Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Liberalism
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Text book Questions
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
Positive liberalism does not have faith in :
(a) Limited powers for state
(b) State in the form of moral status
(c) Welfare state
(d) Very short state
Answer:
(b) State in the form of moral status
Question 2.
When and where was the word liberalism used first?
(a) In 1815, England
(b) In 1776, USA
(c) In 1917, USSR (Soviet Union)
(d) In 1885, Germany
Answer:
(a) In 1815, England
Question 3.
Which of the following statements is wrong?
(a) ‘Liber’ word indicates to those who are neither farmers nor slaves.
(b) The word ‘Liberalism’ came into existence first in Spain in 1812.
(c) There are differences between classical liberalism and modem liberalism.
(d) The moral weaknesses of market supporters are the same as the moral weaknesses of market opposers.
Answer:
(b) The word ‘Liberalism’ came into existence first in Spain in 1812.
Question 4.
Which of the following is the outcome of liberalism?
(a) Capitalism
(b) Communism
(c) Gandhism
d) Constitutionalism
Answer:
(b) Communism
Question 5.
This thought is not powerful in contemporary society.
(a) Socialism
(b) Communism
(c) Royalism
(d) Liberalism
Answer:
(c) Royalism
Question 6.
Which of the following thinkers is not a supporter of liberalism?
(a) Karl Marx
(b) John Locke
(c) Jeremy Bentham
(d) Spencer
Answer:
(a) Karl Marx
Question 7.
Traditional liberalism was a political thought which :
(a) Supported capitalism
(b) Supported eradication of social inequality
(c) Supported the despotic monarchies
(d) Supported the dictatorship of proletriat
Answer:
(a) Supported capitalism
Question 8.
Who is known as the Father of Liberalism?
(a) John Locke
(b) Recardo
(c) Adam Smith
(d) Thomas Hobbs
Answer:
(a) John Locke
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What was the main demand of liberalism in the economic field?
Answer:
Liberalism supports the ‘right of property’ and ‘Free trade’ in economic field. It stresses for mixed and controlled economy in place of market system.
Question 2.
What was the main demand of liberalism in the political field?
Answer:
Liberalism advocates for establishment of welfare state in political field . Besides, it gives emphasis on universal adult franchise, impartial election process and larger political partnership.
Question 3.
What was the main demand of liberalism in the social field?
Answer:
Liberalism talks of unity in social field. It also emphaises that the state should not intervene in the works of an individual. Liberalism is an artificial institute of the society aimed at delivering good to an individual.
Question 4.
How did liberalism come into existence?
Answer:
Liberalism is derived from the Latin word ‘Liber’ which means ‘free’. The advent of liberalism is associated with renaissance and religious reform movements of Europe.
Question 5.
Who are the prominent thinkers of liberalism?
Answer:
John Locke is referred as the father of liberalism. Other main thinkers are : Adam Simth, Jeremy, Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer.
Question 6.
What do you mean by negative liberalism?
Answer:
In 17th and 18th centuries, traditional liberalism came into existence which was of negative character. In this doctrine, freedom was thought to be devoid of bondage. The state with minimal intervention was termed to be the best.
Question 7.
What do you mean by positive liberalism?
Answer:
Positive liberalism advocates a public welfare state. In this doctrine, levying on individual property and tax on capitalists are suggested.
Question 8.
What do you mean by traditional liberalism?
Answer:
Traditional liberalism stipulates religion as private matter of an individual. It emphasises on personal freedom and accepts the existence of a limited state. It supports personal wealth.
Question 9.
Who are the founders of modern liberalism?
Answer:
The founders of modern liberalism are – John Stuart Mill, Laski, Mclver etc.
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Explain the political objectives of liberalism.
Answer:
The following are the main political objectives of liberalism :
- Liberalism gives strong support for the establishment of a public welfare state.
- It regards works of the state limited to the extent of independence of an individual. In the beginning, negative liberalism thought a state to be an unnecessary institution but positive liberalism regarded the state to be a positive good. In the course of time, in order to safeguard autonomy of an individual, there was a stress to limit the works of a state.
- Liberalism thinks a person as accomplishment and the state as means.
- Constitutionalism, rule of law, decentralisation, free and fair elections, judiciary system, democracy, safety of rights and freedom are some other political objectives of liberalism.
Question 2.
Mention five characteristics of traditional liberalsim.
Answer:
In 17th and 18th centuries, liberalism was also called traditional or classical liberalism.
The following are the main five characteristics of traditional liberalism:
- It stresses more on individualism. In order to safeguard freedom, it accepts the existence of a limited state.
