Contemporary Challenges to Liberalism

1
Contemporary Challenges to Liberalism
To What Extent is Modern Liberalism Continuing
to Evolve?

• Analyzing how modern liberalism is challenged by
  alternative thought

2
What would you write about if you imagined the
world 50 or 100 years from now?

• Would it be with the pessimism of Orwells
  Nineteen Eighty-Four or Huxleys Brave New World?
• Would it be like The Little Prince where the
  author, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, creates new
  planets and asteroids to critique the behaviour
  of adults from a childs point of view
• What about Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451, where
  society must gives up literature to suppress any
  ideas that might challenge its happiness?
• Lowrys The Giver, where individuals give up
  emotion and memories to create a more safe and
  peaceful society?

• These authors challenge the different
  perspectives about how society should be
  organized
• What would our society be like if our government
  outlawed books, or emotions, or ideas
• How much individuality would you sacrifice to
  your government in the name of security?
• How much would you allow government to be
  involved in your lives?

3
Classical Liberalism and Modern Liberalism

• How far has liberalism strayed from its roots?

• Classical liberal principles originated in The
  Enlightenment, particularly with the writings of
  John Locke
• Natural and inalienable rights
• Society should be a community of political equals
• All respecting the rights of one another equally
• This is the rationale for modern democracy
• Main function of government
• Protect individual natural rights the rights to
  life, liberty, and property
• Laws created by government can be legitimized
  with the consent of the majority
• Creates a great deal of freedom and ensures less
  control over individuals by the government

4
Review Of Classical Liberalism

• 18th and 19th centuries technological advances
  led to the Industrial Revolution in England
• Members of Parliament put the ideas of classical
  liberalism into practice to take advantage of the
  economic opportunities
• Industrial productivity and incredible wealth led
  to large disparities between the rich
  entrepreneurs and landowners and those living
  in poverty
• This disparity led to challenges to classical
  liberalism

• Classical liberalism evolved and expanded to
  modern liberal ideas such as education, health
  care, etc.

5
Classical Liberalism
Effects
Modern Liberalism

• contributed to the Great Depression
• Contributed to the wealth gap between the more
  developed world and the rest of the world, thus
  leading to such things as political instability
  and hyper-consumerism
• Contributed to the development of
  counter-ideologies, such as communism and
  fascism, and the expansion and revision of
  liberal ideas

• involves no government
• interference (hands off)
• proposes that the sole function of government is
  to protect individuals natural rights to life,
  liberty, and properly
• emphasizes economic liberalism and promotes the
  freedom of the entrepreneur

• involves significant government intervention
  (hands on)
• Proposes that all individuals be valued equally
• Proposes the development of programs to help
  disadvantaged individuals and eliminate the
  causes of poverty, crime, and abuse
• Promotes initiatives to share the benefits of
  development and to develop wisely

6
Classical Liberalism and Negative Freedoms

• The tragic events of September 11 highlight the
  ethical import of what are sometimes called
  negative freedoms freedom from tyranny,
  freedom from fear, freedom from hunger, and
  freedom from discrimination based upon race,
  color, or creed. A pluralistic and open society
  requires agreements about the worth and dignity
  of citizens in order for those citizens to be
  free from coercions and constraints that would
  prevent their ability to live in sufficient
  safety and freedom to carve out their ability to
  live in sufficient safety and freedom to carve
  out their own lives and the lives of their
  families and communities.
• Patricia Benner, 2002

• Principles of classical liberalism centre around
  individuals should be free to make choices
• Called negative freedom or freedom from

7
Classical Liberalism and Negative Freedoms

• In classical liberalism this meant little more
  than freedom from government intervention
• Liberal democracies, such as Canada, possess
  these negative freedoms fundamental freedoms
  include
• Freedom of conscience and religion
• Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and
  expression, including freedom of the press and
  other communication media
• Freedom of peaceful assembly
• Freedom of association

• Classical Liberalism
• Each man has equal political power
• Greater political stability would result from
  greater direct involvement in the political
  process
• Political stability leads to a society that
  allows individuals to use their freedoms as best
  they can to achieve social and economic
  prosperity
• Are the negative freedoms outlined previously
  sufficient to ensure the well-being of all
  members of society?

