1. Complexities of Liberalism in Practice
Chapter 11
Complexities of Liberalism in Practice

2. Difficult to maintain principles of liberal democracies and promote individual rights while pursuing the betterment of society.
In other words: individual vs. collective rights
Protection of Rights:
In Liberal Democracies, these types of legislations are protected by law
The difficult process to change these is to ensure that fundamental rights are upheld, but allows for a method of change (democracy)
In Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (USA: Bill of Rights) outlines and protects our fundamental rights
Ultimately, no individual has the right to infringe on other’s rights
Some provinces may have other legislation to accommodate other rights and freedoms that are important to that area, however, the Constitutional legislation (Charter of Rights and Freedoms) overrides any other provincial legislation that exists.
Ex. Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms/Charter of French Language
Problem: in Liberal democracies, some of these Charters can focus on individual rights at the expense of the collective rights (rights of community or society)
Ex. Industrialization and Laissez Faire created large socio-economic gaps – individual rights (equality of opportunity) was somewhat meaningless as the rich had more power, poor couldn’t get an education etc.
ii) Dictatorships
Most have a Constitution and fundamental rights written down however, government alone interprets and implements these rights
Individual freedoms is often subjugated to the state

3. B. Promotion of Collective Rights:
Responsibility of government in Liberal Democracies
Usually achieved through the extension of individual rights
USA: collective rights were ‘unwritten’ to a certain degree – not included in the Bill of Rights
Affirmative Action groups
1960s – groups formed to address inequalities of minorities and women
Believed that: ‘in order for all citizens to effectively enjoy equality of opportunity, members of certain groups need to be treated differently’
Ex. US government had some hiring practises changed that gave preferential treatment to minorities and women (so did Canada) to create more ‘equality’ in the workplace –
Canada (Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
Collective rights usually refers to official language groups and Aboriginal groups and are included within the Charter (unlike the USA) Reflect and affirm Canada’s bilingualism and pluralistic nature

4. C. Recognition of Collective Rights:
Sometimes groups have had to fight to have their rights recognized, even though there were ‘guaranteed’ by law (Charter)
Canada:
Ex. Francophone Schools in Alberta had to go to the Supreme Court in order to be considered part of the Public Education program (despite Charter rights for Language)
Ex. Continued struggle for the Metis to have hunting and harvesting rights (as stated in Section 35 of the Charter)

5. D. Balancing Perceived Common Good with Respect for Rights:
Government must find a balance between the common good of society and the desire for individual fundamental rights and freedoms – to appease citizens
Language Legislation in Canada
Bill 86 (1993) public signs and advertising must be in French in Quebec. There can be other languages but the French has to be dominant
Page 382 discusses the other Language Bills in Quebec and the outcomes
First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Peoples (FNMI)
Charter contains clauses to guarantee their Collective rights
Page 386
Religion and Religious Symbols
Can be seen as an individual right unless an entire group is in need of protection
Ex in France
Government pt in effect a law that restricted religious symbols in public – in order to protect the secular character of public institutions
Other countries followed suit (Beligium)
2004: Minister of Education enforced this law in the schools
Targeted Muslim women who wore hijabs (scraves), Sikh males who wore turbans, Jewish males who wore Yarmulkes (skull caps) and any people wearing large Christian Crosses
Could be expelled but protesting occurred and expelled students were allowed back in but the law stayed in effect
Ex. Canada: Passport Canada would not give passports to some children in a Sikh family as they stated the turban interfered with the ability to see their faces (this claim was disputed by the Sikh community)

6. Belgium’s burqa ban opens a racial pandora’s box
E. Illiberalism:
Ideologies opposed to values of liberalism
Can be seen as undemocratic but occurring in a democratic country
Ex. No religious symbols (France)
Can occur during a time of crisis (Sept. 11 – Patriot Act, Security Certificates)
Belgium’s burqa ban opens a racial pandora’s box
Illiberal democracy in France (and beyond)
Is Canada’s multiculturalism in peril?
Hungary’s ‘illiberalism’ should not go unchallenged