Liberalism:
OLD A2 LIBERALISM QUESTIONS
Short Answers
1. Why do liberals support constitutionalism and consent? (Jan 02)
2. Distinguish between negative freedom and positive freedom, and explain the
implications of each for the state. (Jun 02)
3. Outline a liberal defence of toleration and pluralism. (Jun 02)
4. What kind of equality do liberals support, and why? (Jan 03)
5. Distinguish between individualism and collectivism, and explain the implications
of each for the state. (Jan 03)
6. On what grounds do liberals support democracy? (June 03)
7. Why do liberals fear concentrations of power? (Jan 04)
8. Why do modern liberals support social reform and welfare? (June 04)
9. Define individualism, and explain its implications for the state. (June 04)
10. Distinguish between socialist and liberal views of equality. (Jan 05)
11. Why do liberals emphasis the importance of constitutionalism and consent? (June 05)
12. Distinguish between positive freedom and negative freedom, and explain the
implications of each for the state. (June 05)
13. Distinguish between economic liberalism and social liberalism. (Jan 06)
14. Why have liberals criticised the socialist view of equality? (June 06)
15. Define ‘positive freedom’, and explain its implication for the state. (June 06)
16. On what grounds have liberals raised concerns about democracy? (Jan 07)
17. How and why have conservatives and liberals disagreed over authority? (Jan 07)
18. Define individualism and explain its importance within liberal ideology (June 07)
19. Why have liberals feared the concentration of political power? (Jan 08)
20. Why have some liberals warned against the dangers of democracy? (Jun 08)
21. Using examples, distinguish between negative freedom and positive freedom. (Jun 08)
22. How do modern liberals justify welfare and social reform? (Jan 09)
23. Define individualism, and explain its implications for the state (Jan 09)
24. Why have some liberals warned against the dangers of democracy? (June 09)
25. Using examples, distinguish between negative freedom and positive freedom. (June 09)
Essays
1. How, and to what extent, have modern liberals departed from the ideas of classical
liberalism? (Jan 02)
2. To what extent is liberalism compatible with democracy? (Jun 02)
3. ‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ Why do liberals
believe this, and what are its implications? (Jan 03)
4. Have modern liberals abandoned individualism and embraced collectivism?(June03)
5. To what extent are there tensions within modern liberalism over the role of the state? (Jan 04)
6. 'Liberal democracy is a contradiction in terms. ' Discuss. (June 04)
7. Analyse similarities and differences between classical liberalism and modern liberalism.
(Jan 05)
8. To what extent is liberalism compatible with democracy (June 05)
9. Why do liberals support toleration and diversity, and on what grounds would they
limit toleration? (Jan 06)
10. ‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ Explain and
discuss the implications of this view for liberalism. (June 06)
11. Modern liberals support state intervention, but only within limits. Discuss (Jan 07)
12. ‘The similarities between classical liberalism and modern liberalism are greater
than the differences.’ Discuss (June 07)
13. ‘Liberals support equality, but only a qualified form of equality.’ Discuss (Jan 08)
14. Why, and to what extent, have liberals supported toleration and diversity? (Jun 08)
15. Why do liberals support the principle of limited government, and do they propose
that it be achieved? (Jan 09)
16. Why, and to what extent, have liberals supported toleration and diversity? (June 09)