- It talks about the freedom of an individual from the religious and cultural chains of medieval period.
- It believes in religious equality of persons against the backdrop of recognition of human beings.
- It has faith in free will of an individual.
- It has a belief in rationality and quality of human beings and hence advocates for freedom and rights of an individual.
Question 3.
Liberalism is a reaction against Marxism. Explain.
Answer:
There is a set notion about liberalism that its form and scope have been under reform since its inception. Sometimes, it emerged directly in support of capitalists and then it advocated in the favour of capitalists in subdued tone. After that, it started to support the poor in the backdrop of a desire to protect capitalists in the wake of fear from Marxism. Liberalism became a staunch supporter of public welfare. After demolition of Marxism in Soveit Union in 1990, liberalism again took on its traditional form. Renaissance and religious reform, movements gave birth to it and the industrialisation provided a base to it. The flourishing caplitalism brought it close to freedom and the faith in individual limited the state.
In general, liberalism is more than the thought. It is a way of thinking, an outlook to see the world and an attempt to keep politics in liberal shape. Summarily, it can be said that liberalism is a reaction against Marxism.
Question 4.
How is modern liberalism different from the traditional liberalism?
Answer:
Modern liberalism is different from traditional liberalism on the following basis :
- Traditional liberalism supports personal wealth, whereas the modem liberalism restricts personal property.
- Traditional liberalism is synonymous to capitalism, whereas the modern liberalism advocates an imposition of tax on capitalists and for equality.
- The form of traditional liberalism is negative, whereas the nature of modem liberalism is positive.
- The object of traditional liberalism was to restrict the powers of monarchs, whereas the modem liberalism limits the powers of a government and state.
- Traditional liberalism accepts a state as necessary evil, whereas modem liberalism terms a state as positive means for social welfare and hence, emphasises on establishment of a welfare state.
- Traditional liberalism is a supporter of market management, whereas modem liberalism is for mixed and controlled economic system in place of market economic management.
Question 5.
How did liberalism help to establish the concept of welfare state?
Answer:
The shape of doctrine of liberalism kept on changing continuously. At the beginning, its doctrine was negative and it was in support of capitalism, but after sometime it became a strong proponent of the concept of welfare. Traditional liberalism termed the state as necessary evil but modern liberalism accepts the state as positive good (means ) for public welfare. Liberalism thinks of a person as accomplishment and state as means. The set notion of liberalism is that the inception of the state is meant for safety of rights of an individual. An individual enjoys the right to rebellion if there is a violation of the agreement. Liberalism stresses for equal opportunities and all round freedom of an individual.
Question 6.
What are the main points of criticism regarding liberalism?
Answer:
Liberalism is criticised on the following points :
- liberalism is the philosophy of an ageing group.
- It subscribes to the retention of capitalism.
- It suppresses revolutionary rights of the poor.
- It makes state powerful to quell the revolt of the poor.
- Social justice of liberalism is a sham.
- It entrusts the responsibilities of social freedom to the state.
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Compare critically traditional liberalism with modem liberalism in detail.
Answer:
We get detailed decription of liberalism in the work of Locke, Bentham and Adam Smith. At that time, its form was negative and it was known as individualism or classical liberalism. In 19th century, John Stuart Mill reformed it to positive form. We can differentiate traditional liberalism and modem liberalism on the following basis :
- With regard to state :
In traditional liberalism, state is regarded as necessary and although its existence was mandatory, but in the context of individual freedom, it was thought to be bad. In modem liberalism, the state is regarded as positive goodness. - In respect of personal liberty :
Traditional liberalism emphasises on personal freedom and wanted to free the human race from religion and cultural chains of medieval period. It puts belief in free will and equality of individuals. Modern liberalism also advocates for all round development of an individual in all the areas. - With regard to personal wealth and capitalism :
Traditional liberalism supports the principle of private wealth and in this form a particular group becomes synonymous to capitalism. It develops social inequalities. As a result, Marxist revolution takes place which opposed capitalism. Under this scenario, liberalism changed its doctrine to check the effect of Marxism and it gave birth to modem liberalism. This supports a public welfare state. It restricts private wealth and advocates for tax on capitalists. - In respect of economy :
The economic society of traditional liberalism is common association which takes care of only aged persons. It overlooks the interests of common people. Modern liberalism advocates for mixed and controlled economy in place of market economy.
Question 2.
Liberalism is basically a thought to give a way to capitalism. Explain in detail.
