Essay about Chap 1

Submitted By sgalliva
Words: 1613
Pages: 7

Citation Analysis must use Chicago Style – PDF on WebCT
Outline for each class is on WebCT and if you can answer the questions on that outline you will be fine for the exam

Fundamental Values of the Canadian Democracy * Based on Liberalist ideology * Classical vs reform vs neo liberalism
What distinguishes one form of liberalism from another? * All forms share a set of values * Freedom, justice, equality etc * But there is disagreement amongst liberals about what these terms actually mean and how to go about achieving them.
What is an Ideology? * Specific kind of theory with three basic characteristics * Incorporates a statement of ideal political values * Sets out the means by which those values and goals will be realized – how to put the vision of an ideal society in practice – a roadmap. * Ideology seeks to mobilize political action around its stated values and goals. * Normative blue prints about what the good society looks like * Marxism, feminism, socialism and liberalism are all ideologies.
What is the difference between a democracy and a liberal democracy? * What does the concept of democracy entail? Ruled by the people, consent of the governed, self-government, self rule. * In Canada is achieved through representative government. * Important to distinguish between a democracy and a liberal democracy because what you can do in those two different democracies are very different. * Regular democracy requires 51 percent of the votes in a voting situation. * Presents a problem called the tyranny of the majority – liberalism tempers this problem in democratic theory * In Canada, individuals and groups have rights and there is a concern in liberal democracy about the tyranny of the majority and the oppression of the minority.
Fundamental values of liberalism and of the Canadian Political System * Freedom * Overriding value of liberalism is freedom of the individual * Why? Because human beings are unique to other beings because we possess the capacity for reason, logic and rationality. * Gives us the ability to critically reflect and evaluate options about how we want to live our lives – to determine their own conception of a valuable life. * For liberals this is what makes human beings distinguishable. * The freedom of the individual must be protected, respected and our capacity to reflect and evaluate should be given room to flourish. * In liberal theory this process of rationally assessing our life goals and putting them into action is called self- actualization. * How do we create this freedom for individuals to achieve self-actualization – this is where liberals disagree. * Equality * Justice
What is Classical Liberalism and what are its Guiding Principles? * Classical Liberalism’s form of Freedom * Conceived of in negative terms * The freedom to be left alone – non interference, absence of coercion “freedom from” as opposed to “freedom to” * The individual has to be given the widest possible scope of non interference * Less interference, more freedom * More interference, less freedom * Classical Liberals form of State * Non interference from the government – the state is a necessary evil * We must have a state in order to protect freedom and ensure non-interference between citizens. * In order to do this, the state makes laws and is backed up by police and army – ability to interfere in peoples lives. * For classical liberals, the state is a high risk because of its potential ability to interfere and who will prevent the state from interfering? * Their answer comes in terms of the Limited State * The state and state interference has to be constrained. * The smallest state possible that regulates as…