Holmes argues that the aspirations of liberal democracy including individual liberty the equal dignity of citizens and a tolerance for diversity are best understood in relation to two central themes of classical liberal theory the psychological motivations of individuals and the necessary constraint on individual passions provided by institutions paradoxically holmes argues that such . According to holmes three elements of classical liberal theory are commonly used to attack contemporary liberalism as antagonistic to genuine democracy and the welfare state constitutional. Holmes argues that the aspirations of liberal democracy including individual liberty the equal dignity of citizens and a tolerance for diversity are best understood in relation to two central themes of classical liberal theory the psychological motivations of individuals and the necessary constraint on individual passions provided by institutions by restricting the arbitrary powers of . Ross harrison passions and constraint on the theory of liberal democracy international affairs volume 72 issue 1 1 january 1996 pages 172 https doior