8
Classical Liberalism and Economics

• 19th century a period of significant economic
  growth due, in large part, to the Industrial
  Revolution
• Coincided with the formation of classical liberal
  economic theory laissez-faire economics
• Supported free markets and individual rights to
  own private property
• Economic markets with little or no govt
  intervention benefit all members of society

• Government limited to do what they do best
• Developing laws to protect freedoms and private
  property
• Some classical liberals do not trust popular
  democracy fear the majority might not support
  classical liberal principles ie. Possession of
  private property

9
Classical Liberalism and Equality

• A certain amount of inequality is a natural
  result of protecting property rights and
  guaranteeing freedoms
• The equality valued by classical liberals is the
  equality of opportunity
• State remains impartial, allowing citizens to
  determine their own ideas of good without
  interference or coercion

• All forms of diversity are accepted
• Diverse outcomes based on the choices people
  make, as long as those choices do not violate the
  rights of others

10

• Enfranchisement Brings Transformation
• Late 19th century, vote was given to a wider
  group of citizens
• As more working class citizens got he vote,
  politicians had to promise to introduce policies
  that met the workers needs labour law
  workplace safety labour unions
• 20th century further evolution
• Sought to promote equality
• Greater govt intervention was encouraged by
  progressives
• World War I and II
• The Great Depression
• Exclusions of minorities from voting and
  positions of power
• Change from rural, agrarian society to urban,
  manufacturing society

• Challenges and Change Liberalism Evolves
• People will make the choices that are best for
  them, when free
• Free of govt intervention
• The market would spread wealth to those making
  wise decisions
• What is prosperity is not fulfilled?
• Great wealth created during the Industrial
  Revolution transition from mercantilism, a
  system where the state accumulated wealth
• Wealth concentrated in the hands of a small
  number of societys elite
• Most people remained poorly fed, poorly housed,
  poorly educated, with a short life expectancy
• Laissez-faire economics believed problems would
  correct itself without govt interference

11
Modern Liberalism and Positive Freedoms
Classical Liberalism
Modern Liberalism

• Progressives (shifting to modern liberal ideas)
  believed certain conditions prevented all members
  from achieving equality
• Govt intervention was essential for all to
  achieve equality, not just opportunity
• Taxes for social programs (welfare) for those in
  need
• Any limit placed on freedoms of an individual is
  justified if it benefited all of society
• UN Declaration of Human Rights includes positive
  freedoms What limitations to liberty would the
  following rights may impose on some people?

Negative Freedoms Example Freedom from
persecution for following a chosen faith or
spirituality
Positive Freedoms Example Freedom of Expression

• Everyone has the right to a standard of living
  adequate for the health and well-being of himself
  and of his family, including food, clothing,
  housing, and medical care and necessary social
  services, and the right to security in the event
  of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood,
  old age or other lack of livelihood in
  circumstances beyond his control.
• Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of
  Human Rights
• United Nations, 1948

12
Modern Liberalism and Positive Freedoms
Classical Liberalism
Modern Liberalism

• Modern liberals argue that the ability to
  exercise ones right to freedom depends on the
  existence of certain conditions
• You cannot be free if your basic needs are not
  met, if oppressed by unfair practices, or if
  subject to discrimination
• To ensure freedom govt intervention is
  encouraged, socially and politically
• Increased govt intervention could result in
  tyranny, modern liberalism calls for broader
  social protection and guarantees of civil
  liberties and equal rights including a more
  open and transparent govt
• Civil liberties the means by which modern
  liberals seek to maintain dignity and fair
  treatment for all.
• Seek to ensure greater equality of opportunity
  through positive rights, right to education,
  health care, or legal aid.

• Everyone has the right to a standard of living
  adequate for the health and well-being of himself
  and of his family, including food, clothing,
  housing, and medical care and necessary social
  services, and the right to security in the event
  of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood,
  old age or other lack of livelihood in
  circumstances beyond his control.
• Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of
  Human Rights
• United Nations, 1948

Social 30 1, 2, 3
13
Liberalism Evolves How is modern liberalism
challenged by alternative thought?

