reviews

This link, which came to Reeves has who constantly stimulated and and economic thought to dominate Liberal politics in the encouraged him to explore social and political history and days of Beveridge and Keynes, produced new ideas and venture into gender studies – Reeves has was first identified by Mill, for a lucid and uncharted and difficult territo- produced a lucid and percep- whom finding the right bal- ries, even when this involved tive synthesis, which pays equal ance between individualism perceptive standing up to public opinion attention to Mill’s life and the and social responsibility was a and challenging contemporary development of his ideas. The moral imperative as well as the synthesis, political correctness. book has a predominantly main question in modern social One of the areas in which chronological structure, but engineering. which pays Mill was a resolute ‘noncon- each chapter has also a strong Reeves brings to life this equal atten- formist’ was in his attitude to thematic focus, which enables extraordinary figure in a sym- racial prejudice. In a famous the author to study the various pathetic but critical biography, tion to Mill’s revisionist account, Mehta has dimensions and developments a comprehensive study which criticised Mill for his ‘Oriental- of Mill’s thought and career in reveals – ‘warts and all’ – the life and the ist’ attitudes to India.3 An Ori- their historical and biographi- multifaceted personality of this entalist he may have been, but cal context. The result is a great philosopher-man of action. development without any consistent sense of historical biography, which the It must be said that there are of his ideas. imperial superiority; in fact he general reader will find riveting not many ‘warts’, but Mill was was often critical and dismissive and the professional academic no saint, let alone ‘the Saint of the claims and pretensions of indispensable. of Rationalism’ as Gladstone the European powers, arguing, dubbed him – at least not in the for example, that ‘the character- Eugenio F. Biagini is a Lecturer in sense of being only motivated istic of Germany is knowledge History at Sidney Sussex College by some cool utilitarian calcu- without thought; of France, Cambridge, and Reviews Editor of lus of costs and benefits. On the thought without knowledge; the Journal of Liberal History. contrary, he was passionate to of England, neither knowledge an excess, often allowing his nor thought’ (cit. pp.220–21). In 1 M. St J. Packe, The Life of John Stu- emotions to drive him beyond his days he was in fact criticised art Mill (Seker & Warburg, 1954); prudence. His personal auster- for his racial egalitarianism, an but see also the recent short biogra- ity and principled approach to attitude which was perceived as phy by W. Stafford,John Stuart Mill public affairs were somehow out of step not only with public (Macmillan, 1998). ‘saintly’, but Reeves puts them opinion, but also with what the 2 John Robson et al (eds.), The Col- in context and shows how Mill majority regarded as ‘a fact’ – lected Works of John Stuart Mill (33 could also be extremely prickly namely, the notion of a cultural volumes, University of Toronto and unforgiving, especially (or even biological) superiority Press and Routledge & Kegan Paul, when it came to what he per- of the ‘white man’ over the rest 1965ñ91). ceived as affronts to his beloved of the human species. 3 U. Singh Mehta, Liberalism and friend, intellectual partner and Mastering a bibliography Empire (University of Chicago (eventually) wife, Harriet Tay- which is not only vast but also Press, 1999). See also Lynn Zas- lor. It did not help that she was multidisciplinary – ranging toupil, John Stuart Mill and India also touchy and self-centred. from the history of political (Stanford University Press, 1994). Reeves offers a persuasive reassessment of their relation- ship and her influence on him. This is an area which has attracted considerable debate, Social Liberalism largely because Mill was always extravagantly generous in his Duncan Brack, Richard S. Grayson and David Howarth (eds.): praise of Harriet’s gifts and Reinventing the State: Social Liberalism for the 21st Century contribution to his intellectual development. Weighing care- (Politico’s, 2007) fully the evidence, Reeves Reviewed by Neil Stockley suggests that she should not be regarded as either the insti- gator of Mill’s most radical views (for example on gender ei n v en t i ng t h e State Its then leader, Sir Menzies equality and ‘socialism’), or as appeared on the eve of the Campbell, was achieving little a boastful mediocrity. Instead, RLiberal Democrats’ 2007 traction with the public and the Harriet was for him primarily autumn conference. This was Liberal Democrats were lan- an intellectual companion, a difficult time for the party. guishing in the opinion polls.