Answer:
Since beginning, the ideology of liberalism has been under continuous change. Traditional or classical liberalism sometimes directly advocates in support of capitalists or sometime talks of favour to capitalists in subdued tone. It also advocates for private wealth besides need of social unity and as such, this thought serves the good to capitalist.
In this sense, this thought could be a revolutionary one and hence becomes a voice in support of capitalism. On account of being supportive to individual wealth and capitalism, there exists a groups of poor persons. Besides, certain social and economic disparities do corrupt liberalism and it now becomes synonymous to capitalism. Scientific marxist revolution came into existence as a counter to liberalism supporting capitalism. Marx talks about equality in life in place of inequalities . To achieve this goal, he talks of struggle for change.
In order to check the increasing effect of Marxism, liberalism changes its form and support a public welfare state, wherein it talks about restriction on private wealth and levying tax on capitalists.
Traditional liberalism advocates free trade in economic field and capitalism based on agreement. It is also called negative liberalism because it restricts on control or intervention on capitalism. Because of this only, this doctrine in criticised that economic society of liberalism is common society which takes care of the aged persons and overlooks the interests of the common man.
Question 3.
Explain the main principles of liberalism.
Answer:
The advent of liberalism is the result of renaissance and religious reform movements. John Locke is regarded as the father of liberalism. Adam Smith and Jeremy Bentham were the supporters of liberalism. Liberalism kept changing with time, but still following are general principles of liberalism :
- Support to capitalism :
The doctrine of liberalism, directly or indirectly, supports capitalism. But at the time of being reacted upon by Marxism, it talks about the welfare of poor folk. In beginning this doctrine seems to be synonymous to capitalism. - Support to personal wealth :
The doctrine of liberalism supports for personal (individual) property which is the main cause of social division. It generates a situation of social disparities by way of class-struggle, In order to contain the effect of Marxism, modern liberalism subscribes to restriction on individual property. - Support for public welfare state :
In the beginning, liberalism regarded the state as a necessary evil, but gradually in due course, it started regarding the state as positive goodness. Summarily, it supports the public welfare form of the state. As per the doctrine of liberalism, the advent of the state has been only for protection of rights of individual and it is done in accordance with the agreement. Mutual relationship between the state and the individual are based on this agreement and in case, the state denies the agreement, (then) an individual shall have not only right but also the responsibility to revolt against the state. - Personal freedom :
Liberalism supports freedom of an individual. Because of granting importance to an individual, the traditional form of liberalism is known as individualism. As per the doctrine of liberalism, an individual should be granted liberty in political, economic, social and religious spheres. - Support of free trade :
Liberalism supports free trade in economic area.
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Other Important Questions
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
Indefinite availability of permanent values is
(a) Socialism
(b) Capitalism
(c) Liberalism
(d) All the three
Answer:
(c) Liberalism
Question 2.
In medieval period which of these arrangements was in existence
(a) Aristocracy
(b) Monarchy
(c) Papacy
(d) All the three
Answer:
(d) All the three
Question 3.
Where was the word liberalism used first?
(a) England
(b) France
(c) Spain
(d) Germany
Answer:
(a) England
Question 4.
Initially liberalism was known as :
(a) Traditional
(b) Classical
(c) Negative
(d) All the three
Answer:
(d) All the three
Question 5.
Choose the wrong statement
(a) Liberalism is a doctrine which loves human being.
(b) This regards a person as accomplishment and the state as means.
(c) This regards a person as means and the state as accomplishment.
(d) It stresses on freedom and rights of an individual.
Answer:
(c) This regards a person as means and the state as accomplishment.
Question 6.
Glorious revolution happened in :
(a) 1688
(b) 1588
(c) 1888
(d) 1988
Answer:
(a) 1688
Question 7.
Who established the principle of ‘Separation of Power’
(a) Jeremy Bentham
(b) J.S. Mill
(c) Adam Smith
(d) Montesque
Answer:
(d) Montesque
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Who is regarded the father of liberalism?
Answer:
John Locke is regarded as the father of liberalism.
Question 2.
Write the name of four thinkers supportive to liberalism.
Answer:
John Locke, Jeremy Bentham, Adam Smith and john Stuart Mill.
Question 3.
What was the reason for the advent of liberalism?
Answer:
The advent of liberalism was a result of renassaince and religious reform movements.
Question 4.
What is the concept of liberalism with regard to capitalism?
Answer:
Liberalism has been supportive to capitalism
Question 5.
What has been the main reason of regarding liberalism supportive to capitalism?
Answer:
The main reason is that the liberalism supports individual wealth.
Question 6.
