Contemporary Ideologies and Philosophies

Democratic and Authoritarian

Ideology	Classical Philosophies	Contemporary Interpretation
Liberalism	Latin Root: liber = “free (man)” The new commercial class wanted freedom to change the old social order. Freedom is at the heart of liberal ideology Neither prevented from doing what one wants nor forced to do what one does not want – yet people are subject to many limitations (ie. Stop at red lights, murder) Classic Liberal – John Locke Their premise led to universal suffrage Dilemma: Governments needed to preserve human rights, but governments also represent a principal threat to those rights Adam Smith: Laissez-faire (let alone) - “the government is best that governs least” Role of government: 1)defend against foreign attacks; 2) establish administration of justice; 3) provide goods to society that are not profitable (ie parks) Summary: Important aspects of Liberalism 1)Politically – concerned with basic rights such as representative gov’t 2)Morally – affirms basic values including freedom and dignity 3)Economically – dedicated to the right to private property and capitalism	Essential Differences First, no longer selective class in charge rather a democratic principle of mass participation Second, the state may have to curb some liberties in order to provide a higher standard of living for the least-well-off in society. Third, major change in field of economics. Reliance on market spontaneity could result in permanent economic depression – Gov’t must take appropriate measures (“Hands On” a little). State intervention needed to make the market work. – Antitrust laws. Favours minimum gov’t intervention in private lives – but considerable intervention in public (economics)

Conservatism	Latin Root: conservare = “save” or “preserve” Defended the status quo, resisted social change, and developed an opposing ideology to liberalism Society is more than the sum of all the individuals in it Highest good of society is to maintain an ordered community Liberals are too individualistic and selfish Change must be gradual State must have power to achieve social order	Retain commitment to democratic principles, Retain elitist principles that authority should be entrusted to natural leaders In the US – there was no “old order” to defend – therefore it was founded on Liberalism Therefore; conservatives exist to preservation of traditional, moral, and religious values Encourage intervention in the personal lives of citizens to defend moral values Minimum intervention in economic affairs Revert to themes of cultural decline, moralism Today – seek to preserve the status quo – or revive the past conditions (totally against pornography, homosexuality) (support “traditional” family)
Socialism	Fresh answers to economic problems caused by industrial development Loves public ownership Like Liberalism – people are politically equal, should have opportunity to develop talents However; Liberalism is tool of capitalist against workers Want gov’t to establish workshops to employ the jobless Division of Socialism: 1) Social Democracy – Socialism within existing democratic framework 2) Communist – Marxist revolutionary prescription Both sought public control and abolition of exploitation of labour under capitalism	By today’s standards, socialism is more specific. See Social Democracy and Communism

Communism	Promised power to the working class Class = group of people who share the same relationship to the means of production Working class should take control of the gov’t, and in turn take control of industry (thus benefiting themselves) Societies pass through a series of predictable stages culminating in communist utopia a) Primitive communalism (shared power) b) Slavery (ownership for production) c) Feudalism (economic ownership) d) Capitalism (Production shifts to factories) e) Pure Communism (state ownership) Communist Manifesto – Capitalism society cannot be abolished by reform (change via violence or elections?) 1917 Lenin – Bolshevik Revolution 1917 Trotsky Red Army – base for world revolution Stalin – establishes near-totalitarian state	Ideology of Soviet Union Reforms in the Soviet state left interdependent communist states in a crisis over their economies, ideology, and political institutions. Ideology of China Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Two major components: Marxist and Mao Tse-tung Mao accused the Soviets of distorting the true Marxist vision Mao developed the People’s Liberation Army into an effective political tool to buttress his ideas After Mao’s death, end of worst forms of repression Still uphold: Socialism, single-party leadership, dictatorship of the proletariat, modified Marxism-Leninism Membership in the Communist Party is by invitation only; one cannot simply join
Democratic Socialism	Socialism “by ballots rather than bullets” Same goals as Communism but reached by peaceful political means Interests of the proletariat lay in the perfection of democracy Enable classes that were weak to use their superior numbers to win power and make the necessary redistributive decisions Less identified with the need for public ownership	Democratic Socialism Not attractive in North America – Canada=NDP Nationalizing industries is no longer a key component of doctrine Slimmer gov’t and lower taxes Key components: 1)Rid material poverty 2)Social welfare for those in need 3)Equality for all classes 4)Promote fraternity and cooperation 5)Fight negative effects of capitalism (unemployment)