Journal of Liberal History 60 Autumn 2008 51 reviews

Within weeks, the party was adopted by the party in autumn accept. Duncan Brack makes looking for a new leader, its 2006, reiterated the Liberal a powerful argument that the third in as many years. Democrats’ commitment to current level of social inequal- With the party in an uncer- ‘a fairer … much less unequal ity in Britain undermines tain situation, its social liber- society’, with ‘decisions taken individuals’ personal freedom als sought to assert themselves near to those they affect’ and – their ability to participate anew. The Guardian claimed ‘public services that … involve fully in society – along with the that the Liberal Democrats’ ‘left those that use them … and well-being of the community. wing’ had published Reinvent- make full use of the talents and Ed Randall argues that unfet- ing the State as the start of an imagination of their staff’. The tered market action will lead to attempt to ‘take on the domi- party also renewed its commit- greater environmental degrada- nant pro-market Orange Book ment to protecting the environ- tion. Tim Farron MP contends faction’ and ‘wrest control of the ment as ‘an urgent priority’. All that rural communities have party’.1 That was a case of over- the candidates for the leadership been deprived of opportunities spin. The Orange Book received a in 2006 and 2007 promised in housing and employment and cool reception from most of the that social justice, reforming local farmers left exposed to the party when it was published in the state and safeguarding the power of monopolies. 2004, and its most contentious environment would be their The authors contend that recommendation, to reshape the priorities. a mixture of state and collec- NHS using a social insurance Still, Dr Richard Grayson, tive responses must be taken if model, was widely criticised. one of the editors of Reinventing such market failures are to be Social liberalism has always the State and a former Liberal addressed. The pivotal issue is been the dominant strand in the Democrat Director of Policy, the forms that such responses Liberal Democrats’ philosophy. was quoted as saying that the should take. The contribu- The party’s continued support publication sought ‘to influ- tors differ from the ‘economic for an activist state and its poli- ence the manifesto, so it will liberals’ in arguing that the cies on taxation and redistribu- put issues such as social justice best way to promote economic tion of income, public services, and the environment at its heart equality is to radically reform and the environment are all and will be an avowedly centre- the state, rather than to reduce testament to that.2 The policy left manifesto’. He added: ‘I it in size or rely on market- review paper Trust in People, think we are pushing at an open based policy solutions. They are door’.3 sceptical about the market and If social liberalism is predom- its tendency to erode personal inant in the Liberal Democrats, freedoms (in their broadest and Dr Grayson was correct, sense) and community cohesion. it follows that the analysis and Paul Holmes MP, for instance, prescriptions presented in Rein- argues strenuously that markets venting the State are of central are an imperfect tool for deliv- importance for the future of the ering social policy objectives. party. So what do the ‘social ‘Social liberals’ are, however, liberals’ have to say? just as suspicious of the central- The core idea of the ised state and its propensity to twenty-two contributions is, be coercive, bureaucratic and in the words of the editors, out of touch with peoples’ needs ‘reinvent[ing] the British state and concerns. This is where so that it delivers social justice they part company with the and environmental sustainabil- ‘social democrats’. ity through a decentralised and The ‘social liberals’’ main participatory democracy’. solution to social and economic ‘Social liberals’, as repre- inequality is ‘localism’. This is sented here, perceive that, for forcefully articulated by Chris some twenty years, British Huhne MP, who defines it as political debate has focused ‘the decentralisation not just on promoting the values and of management decisions but virtues of the market. In con- of political responsibility to a trast to the ‘economic liberals’, human scale where voters can they argue that such a reli- once again identify – and com- ance on markets has led – or, plain to, or praise, or boot out if unchecked, could lead – to – decision makers in their com- outcomes that liberals cannot munity’. In a compelling piece,