What was the reason of change in the doctrine of liberalism in respect of capitalism later?
Answer:
Traditional liberalism became synonymous to capitalism and gave its support to capitalism. In this situation, Marxism supported class struggle to eliminate social disparities. As a result, there was a change in the outlook of liberalism.
Question 7.
What has been the state related concept of liberalism?
Answer:
At the beginning, liberalism was in favour of limiting the scope of the state, but in due time, it became supportive to the concept of public welfare state.
Question 8.
State any four characteristics of liberalism.
Answer:
- Rule of law
- Democratic decentralisation
- Individual freedom
- Free trade
Question 9.
What is Glorious Revolution?
Answer:
Glorious revolution happened in England in 1688. It is also called bloodless revolution. It rejected the divine principle of state and made efforts to make the state a human institution.
Question 10.
When did the French Revolution take place? What was its importance?
Answer:
The French Revolution happened in 1789. The revolution ended despotic monarchy by way of inculcating a new principle of liberty, equality and fraternity to the western society.
Question 11.
Who established the ‘Separation of powers’ principle?
Answer:
The principle of ‘Separation of powers’ was brought in by Montesque.
Question 12.
According to which scholar the notion “political works are limited and hence political power must also be limited” should be complied with?
Answer:
This idea was expressed by john Locke.
Question 13.
What are the alternative names of traditional form of liberalism?
Answer:
The traditional form of liberalism is also known by the names like classical liberalism, negative liberalism, etc.
Question 14.
What was the form of traditional liberalism?
Answer:
Despite giving emphasis on human dignity, rationality, freedom and individualism, its basic character was negative.
Question 15.
Mention two characteristics of negative liberalism.
Answer:
- Excessive stress on individualism
- Belief in spiritual equality of all individuals
Question 16.
Mention two characteristics of liberalism as defined by Locke.
Answer:
- Basis of law is logic, not an order
- The state which rules less is the best.
Question 17.
Why is traditional liberalism called negative liberalism?
Answer:
It is called negative liberalism because it restricts any control and intervention in the economic system of capitalism.
Question 18.
Mention one basis of criticism of negative liberalism.
Answer:
Excessive openness of liberalism in social sphere is against morality.
Question 19.
Mention two specialities of modern liberalism.
Answer:
- Stress on establishment of public welfare state.
- Stress for all-round development of an individual.
Question 20.
What in the difference between traditional liberalism and modem liberalism in respect of economy?
Answer:
Traditional form of liberalism stresses on market arrangement, whereas modern liberalism advocates mixed economy.
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
When did the thought of liberalism come into being?
Answer:
In all modern political thoughts, the belief of liberalism is the oldest one. The advent of liberalism came into being after the renaissance and religious reform movements in Europe. In 16th century, liberalism came into existence as a powerful reaction against system of monarchy, feudalism and popedom in medieval period. The use of the word liberalism was made first in England in 1815.
Question 2.
Mention the nature of liberalism.
Answer:
The nature of liberalism is related to its advent and its developmental phases, and hence its nature can be understood as :
- Liberalism is a development thought. In 1688, the Glorious revolution in England discarded divine principles of the state and endeavoured to establish a human institution.
- Liberalism is a human-linked thought.
- Liberalism is linked to freedom.
- Liberalism is a thought linked to rights of individuals.
- Liberalism stresses on constitutionalism.
Question 3.
What do you know of traditional or classical liberalism ? Mention briefly.
Answer:
The doctrine of traditional liberalism regards religion as internal and private affair of an individual . It stresses on individual freedom. It accepts the existence of a limited state and supports it. It underlines social unity. In due course of time, liberalism, instead of being a revolutionary thought, became a thought of capitalism. This supports private wealth. This school of thought gave rise to inequality in human life. Liberalism became the second name of capitalism. Marx talks about equality by way of eliminating inequality struggle. As a result, liberalism changed its form.
Question 4.
Evaluate modem liberalism.
Answer:
Modern liberalism :
This principle supports public welfare state. It asks for restrictions on personal wealth and tax on capitalists. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) writes on liberalism that in previous years, the work of liberalism was to restrict the powers of monarchs and in future, the work of liberalism will be to limit the powers of state.
After Locke, many thinkers like Bentham, Tomas Paine, Rousseau, Montesqueu gave wings to liberalism. They not only expressed faith in power, reason, wisdom and ability of the individual, but also called for non-interference of the state in work of individual or citizens. It is as a result of liberalism that there was declaration of of human rights in France in 1779.
Question 5.
What do you know of liberalism of 17th and 18th centuries?
