Hegel

G.W.F. Hegel: On the English reform bill

While reading this text I recognised some aspects that are still present in England nowadays, which is very interesting, as this text has beenwritten in the 19th century. However, in my opinion, Hegel brings over his thoughts in an overly critical and ‘anti-English’ way. He sees the English as people who are only concerned bythemselves and claims that their national pride keeps them from adopting reforms of the European Continent (e.g. French Revolution) or seriously reforming their government and legislation.Furthermore it seems that he looks down on them, as they cannot get an act together because they are purely focused on private interest.

Hegel supports the reform on the one hand but seems toclaim that it will not go far enough and not make much difference and could even lead to revolutions on the other hand. This is controversial. He thinks the reform will not make muchdifference in the distribution of the political power in England, and it could even create a fight for power between the ruling class (upper class) and rising group of new politicians. This might bewhy the parliament tried to hold back the reform, according to him. He also thinks that even if they would have a reform and turn into a democracy, liberty & equality would not besecured. Furthermore other main issues in England at the time as government corruption, the selling of parliament seats and the disparity between wealth and poverty cannot be solved by theproposed electoral reforms.

Although there are many interpretations for Hegel’s text On the English reform, the main ideas come over clearly to me and I tend to agree with some of them. Havinglived in England for 2 years, I still recognise some aspects about the English that Hegel outlined in his writing such as the classes (gap between wealth and poverty) and the national pride.