52 Journal of Liberal History 60 Autumn 2008 reviews

Huhne builds a democratic, individuals real control over In an incisive manifesto. One of the reasons liberal case for localism, argu- their lives that we can create was, apparently, that party ing that it will help to revive opportunities for all’.4 In March essay, David strategists sought to position confidence and participation in 2008, the party adopted a new Howarth MP the Liberal Democrats as being politics. He shows that increased health policy that embraced more concerned with deliver- spending on public services elements of the ‘localist’ describes the ing quality and capacity in under Labour has not led to a approaches. It also took up, in a public services distinctively in commensurate increase in qual- very cautious way, some ‘mar- core values the political debate. Another ity of service. ket-based’ policy proposals.5 was their perception that the Huhne discusses two ways The social liberals seem to of ‘social lib- Huhne framework lacked forward. One is the introduc- have prevailed. But many ‘eco- eralism’ as a specific attractive promises, tion of markets or quasi-markets nomic liberals’ are also content suitable for use in an election in the public services. The with this turn of events. That commitment campaign. It is also possible other is to introduce more local, should not be too much of a sur- that some leading ‘social liber- democratic decision-making. prise. In an incisive essay, David to the redis- als’ feared that allowing local He says, correctly, that the two Howarth MP describes the core flowers to bloom could serve to are not necessarily mutually values of ‘social liberalism’ as tribution exacerbate social and economic exclusive, but there are impor- a commitment to the redistri- of wealth inequalities. tant differences. Huhne argues bution of wealth and power, Recent policy developments that markets or quasi-markets alongside a belief that demo- and power, notwithstanding, the Liberal may lead to reduced services cratic decision-making must be Democrats have some way to (the reduction of choice) for deepened. He casts consider- alongside a go before they can claim to be a those left behind when people able doubt on the validity of truly ‘localist’ party of the type choose another option. They the comic-book clash between belief that contemplated by many of the may also lead to reduced flex- ‘social liberals’ and ‘economic democratic contributors to Reinventing the ibility or, worse, undermine liberals’, as sometimes pre- State. Moreover, the party has the potential for innovating and sented by sections of the media. decision- yet to demonstrate a functional adapting public services to local Howarth argues that in the Brit- link between its existing policy needs and circumstancs. Huhne ish context, ‘economic liberals’ making proposals for increased local contends that the problem with really have the same end goals accountability and its declared Britain’s public services is the as ‘social liberals’. Any disagree- must be goals of promoting economic lack of local accountability and ment will really be over means deepened. equality and enhancing social control; centralisation has sti- rather than ends: specifically, mobility. This highlights a fled creativity and initiative. He how different sorts of social lib- major challenge for ‘maximalist also uses international data to eral perceive the role and limita- social liberals’; they can (and, rebut the argument that allow- tions of market mechanisms to usually, they do) triumph in ing local flowers to bloom in achieve their goals. More perti- the party’s intellectual debates, the public services will lead to nently, Howarth argues, the dif- but may not always be so suc- greater social inequality, and ference is really about ‘how far cessful in political or tactical shows that there is no neces- government policy should pro- arguments. sary connection between the mote economic equality beyond Other developments since two. John Howson and Richard the point strictly required by the the publication of Reinventing Grayson then describe how goal of safeguarding personal the State further illustrate this these principles can be applied, freedom’: between ‘maximal- point, and how important the in education and the NHS ist’ and ‘minimalist’ social differences between the types of respectively. liberalism. ‘social liberal’ can be. By most The Liberal Democrats have The ‘social liberals’ (or, as of the definitions set out in this clearly embraced ‘localism’ David Howarth might say, book, surely quali- as a guiding principle. Their ‘maximalist’ socal liberals) still fies as a ‘social liberal’. The most leader, Nick Clegg, has written seem to have their work cut significant policy shift under his that Labour’s ‘activist’ model out. ’s version of leadership to date has been the of ‘central state’ has failed to ‘localism’ can be traced back promise to ‘look for ways to cut enhance social mobility or to to the public services policy Britain’s overall tax burden, so tackle wealth inequalities. He commission that he chaired ordinary families have more of wants to see in its place ‘the lib- in 2001–02. Its report was their money to spend for them- eral model of delivering social adopted by the party but very selves’.6 The editors and other justice’, based on ‘localising our few of its specific proposals, contributors to Reinventing the public services and in commu- especially those relating to user State want to slim down and nity control [which] is grounded choice, were finally reflected constrain central government, in our belief that it is by giving in the 2005 general election giving as many of its powers as

