “liberal” members of this parliament rebelled against absolutism. In 1812, his effort resulted in the promulgation of a new constitution that restricted the powers of the monarchy.

Among others, the 1812 Constitution required the king to carry out his work through ministers. Furthermore, a parliament was created without a special representation of the church or the nobility, the central administration was restructured into a system of provinces and municipalities, and the individual right to private property was reaffirmed.

However, the liberal success was short-lived. In the 1823-33 decade, the Liberals were purged while the Conservatives tried to re-establish government control of the economy and the power of the church and upper classes.

First liberal ideas against absolutism

In the 19th century, the term liberal gained validity in Spain, but the central ideas of liberalism are older. Many consider that they were born in England during the century of struggle for political and religious freedom that ended with the overthrow of James II in 1688.

From this century on, the powers of the absolutist monarchy were greatly reduced. This political change was accompanied by a new theory of constitutional government that affirmed the limited nature of political authority.

According to the postulates of John Locke, the role of the government was to ensure the common good and protect the liberty and property of the subjects. These had rights that existed independently of the determinations of any civil authority. They could even rebel against any government that began to rule tyrannically.

Arguments for religious tolerance

Aside from challenging absolutism, the arguments for religious tolerance began in the 16th century. In France, the most important defender of this doctrine was Pierre Bayle. His writings marked the beginning of the French liberal tradition. From England, Locke also wrote against religious persecution.

Even earlier, in Spain, Francisco Vitoria (1486-1546) of the School of Salamanca argued that the Pope had no right to grant European rulers dominion over the peoples of the New World, and that the New World could only determine where they could continue their missionary work.

In that sense, he defended that the pagans had the right to their property and to their own rulers. In this way, he affirmed the rights of individual conscience against the claims of sovereign authority, as well as the principle of equality of all human beings.

The American Federalist Model

In the British tradition, Parliament asserted the right to control the power of government. During the 18th and 19th centuries the power of the monarchy was almost completely eroded.

But in the American tradition, the dispersion of power between states in a federation controlled executive power. In addition, there was a deliberate separation of powers between the separate and independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

Thus, the American system of government represented an explicit attempt to design a system of political authority that limited the power of government and protected individual liberty. But the government retained its ability to defend the public domain against external enemies or to serve the common good.

From classical liberalism to social liberalism

The thinkers of 16th and 17th century Europe would not have recognized the term liberal. However, modern liberalism evolved from his ideas. That evolution was not purely a development of theory, but the product of both philosophical inquiry and political experimentation.

At the end of the 19th century, liberalism began to divide into two streams. The "classic" sought to establish a solid framework to protect people from state power. Its objective was to control its size and promote free international trade. He valued political freedoms and gave special importance to property rights.

On the other hand, social liberalism also valued political freedom, the right of individuals to make their own decisions, and free international trade. But in addition, he introduced the idea of ​​a fair distribution of wealth and power.

Characteristics of social liberalism

Postulates of classical liberalism

In general, social liberalism maintains the postulates of classical liberalism. As such, they uphold their beliefs about the right of people to have civil and political liberties. They also believe in free international trade.

Fair distribution of wealth and power

But in addition, they consider that a commitment is needed for a fair distribution of wealth and power. For them, through the payment of tax, the State can guarantee the enjoyment of education, health, justice and security under equal conditions. And they highlight the importance of democracy as a form of fair distribution of power.

State intervention in the economy

On the other hand, they postulate that it is the function of the State to intervene in the economy to prevent the formation of private or public economic monopolies.

For this reason they declare themselves in disagreement with socialism, since it sponsors the public economic monopolies. In this way, socialism generates economic inefficiency and social injustice.

Equal opportunities

On the other hand, they defend equal opportunities, individual development and the freedom of citizens to make decisions related to their future. In general, social liberalism defends progressivism, social justice and liberal democracy.

Representatives

Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse (1864-1929)

Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse was an English sociologist and philosopher who tried to reconcile liberalism with collectivism (collective ownership of the means of production) to achieve social progress.

This conception is based on his knowledge of various other fields such as philosophy, psychology, biology, anthropology, and the history of religion.

Among the works where he outlined these thoughts are The Theory of Knowledge (1896), Development and Purpose (1913), The Metaphysical Theory of the State (1918), The Rational Good (1921), The Elements of Social Justice (1922) and The social development (1924).

Léon Victor Auguste Bourgeois (1851-1925)

Léon Victor Auguste Bourgeois was a French politician, recognized as the father of solidarity (French name by which social liberalism is also known). In his theoretical developments, he emphasizes the obligations of society to each of its members.

His publications include Solidarity (1896), The Politics of Social Planning (1914-19), The Pact of 1919 and the League of Nations (1919), and The Work of the League of Nations (1920-1923).

Francisco Giner de los Ríos (1839-1915)

Francisco Giner de los Ríos was a Spanish philosopher, pedagogue and essayist whose thought was at the center of the Krausist trend. This tendency was characterized by his attempt to combine and reconcile rationalism with morality. This line of thought influenced the action and thought of the Spanish liberals.

Like the Krausist school, Giner de los Ríos defended a rationalist ideal of social harmony. This harmony would be based on the ethical reform of the individual which would be achieved through education. In this way, society would sustain a truly liberal state.

His extensive work includes Principles of Natural Law (1875), Legal and Political Studies (1875) and The Social Person. Studies and fragments I and II (1899) and Summary of Philosophy of Law I (1898).

Gumersindo de Azcárate y Menéndez (1840-1917)

Gumersindo de Azcárate y Menéndez was a Spanish thinker, jurist, professor, historian, and Krausist politician. His major works include Economic and Social Studies (1876), Philosophical and Political Studies (1877), and Concept of Sociology (1876). He also stands out in his work The legality of the parties (1876).

William Henry Beveridge (1879-1963)

British economist William Henry Beveridge was a leading progressive and social reformer. He was best known for his report on social insurance and allied services written in 1942. His Beveridge Report served as the basis for reviving England's post-war economy in 1945.

His work is made up of the titles Unemployment: An Industry Problem (1909), Prices and Wages in England from the 12th to the 19th Century (1939) and Social Security and Related Services (1942). Also belonging to her production are the titles Full employment in a free society (1944), Why I am liberal (1945) and Power and Influence (1953).

Differences with economic liberalism

Both social and economic liberalism come from a common theoretical construct, liberalism. However, only socioliberalism constitutes a formal ideology.

The objective of the latter is the individual freedom of people. Economic liberalism, for its part, is the means to achieve that goal.

Thus, social liberalism is related to the application of liberal principles to the political life of the members of a society. The final purpose, in general, is the achievement of your freedom and well-being. For its part, economic liberalism advocates the development of material conditions in order to guarantee the achievement of the same objective.

In this way, social liberalism requires the non-participation of the State in matters of the sphere of private conduct of people. This includes moral, religious, and love or sexual topics. It also defends full freedom of political, educational and religious expression.

For its part, economic liberalism preaches the non-intervention of the State in the economic issues of society. According to this ideology, this would ensure unrestricted competition that would translate into social welfare for the entire society.

References

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