POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics Russell Alan Williams

Unit Three: Politics and Ideology Required Reading: Wood and MacLean, Chap 3. Unit Objectives: Explore political philosophy and key ideologies Outline: Introduction – Political Phillosophy Liberalism Conservatism Socialism Nationalism & Fascism Newer Ideologies

1) Introduction – Theory (?): The oldest tradition of writing and thinking about politics focuses on the content of political ideas “Political Philosophy”: Study of questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, justice and morality based on logical reasoning rather than empirical method = Political theory, or ideas about how we are, or should, be governed = Ideologies that drive political debate

A brief history of political philosophy . . . . Plato (427-347) “The Republic” Goal of politics in Greek democracies was order The Republic needed to ensure everyone was in their proper place, the work of a “benevolent” power “Utopian”: Idealized system or society

Niccolo Machiavelli Plato (1469-1527) “The Prince” Response to the problems of order – a guidebook for how to succeed in governing a state . . . . Key idea: “Political Realism”: Approach to politics that emphasizes the importance of power and interests over ideology or morals and ethics A wise (and virtuous?) prince does what is necessary to secure the state – power is its own virtue Many critics – much of the subsequent tradition seek universal standards of justice and ethics . . . E.g. “liberalism”

Most important contemporary movement in political philosophy? “Social Constructivism”: Sociological and political theory that explains political interactions in terms of the ideas imprinted on individuals by society There are no universal norms, as “identities” vary depending on culture, gender etc. Critical of the universalism of “Liberalism” E.g. Judith Butler (1956 - ) How do we judge what is “right” or “good” for society, or the individual?

2) Political Ideologies - Liberalism “Ideology”: System of ideas that form the basis of a political or economic system and provide ideas about the goals of society and governments Each is descriptive – how the world works Each is prescriptive – how the world should be Most modern ideologies derive from the Enlightenment: 18th century intellectual movement Human reason could be more effectively used to understand an improve the world Challenged traditional role of Church and faith?

Organizing ideologies: a) “Left vs. Right continuum” - Based on attitudes towards free market capitalism & traditional values “Left”: Support greater social and economic equality, oppose traditional religious values (?) “Right”: Support traditional values, oppose state “innovations” to promote equality Popular typology, but problematic E.g. “Totalitarianism”: States that attempt to control all aspects of life Popular typology, but problematic E.g. “Totalitarian” states: Those that attempt to control all aspects of life Many new ideologies don’t fit Most movements are now centrist Better way is to organize ideologies based on the content of the ideas: i) View of how the world “is” = Description ii) View of how the world should be = Prescription iii) View of what must be opposed = Proscription

Liberal thought: “Liberalism”: A view of politics that favors liberty, free trade, and moderate social and political change. Focus on the rights of the individual in relation to the state “Self Determination”: Ability to act on free choices without external coercion Requires a system of consent for governments – E.g. “General Will”: Will of the whole community. Requires a system for protecting the rights of individuals against the “General Will” – e.g. “Toleration”: Acceptance or protection of individuals, groups and types of behavior that may be disapproved of by the majority in society “Liberal Democracy”: Political system based on freedom. Requires that governments have the assent of all citizens through representative electoral institutions and the rule of law which limits the power of governments. Insert a map of your country.

Economic liberalism - Adam Smith Types of Liberalism: Classical Liberalism: Committed to limited government and the free market “negative liberty” E.g. John Locke (1632-1704) Economic liberalism - Adam Smith “Invisible Hand””: Markets are better than government in allocating resources – let individuals and business freely interact Many classical liberals not concerned about liberal democracy E.g. Fear of “selfish mob”

Reform Liberalism: Support for individual freedom etc Reform Liberalism: Support for individual freedom etc., but belief that some state involvement necessary to remove obstacles to individual development. Combine equal rights with equal opportunity . . . And “positive liberty” E.g. State funding for education – create opportunity for all Closely associated with Keynesianism and social welfare programs

3) Conservatism: Critical response to enlightenment liberalism Emphasizes value of order, stability and tradition. Source: Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Note: Conservatism has much in common with pre-enlightenment thinking  Religious values and human nature

Ideas of conservatism are complex and contradictory(?) Problem: Humans are weak = need for authority to check irresponsible desires = ineffective government “innovations” in society Paternalism: Elites have a responsibility to look after society not pursue their own interests Support institutions and ideas that promote stability and social order E.g. Marriage, family and religion Skepticism about experimentation: Traditional institutions good even if reason suggests otherwise E.g. The British Monarchy Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Economic conservatives: Shared values with Classical Liberals Types of conservatism? Economic conservatives: Shared values with Classical Liberals E.g. “Neo-liberalism”: Rejection of reform liberalism – return to limited state interference in economy Often associated with “Neo-conservatism” New Right: Critical reaction to rise of reform liberalism and new ideologies like feminism Combine neo-liberalism with conservative social values Some times internally at odds . . . . Social (or traditional) Conservatives – Traditional values more important than economic conservatism E.g. Paternalism and “Red Torys” Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Reactionary Conservatives: Those who favor a radical return to traditional (?) values Not really an ideology, but . . . Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

4) Socialism: Major source of 19th and 20th century opposition to liberalism . . . . Egalitarian focus on human society – humans are entitled to equal outcomes “Capitalism” undermines social nature of human communities Critical response to liberalism and free markets – benefits the “Bourgeois” at the expense of others Key source: Karl Marx (1818-1883) Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Economic equality – “equality of condition” rather than equal rights Focus: Economic equality – “equality of condition” rather than equal rights Requires “class conflict” State intervention Redistribution Social ownership of “means of production” E.g. “Communism”: Political theory that highlights class struggle to form a system where all property is publically owned and citizens are equally compensated Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

5) Nationalism and Fascism: “Nationalism” = the most important ideology of the 20th century Based on belief that “peoples” have shared language, culture, history that differentiates them from other nationalities Justification for independence and statehood Justification for imperialism and international conflict Conflict with “Liberalism”? Created through popular culture and “Propaganda”: Spreading information (true or not) for the purpose of aiding a cause or making people react in a certain way

“Fascism/Fascist”: Aggressive nationalism combined with an acceptance of inequality as natural Liberalism and socialism are “utopian” failures.

6) Newer Ideologies: Status as ideologies more uncertain – have only begun to influence the way people think about politics . . . i) “Feminism”: Perspective that seeks equality and independence of women Focused on “patriarchy”: System in which power is in the hands of men and in which women’s lives are controlled by men. Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

“Liberal Feminism”: Focuses on equal legal and political rights Types: “Liberal Feminism”: Focuses on equal legal and political rights End legal patriarchy E.g. the struggle for “Suffrage” End legal structures based on sloppy thinking about gender, sex and sexuality E.g. the modern “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and Transgender Movement (LGBT)”: Seeks to reform legal structures to reflect diversity in sexual and gender identities Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Patriarchy is not just legal, it is also economic and personal “Radical Feminism”: Society based fundamentally on oppression of women. Patriarchy is not just legal, it is also economic and personal Results in wider critiques of the images of women in society “Objectification” and sexism Results in wider discussion of the limitations of liberal rights Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

ii) “Environmentalism”: Sees need for humans to change relationship with nature Politics and economics must be limited by natural constraints of ecosystem - traditional ideologies ignore this “Anthropocentrism” vs. “Ecocentrism” “Sustainable Development”: Model of economic Growth that seeks to ensure that the use of resources today does not destroy the environment for those in the future Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

7) For next time: Unit Four: The Functions of Governments (January 28 and 30) Required Reading: MacLean and Wood, Chapter 4. Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.