Introduction

Political Ideas – Isaiah Berlin

In this course, Dr Dimova-Cookson (Durham University) explores the political ideas of Isaiah Berlin. In the first module, we give context to the life and works of Isaiah Berlin. Then, in the second module, we explore Berlin’s concept of negative freedom, before turning in the third module to compare this to Berlin’s notion of positive freedom. Here we think in particular about Berlin’s fear that positive freedom can lay the groundwork for legitimising political indoctrination. In the fourth module, we explore Berlin’s idea of value pluralism through contrast with monism, and comment on how Berlin could be seen as an exponent of multiculturalism. Finally, in the fifth module, we explore Berlin’s legacy and comment on some critiques of his work, before concluding with a defence of Berlin’s distinction between positive and negative freedom, drawing directly on Dr Dimova-Cookson’s own work in her book “Rethinking Positive and Negative Freedom”. This course may be particularly useful for those interested in the Liberalism and Multiculturalism aspects of the Core and Non-Core Political Ideas components of the AQA and Edexcel Government and Politics A Level.

Introduction

In this module, we give context to the life and works of Isaiah Berlin, focusing in particular on: (i) the Cold War as key context for Berlin’s life and ideas; (ii) his academic career and especially his time at Oxford University; (iii) his work as a British Ambassador and friendships with contemporary Russian intellectuals; (iv) his emphasis on liberty and ideas of positive and negative freedom; (v) his ideas around cultural diversity.