To what extent is liberalism a coherent doctrine? (45 marks)

Plan: split the essay into 3 key themes and in each thematic paragraph give a verdict on the extent to which modern liberals agree or disagree with classical liberals. (This will get you evaluation marks and is a very nice way of setting it out) These essay questions are very simple when planned properly and thoroughly with equal weighting, strong evaluation and conclusive paragraphs.
Economy and state: NOT COHERENT = There is a huge degree of disagreement and lack of coherence regarding liberal views on the economy and the extent to which it should operate freely. Classical liberals, most notably, Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations, 1776) believed that the economy should operate 'laissez faire' meaning free to do, with very little governmental intervention.(Bring in Thatcher, roll back the state) On the other hand modern liberals such as John Maynard Keynes have endorsed economic management through system of Keynesianism involving government run fiscal taxation, suggesting that modern liberals lean away from the free market capitalism of classical liberalism and towards a more interventionist market economy. This being said, modern liberals are still skeptical of invasive communist principle and labour values such as 50p taxation. Despite this slight agreement, the economy is perhaps that most divisive concept in liberal ideology. = OVERALL NOT COHERENT
The individual: NO COHERENCE = Classical liberals have stressed egoistical individualism and the desire to maximise utility, while modern liberals have stressed developmental individualism and the importance of personal growth.(shift in thinking) Bring in thinkers such as Samuel Smiles, William Sumner LINK to state control and economy in modern liberalism. COUNTER -However, at the heart of both ideological strands is an emphasis on democratic pluralism as to increase sovereignty of individual and neither strand supports equality of outcome (will explain) thus suggesting individualism is a factor that coherently ties both ideological strands. = OVERALL COHERENT
Freedom: (NO COHERENCE) Expand heavily on negative and positive freedom (will talk you through this) but then, as a counter point and conclusion, argue that both ideological strands have a core of freedom, modern liberalism just adjusts more to the introduction of a welfare state in 1942 under the Beverage Report. An ideological adjustment is not necessarily an incoherence. = OVERALL COHERENT
Conclusion: reanalyse, draw upon paragraph finishing sentences and conclude with overall verdict - in this case that it is coherent as both strands of the ideology are centred around core values of freedom, individualism. = OVERALL COHERENT