• Environmentalism
• Neo-Conservatism
• Religious Perspectives
• Aboriginal Perspectives
• All of the above contributed to the evolution of
  modern liberalism and challenged the dominant
  influence of liberal thought on Western society

• Ideologies differ on
• Interpretations of history
• Beliefs about human nature
• Beliefs about the structure of society
• Visions for the future

• You will need to keep the above themes in mind
  when we consider the challenges and contributions
  of the evolution of modern liberal thought

14
Environmentalism

• Roots in the 1800s
• As a political/cultural ideology in the 60s,
  Rachel Carsons Silent Spring (1962) pesticides
  entering the food chain, negative effects on
  animals and human beings
• 1970s Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth,
  pressured govts to enact laws to protect the
  environment
• France and USA ban certain types of nuclear tests
• 80s 90s UM banned driftnet fishing
• Countries banned dumping toxic waste into the
  oceans
• Computer manufacturers have agreed to stop using
  certain toxic materials in their products

• Has led to some political bodies to enshrine the
  right to a healthy environment alongside the
  principles of modern liberalism
• UN Intl Covenant on Economic, Social, and
  Cultural Rights the right to everyone to the
  enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
  physical and mental health. Improving all
  aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene
• Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms,
  everyone has the right to live in a healthful
  environment in which biodiversity is preserved,
  to the extent and according to the standards
  provided by law.

15
Environmentalism

• Today negative impact of human activity
• Free-market economists and skeptics of global
  warming claim environmental reform of the economy
  will do more harm than good
• the state of humanity has never been better,
  says Mr. Goklany in his book, published by Cato
  Institute, backing his claims with detailed
  findings that show rapid advancement in hundreds
  of indicators for people all over the world. The
  conditions that created the great improvements
  in health, environment, living standards,
  mortality, disease control, smog reduction, and
  human happiness are the very same conditions
  the Financial Post has typically advocated over a
  century growth, technological change, free trade
  in products and ideas, market forces and personal
  freedom.
  
• The carbon and chemical economies that green
  salvationists want to curtail, even eliminate,
  are in fact the very basis for the worlds
  current and improving conditions. The message in
  Mr. Goklanys book is that government policy
  must, above all, preserve the general conditions
  that have brought us to this state of
  achievement, not destroy them.
• -Terance Corcoran, Good sense to prevail over
  enviro-alarmism, 2007

16
Environmentalism

• On the other side of the debate Worldwatch
  Institutes 2004 annual report Richer, Fatter,
  and Not Much Happier.
• Higher levels of obesity and personal debt,
  chronic time shortages, and a degraded
  environment are all signs that excessive
  consumption is diminishing the quality of life
  for many people. The challenge now is to mobilize
  governments, businesses, and citizens to shift
  their focus away from the unrestrained
  accumulation of goods and toward finding ways to
  ensure a better life for all.
• Worldwatch Institute, Richer, Fatter, and Not
  Much Happier 2004
• Institute advocates
• Increasing taxes on on manufacturers,
• minimizing the impact of production on natural
  resources through government regulation

17
Canada and Carbon Tax

• Due to scientific research, extreme weather
  events, increasing global temperatures the
  environment has become an important part of most
  political parties platforms
• Carbon emissions reduction have become key
  political points
• How will political parties deal with the
  environment and still have economic growth, and
  have the least effect on the citizens pocketbook

• 2008 Federal Election
• Conservative proposed emission reduction targets
  for industry and caps on specific pollutants
• NDP based on cap and Trade overall pollution
  would be limited by the govt, those industries
  below the target would receive credits they could
  sell to other companies
• Liberals cap and trade system with a carbon tax
  on each tonne of carbon emissions
• Greens carbon tax and cap system, and carbon tax

18
Canada and Carbon Tax

• Sept 2008, Sierra Club of Canada volunteer
  environmental org. graded the political parties
• Greens A-
• Liberals B
• NDP B
• Conservatives F
• To what extent should the Canadian government
  implement policies based on citizens concerns
  about the environment?

