1. The Viability of Contemporary Liberalism
How do some contemporary issues raise questions about the viability of liberalism?

2. DISCUSSION
What is the potential impact of being raised in a nation that puts its faith in liberalism?
How do we in Canada view liberalism?

3. Challenges to Liberal Thought
Environmentalism
Aboriginal Collective Thought
Religious Perspective
Neo-Conservatives
Postmodernism
Extremism

4. Postmodernism
Postmodernism – is a school of thinking that questions and rejects the principles of modernism and liberalism.
Modernism – is about order, universal truths, reason, and rationality. Believing that with science and rationality to establish truths an organized society can emerge.

5. Central Concepts of Modernism:
Science provides universal and eternal truths.
Knowledge will lead to progress.
Freedom consists of obedience to laws that are based on reason.
Reason and rational thinking are the ultimate means of establishing what is true.
Formulated out of Enlightenment.

6. Modernism vs. Postmodernism
A process for:
Discovering Truth OR
A Constructed “governing narrative”

7. Postmodernism Claims:
“Governing Narratives” – stories told to us about our modern society and provide us with ideas around which we can organize society.
We live under a “veil of deceit” – hiding alternative thought from the masses.

8. Themes of Postmodernist Thinking:
A belief that there is no set of moral or political ideas that can dominate cultural, ethnic, and gender differences.
Skepticism about the modern liberal idea that society can be “improved” that there is “progress” in civilization.
A critique of the nature of knowledge: knowledge claims are relative to linguistic, social and historical context.
A concern for issues of gender, race, and other parts of culture previously marginalized by the “grand governing narrative”.

9. EXTREMISM
What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents. Robert F. Kennedy

10. Extremism
Definition – refers to a belief system that is outside the mainstream spectrum of beliefs, and it may advocate actions that are considered socially or morally unacceptable.
Examples: violent targeting of “innocent” individuals

11. Extremism Continued Sometimes the mainstream absorbs extremist views:
Women’s Rights
Desegregation
EXTREISM – is dependent upon one’s moral code or point of view.
Extremist? NO not ME! - an extremist, to bring legitimacy to his or her cause will not see themselves as extreme

12. Something to Ponder
Terrorist or Freedom Fighter? Extremist or Fighting on Principle?

13. Extremism: Challenge to Modern Liberalism
Extremist action can curtail civil liberties to maintain security.
Extremism can have us question concepts of tolerance and equality, even interpretations of history.
Economic Extremism – pure capitalism or communism vs. the mixed market economy.

14. Contemporary Issues and Liberalism
Consumerism
Environmental Change and Activism
The Kyoto Protocol
China and India
Pandemics
Water
Jigsaw Assignment: In 6 groups read one of the topics listed and present the major issue and its relationship to liberalism, highlight important points of interest and any concerns for the future.