Journal of Liberal History 60 Autumn 2008 53 reviews possible to elected local institu- Reinventing This is not to say that, envi- economic policy than there has tions. Some may perceive that ronmental matters aside, the been for some twenty years. In the new taxation pledge could the State is an ‘social liberals’ are ignorant some areas, such as the banking reduce the community’s col- important, about economic policy. One sector, the Liberal Democrats lective ability to redistribute of the most impressive essays have proposed more effective wealth and enhance individual vital set of is David Hall-Matthews’ regulation. ‘Social liberals’ opportunities. Moreover, politi- thoughtful analysis of economic may need to consider whether cal analysts have suggested that essays. The globalisation. He does not try they are content with those the new taxation pledge was to argue that national govern- suggestions. made in part for electoral pur- collection ments should try to stand in the Reinventing the State is an poses: fending off Conservative conveys in path of free trade; rather, they important, vital set of essays. challenges in some seats and should not use globalisation The collection conveys in attracting low- and middle- some inter- as an excuse for evading their some interesting and compel- income voters in others. If that responsibilities to their citizens. ling ways what it means to be is correct, ‘maximalist social esting and Hall-Matthews finds that most a Liberal Democrat and, more liberals’ will need to come to concerns about globalisation particularly, how social liberals terms with the political realities compelling amount to concerns about the in Britain approach contem- and dilemmas facing the Liberal ways what fate of national governments porary political questions. In Democrats or, better still, pro- and that these are to some many ways, the essence – the vide their own specific sugges- it means to extent understandable, espe- ‘heart and soul’ – of the party tions as to how they might be cially to liberals, who instinc- can be found in these pages. addressed. be a Liberal tively resist any concentration The collection’s readers, editors As noted above, the con- of power. Hall-Matthews con- and authors may reflect, how- tributors discuss other areas Democrat cludes that, contrary to some ever, that the party also needs a of market failure, besides eco- and, more myths, nation-states (suitably ‘head’ and that it occasionally nomic inequality. Remedies for reformed) can – and should – comes to different conclusions protecting the environment or, particularly, take action to ameliorate the to those reached in Reinventing more precisely, addressing cli- most negative impacts on their the State. In practice, the ‘social mate change and decarbonising how social own citizens. Surely no lib- liberalism’ so well elucidated the economy, are set out clearly eral could object to that. One in this book is synthesised with by Chris Huhne MP, who was liberals suggestion is that such action other versions of liberalism and, the party’s shadow environ- in Britain should take the form of reinvig- perhaps as importantly, political ment secretary at the time of orating local communities. This considerations will win out in writing. This framework uses approach is somewhat vague, however, the end. As a result, the party market-based instruments that and how this would be done and may sometimes tack in direc- provide incentives to lower car- contempo- who would bear the costs is not tions that are different to those bon emissions from energy and made clear in the collection. provided in this collection. transport, green taxes to pro- rary political If there is an important omis- mote environmentally friendly questions. sion from this book, it concerns Neil Stockley is director of a public behaviour and regulation where what sort of economic policy affairs company and a frequent con- price signals cannot produce the ‘maximalist’ social liberals tributor to the Journal of Liberal desired outcomes. It is consist- propose and how much it may History. ent with the ‘liberal environ- differ from the party’s existing mentalism’ described by Ed economic thinking which, since 1 ‘Lib Dem left attempts to wrest Randall. The policy measures the early 1990s, has taken on a control of the party’, The Guardian, are designed to ensure that the more ‘market-driven’ approach. 6 September 2007. poorest members of society are The question is important for 2 See ‘Social Liberalism’ in Duncan not adversely affected. the obvious reason that a strong, Brack and Ed Randall (eds.), Dic- A similar clarity of liberal sustainable economy is essential tionary of Liberal Thought (Politico’s, thought and policy practice is to support and underpin policies 2007). not always so evident elsewhere of redistribution and innova- 3 ‘Lib Dem left attempts to wrest in the book, however. Sev- tion in social policy. Moreover, control of the party’, The Guardian, eral contributors discuss other the questions around economic 6 September 2007. important areas in which mar- policy have become even more 4 Nick Clegg, ‘A home for progres- kets are deficient (for instance, relevant; since the essays were sives’, The Guardian, 1 July 2008. their impact on local communi- written, the US’s ‘credit crunch’ 5 Liberal Democrats, Policy Paper ties) but rather less is said about has occurred and started to 84, Empowerment, Fairness and Qual- these might be addressed or have impacts on Britain. There ity in Health Care (2008). how the positive outcomes of is more questioning now of 6 Liberal Democrats, Make It Happen markets best secured. the prevailing orthodoxy in (2008).

54 Journal of Liberal History 60 Autumn 2008