The Viability of Contemporary Liberalism

1. The Viability of Contemporary Liberalism To what extent do contemporary issues challenge the principles of liberalism

2. In this chapter Look at examples of how liberal democracies respond to contemporary challenges and determine how effective liberalism has been adapting to these changes.

3. Challenges to liberalism we have discussed from previous chapters • Environmentalism 280-283 • Neo-conservatism 284-286 • Religious perspectives 287-293 • Aboriginal collective thought 294-296 • Aboriginal experiences of liberalism in Canada 304-316 • Imposing liberalism for self-interest 319-321 • Imposing Liberalism for Humanitarian reasons 321-324 • Authoritarianism 327 -366 • Authoritarian Political Systems 357-361

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

5. Modernism defined NOTES

6. Modernism defined NOTES Origins Developed during the Enlightenment period Uses science an rationality to establish an organized society. • Concepts • Science provides universal and enduring 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. Postmodernism NOTES

7. Modernism defined NOTES Origins Developed during the Enlightenment period Uses science an rationality to establish an organized society. • Concepts • Science provides universal and enduring 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. Postmodernism NOTES

8. Postmodernism NOTES • A movement that began as a reaction to modernism after the two world wars. • Presents several challenges to liberalism • Reason, universal truths, and the importance of science are not seen as important or viable. • Asks the questions that need to be asked in any functioning liberal democracy. • Provides opportunity to challenge the values and ideals associated with liberalism. • It asks modern liberalism to keep thinking to keep its options open • Individual rights, ways of thinking (knowledge and reason)

9. Notes Weakness Postmodernism Extremism • With no shared understanding of an absolute values or a belief system it is difficult for postmodernists to have: • Used to refer to individuals in a pejorative way. • A belief system that is outside mainstream views.

10. Weakness Postmodernism

11. Extremism NOTES

12. Extremist views can progress in two directions. They can become socially accepted over time: They can become socially intolerable:

13. Extremist views can progress in two directions. NOTES

14. Extremist Threats to liberal democracies NOTES

15. Extremist Threats to liberal democracies NOTES • How to maintain civil liberties and security for all citizens when threatened by extremist actions. • War measures Act 1970 (temporary) • Emergencies Act 1988 (permanent) • Anti Terrorism Act 2001 (permanent) • USA Patriot Act 2001 (permanent) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression Economic extremism

16. Contemporary Issues and Liberalism What solutions to contemporary issues are supported by the principles of liberalism

17. Consumerism as a Liberal Issue • Brings in to question the viability of liberal principles. • Look at Fig. 12-5 & 12-6 • What do the dollar amounts tell you about consumption priorities? • Education is behind cosmetics • Safe water behind ice-cream consumption in Europe • All forms of healthcare behind perfume and pet food sales • Liberal democratic societies allow for a wide range of consumer choices & how to prioritize those choices.

18. Addressing consumerism • Provincial recycling fee (tax) on new electronic devices. • 3. 5 million Albertans -- 100,000 computers, 200,000 televisions are discarded per year. • Why is the government is involved in the recycling of these devices • Do you feel that a recycling fee is effective at addressing some of the negative consequences of consumerism? • What other actions could the government take to address consumerism?

19. Contemporary Issues and LiberalismUnanticipated Consequences of Liberalism • Unanticipated Consequences of economic freedom and development (complete chart on 1st page of worksheet page of 418-427)

20. Contemporary Issues and LiberalismUnanticipated Consequences of Liberalism • Wealth and resource development – • little benefit to colonized countries – cash crops – difficult to participate in global economy. • Citizens not treated equally – • differential laws restricts the pace of development. • Encourage violence, illiberalism & terrorism – • unequal treatment of some countries by developed nations.

21. Environmental Change and Activism • worksheet for pages 419-427

22. Kyoto Protocol • worksheet for pages 418-427 • To date the United States has yet to ratify agreement why might the USA be so reluctant to do so?

23. Germany: Nuclear power plants to close by 2022 • Germany's coalition government has announced a reversal of policy that will see all the country's nuclear power plants phased out by 2022. • There have been mass anti-nuclear protests across Germany in the wake of March's Fukushima crisis, triggered by an earthquake and tsunami.

24. Contemporary Issues and LiberalismChina and India 21st Century China India • Economic reforms have been quick. • Traditional • Low wage manufacturing and exporting sectors • More deliberate • Colonization • Well educated and English speaking labour force. • Focus on service industry.

25. Issues with economic success • Both have limited land – loss of agricultural land • Loss of traditional values and cultural • Exploitation of workers • Mismanagement of environment • Class structure • 7 of top 10 polluting cities are Chinese******* • Conflict between economic development and environmental deprivation. • Economic expansion is often at the expense of environmental sustainability.

26. Battery factories across China have been closed amid fears about poisoning from metals used by the industry 30 May 2011 • The rechargeable lead batteries are used in scooters, cars and some mobile phones. • Increased demand for electric scooters alongside higher car production has driven up the demand for lead batteries.

27. Top 10 polluted cites • Sukinda, India • Linfen, China • Tianying, China • Vapi, India • La Oroya, Peru • Dzerzhinsk, Russia • Norilsk, Russia • Chernobyl, Ukraine • Sumgayit, Azerbaijan • Kabwe, Zambia

28. Pandemics / Dangerous VirusesChallenges of Democratic Societies • How to protect society, trade and development, and basic freedoms. • International cooperation • Negotiation • Compromise • Relinquish national interest for those of the world community • WHO • dissemination of info. • Tracking of outbreaks

29. SARSGovernment response post SARS • Collaboration • Planning and emergency preparedness • Infection disease surveillance • Use of media • Quarantine Act (Canada)

30. Water Shortages To what degree should fresh water be used in the development for the development of natural resources and industrial growth? • Alberta oil sands • 3-5 barrels of fresh water per barrel of oil • Contaminated water / environment • Communities in the region / health / culture (Chipewyan First nations)

31. Water Shortages POLITICAL ISSUES • Regulation and control – whose rights take precedence land owners, farmers, municipalities, business. • Water management – tension over who owns and controls the flow of water • Precipitation patterns / urbanization putting demands on fresh water • Garrison Diversion project • Old Man River • Saint Mary’s river • Milk river • China / India / Africa / Asia • Industrial growth & agriculture – pressure on need for fresh water over use causing drought • pollution