Answer:
Liberalism of 17th and 18th centuries was also called traditional or classical liberalism. This liberalism was of negative form. Despite giving emphasis on logic, repute, freedom and individualism, its main character was negative. In this doctrine, freedom was thought to be devoid of bondages and state was accepted a necessary evil. For the sake of capitalists, the state which intervened the least was regarded to be the best. It advocated free trade and right of wealth.
Question 6.
Mention the salient features of negative liberalism.
Answer:
Salient features of negative liberalism are as follows :
- It stresses more on individualism.
- It stresses on human rationality and stresses on faith in naturals gifts, rights, human life, liberty and wealth for humanity.
- Great value to human beings and faith in religious equality of individuals.
- It believes in personal freedom of individuals.
- It stresses on religious and cultural freedom of an individual in medieval period.
Question 7.
Mention main features of modern liberalism.
Answer:
After second world war, a sweeping change took place in the traditional thought of liberalism and then emerged positive liberalism. Its main features are as follows :
- It advocated for setting up of the welfare state.
- On overall development of an individual in all the spheres of life.
- To provide equal opportunities and rights to all individuals.
- Faith in development and scientific progress.
- Universal adult franchise, impartial election and stress on wider political participation.
- To keep faith in reformations, peaceful activities and gradual social change.
- Improvement in the status of minorities and weaker sections of the society.
- Support to mixed economy in place of market economy.
- Emphasis on political culture of democratic society.
RBSE Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Write a detailed note on the advent and development of liberalism.
Answer:
Liberalism is a legacy of European history and philosophy. In fact, it is the dividend of renaissance. John Locke is regarded as the father of liberalism. The use of the word liberalism was first made in England in 1815, but as a philosophy, liberalism came into being in the 16th century. The developmental phases of liberalism can be understood in the following steps :
First phase of development :
Before the 14th century, rulers like-kings, pope, knights, etc. had a rampant sway in the state. This period is called a dark era. Liberalism came into existence against the medieval rulers. The references of the initial form of liberalism are found in the works of John Locke, Bentham and Adam Smith. At the beginning, its form was negative and it was known as individualism or classical liberalism.
Second phase of development :
The second phase of development of change in liberalism started in 14th century when john Stuart Mill gave it a positive form. Previously, the state was thought to be a necessary evil but now it started to have positive goodness. Simultaneously, certain mandatory restrictions were imposed on it against the backdrop of fear in the system of uncontrolled freedom of an individual.
Third phase of development :
In 20th century, Laski and Mclver presented a new form of liberalism. Now the state was regarded as a good and necessary institution. Besides, laws were thought to be a saviour of an individual.
Fourth phase of development :
During the later part of 20th century, liberalism got bent in support of autonomy to an individual under the fear of increasing popularity of Marxism. Because of this reason, there was a support to restrict works of the state. In this way, liberalism got its present form after undergoing several developmental changes. This doctrine regards an individual as accomplishment and state as means.
Question 2.
On which issues modern and contemporary liberalism focusses? Describe in detail and also make critical evaluations.
Answer:
After Second World War, there came wide changes in liberalism economic, political and social circumstances. A positive doctrine of liberalism came into being against the increasing effect of Marxism and socialism. This doctrine of liberalism emphasises on the following points :
- It emphasises on setting up of a welfare state.
- Fulfillment of basic necessities of persons.
- Stress on universal adult franchise, impartial elections and political participation.
- Stress on overall development of an individual in all spheres of life.
- Stress on political culture of democratic society
- Equal opportunities and rights to all persons
- This form of liberalism believes in peaceful reformist and successive social changes in place of adoption of revolutionary methods.
- Advocates for improvement in the interests of minorities, old persons and weaker sections of the society.
- Public development and faith in scientific progress.
- State as positive means for social good.
- Stress on lessening widespread communalism and class- discontent.
- Stress on thinking with new views to resolve problems of democratic set up.
- To make capitalism flexible and stress on objectives of controlled economy.
- Talk for collective good. .
- Modem liberalism stresses on mixed and controlled economy in place of ‘market arrangement’.
Criticism :
Modern and contemporary liberalism can be criticised on the following bases :
- This thought is linked to capitalism.
- It entrusts a state with the responsibilities to form necessary social changes for freedom and does not end capitalism.
- Its social justice is a mere show.
- This form of liberalism is, in fact, a philosophy for old-aged group. It basically stresses on capitalism and status quo.
- It makes the state powerful so that the poor can be oppressed in the name of political validity.
- This form of liberalism suppresses revolutionary voices of the poor.