Freedom and the state: nanny or nightwatchman?

Area of Science:

• Political Philosophy
• Social Welfare Studies

Background:

• The state's role is often debated as either a 'nanny' providing welfare or a 'night-watchman' ensuring minimal intervention.
• This dichotomy is misleading, as it misrepresents the core debate about safeguarding citizens' freedom.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the prevailing neo-liberal understanding of freedom and state function.
• To present neo-republicanism as a superior alternative for defining and protecting citizens' liberties.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of political theories.
• Comparative examination of neo-liberal and neo-republican perspectives on freedom and the state.

Main Results:

• Neo-liberalism equates freedom with individual autonomy and minimal state interference.
• Neo-republicanism defines freedom as protected basic liberties, requiring democratic identification and legal/resource support.

Conclusions:

• The neo-liberal view of freedom is a recent and flawed construct.
• Neo-republicanism offers a more robust and historically grounded approach to state responsibility and individual liberty, challenging the minimalist 'night-watchman' state.