• July 1, 2008 BC began to phase in a provincial
  carbon tax
• Designed to discourage the use of fossil fuels
  and thereby reduce carbon emissions
• 72 of Canadians felt BCs carbon tax was a
  positive step

19
Balancing Environmentalism and Economics

• A discussion about the welcoming development of
  India. The Centre of Excellence for Sustainable
  Development, describes itself as an institution
  that creates a conducive, enabling climate for
  Indian businesses to pursue sustainability
  goals.
• Indias new trajectory of high economic growth is
  a welcome development, providing the wherewithal
  to secure progressively higher standards of
  living. For such rapid growth to be sustainable
  it is imperative to include those living at the
  margin as meaningful participants in the economic
  process and preserve the capacity of the natural
  ecosystem to support growth aspirations. I
  believe that Indian Business needs to enlarge its
  contribution beyond its primary role of enhancing
  economic capital, towards also enhancing social
  capital and natural capital.
• Y.C. Deveshwar, Chairman,

1. Does Deveshwars point of view reflect classical
   liberal or modern liberal ideology?
2. What might be the consequences of adopting
   Deveshwars point of view? What might be the
   consequences of rejecting his point of view?
3. Should governments limit our individual freedom
   as consumers in society?

20
Neo-Conservatism

• When two neo-conservatives meet they are more
  likely to argue with one another than to confer
  or conspire. Irving Kristol, 2003
• Many are former liberals where liberal policies
  have failed
• Some aspects of neo-conservatism challenge modern
  liberal principles and favour a return to
  classical liberalism
• Other neo-conservatives challenge both classical
  and modern liberalism

21
Neo-Conservatism

• Emerged in the US during the 50s 60s against
  modern liberal principles that had gone too far
• Civil Rights Movement
• Affirmative action (ideals of equality and
  individualism)
• Détente between the USSR and USA (60s 70s) seen
  as a period of weak foreign policy Neo-Cons
  rallied against diplomacy in favour of actively
  promoting capitalism and democracy abroad and
  fighting against the spread of communism

• Grew in popularity in the 1980s reflected in
  the economic, social, and foreign policies of the
  US with Ronald Reagan and British PM Margaret
  Thatcher
• Cold War heated up massive military spending
  around the world
• With the collapse of the USSR in the 1980s,
  Neo-Cons felt that they had won the Cold War
• Support began to fall during the 90s with George
  H W Bush and Bill Clintons reduction in military
  spending

22
Neo-Conservatism

• 1997, Project for the New American Century (PNAC)
• To advocate increasing defense spending
• Promoting democracy and capitalism abroad
• Strengthening Americas ties to democratic allies
• Challenging other governments that are hostile
  to American interests and values
• http//newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciple
  s.htm
• Many of George W Bushs administration were PNAC
  members
• After 911 the policy of promoting democracy
  abroad was adopted by the White House

23
Neo-Conservatism Economic Policy

• Economic growth stimulated by cutting taxes
• Government involvement in economic markets should
  be limited
• Lower taxes in a free market to create conditions
  that resemble classical liberal economic policy
• Evidence of Intl influence
• WTO World Trade organization
• IMF International Monetary Fund
• Promote free trade, reducing tariffs,
  concessions, regulations regarding government
  involvement
• Milton Friedman promoted classical liberal
  policies minimizing govt involvement in the
  economy and reducing govt regulation of all
  kinds
• Opposed govt programs public education, public
  health, public housing

24
Neo-Conservatism and the Role of Government

• Not comfortable with large amount of services
  provided by modern govt prefer alternative
  ways of providing services they do believe in
  education
• Modern liberals generally believe the govt
  should provide most essential services, health
  care and education
• Neo-conservative private schools, free from
  many of the rules, regulations and govt controls
• US 23 schools are private, 4 in Alberta, 10
  in Quebec
• For more than three decades, Friedman and his
  powerful followers had been perfecting this very
  strategy waiting for a major crisis, then
  selling off pieces of the state to private
  players while citizens were still reeling from
  the shock.
• Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine, 2007

25

• Neo-Conservatism and Foreign Policy

• Neo-Conservatism and Morality

• Foreign Policy common area for neo-conservatives
• Includes
• Patriotism is good and should be encouraged
• World govt not a good idea, it will lead to
  tyranny
• A large countrys interests extend beyond borders
  requires a strong military
• Democratic capitalism is the preferable system
  and should be promoted internationally
• One aspect of the decision to invade Iraq in 2003

• Have traditional views about social issues
• Concerned about the demise of the traditional
  moral culture
• Tend to be suspicious of counter-culture
  movements
• Influenced by the Christian Right
• Curtailing abortion
• Allowing prayer is school
• Teaching creationism in science

26
State of the Union Address, 2002

• Speech after 9/11
• The men and women of our Armed Forces have
  delivered a message now clear to every enemy of
  the United States Even 7000 miles away, across
  oceans and continents, on mountaintops and in
  caves you will not escape the justice of this
  nation
• States like these (Iraq), and their terrorist
  allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to
  threaten the peace of the world. By seeking
  weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a
  grave and growing danger. They could provide
  these arms to terrorists, giving them the means
  to match their hatred. They could provide these
  arms to terrorists, giving them the means to
  match their hatred. They could attack our allies
  or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any
  of these cases, the price of indifference would
  be catastrophic
• My budget includes the largest increase in
  defense spending in two decades because while
  the price of freedom and security I high, it is
  never too high. Whatever it costs to defend our
  country, we will pay.
• George W. Bush. January 29, 2002

• What ideas from this speech reflect
  neo-conservatives ideas related to foreign
  policy?
• How do these ideas relate to classical and modern
  liberalism?

27
Placing the Community Above the Individual

• Doukhobors immigrated to Canada from Russia
  in19th century
• Believed in communitarianism owned and worked
  the land together
• Did not recognize the authority of the secular
  (non-religious) govt, would not swear an oath to
  the Cdn govt
• Homestead land grants were taken away
• Hutterites also practice communal land ownership
• The emphasis such religious communities place on
  the community differs from the classical liberal
  concept of the individual as the basis of law and
  order

1. Can you imagine a situation in which the
   practices of communitarian groups such as the
   Doukhobors might conflict with the rights of an
   individual in one of these communities?
2. Can you imagine a situation in which these
   practices might conflict with the values of the
   larger community?

28
Government Limitations on Religious Practices

• Frank McKenna , former NB premier and ambassador
  to the US, stated, Canada is truly a secular
  state. Religion and politics do not mix in this
  country. Canwest News Service June 1, 2007
• Freedom of religion a central value of liberalism
• Govt sometimes puts limits on religious
  practices to prevent them from conflicting with
  the rights of the individual members of a
  religious community

29

• Toronto 2005 Protests against Sharia law
  (Islamic law) being contemplated to settle family
  disputes
• Critics argue sharia law is incompatible with the
  Canadian legal system
• Doesnt treat men and women equally when it
  comes to marriage, divorce, and inheritance
• Ontario had allowed faith-based arbitration by
  other religious communities
• Ontario has allowed Catholic and Jewish
  faith-based tribunals to settle family law
  matters on a voluntary basis since 1991, but the
  practice got little attention until Muslim
  leaders demanded the same rights. CBC 2005
• There will be no religious arbitration in
  Ontario. There will be one law for all Ontarians.
  CTV, 2005
• To what extent should a government impose liberal
  principles on religious minority groups?

30

• Christian Right members generally

• Modern Liberals generally

• Support the rights of the unborn
• Believe families with heterosexual, married
  parents create the best environment for children
• Support legislation against the use of overt
  sexual or violent content in television, movies,
  the Internet, and music
• Believe that religion has a place in publicly
  funded institutions, for example, that prayer
  should be allowed in public schools
• Focus on the need for individuals to take
  responsibility for their own actions and fulfill
  their responsibilities as community members

• Supports a womans right to choose to have an
  abortion as protected by existing abortion laws
• Favour equal rights for people of al sexual
  orientations, including their right to marry, and
  believe that all people equally have the right to
  parenthood
• Support the freedom to create and distribute any
  material that does not infringe on the rights of
  others and the others and the right for adults to
  choose the content to which they are exposed
• Support secular (non-faith-based) policies and
  practices in publicly funded institutions
• Focus on the need for unequal opportunities in
  society to be balanced through government
  intervention, such as affirmative action programs